Distributors
We would love to work with you to help you place your order, and support you throughout your journey. Please feel free to reach out to us if you need any information about our products or if you have any questions. However, if you are unable to purchase directly from us, you can purchase our products from our well renowned Distributors - McMaster Carr, Digikey, and Jameco.
Products Offered through Distributors
You can choose to order Load Cells only or Load Cell PC kit or Analog kit. The PC kits and Anlaog kits come with the load cell and interface that are calibrated together and are ready-to-use. The PC kit comes with the load cell software that enables you to view, log, and plot the sensor data on a Windows PC or tablet. The Analog kit can be connected to a PLC or DAQ.
Load Cell Only: No Calibration
Load Cell Only with mV/V Calibration
PC Kit: Load Cell, Digital Interface, Calibration
Analog Kit: Load Cell, Analog Interface, Calibration
Load Cell Only Orders with Nominal Calibration
When only a load cell is ordered it does not come with any interface, software or calibration.
The load cell comes with a calibration sheet with a "nominal" mV/V Output rating that was measured at the time of manufacture. This shows what the calibration WAS at the time of manufacture and may change over time. These load cells MUST be mated with customer’s interface, signal conditioner or display and calibrated prior to use.
We do NOT calibrate these prior to shipment if a calibration service is NOT ordered. We offer calibration service for a nominal fee if you’d like us to calibrate the load cell in our facility prior to shipment.
Part Numbering Scheme for Load Cell Only Orders
The SKU for a typical Load Cell Only order includes the load cell or family name, capacity and material of the load cell. The SKU would look like this:
Calibration Options for Load Cell Only Orders
We can apply known loads and measure Force vs. millivolt voltage output.
Usually, we supply 10V between the Red (E+) and Black (E-) wires and
Measure voltage between the Green (S+) and White (S-) wires.
Calibration can be ordered for Compression only, Tension only or Universal (both) mode.
Each calibration will come with a calibration certificate showing traceability to NIST standards.
Calibration is generally recommended at least once a year. But if any errors are noticed or suspected, then we recommend recalibration to make sure the sensors are operating within specs.
Customers can send it to us for recalibration or do it themselves if they have good references.
Load Cell Only Orders with mV/V Calibration
When only a load cell is ordered without any interface but with mV/V Calibration, it is calibrated in the requested mode (Compression or Tension or Universal). This order does not include any interface. It comes with a NIST traceable calibration certificate.
When a calibrated load cell is ordered, it undergoes a specific calibration process in our OEM facility. This process involves applying known forces and measuring the corresponding output at a 10V excitation voltage. The resulting unit will have a unique mV/V calibration value determined for that individual load cell. A detailed calibration certificate is provided, which includes a table outlining the applied forces and measured millivolt outputs, along with a best-fit linear curve and the calculated mV/V value.
Part Numbering Scheme for Load Cell with mV/V Calibration Orders
The SKU for a typical Load Cell with mV/V Calibration order includes the load cell or family name, capacity and material of the load cell, and the calibration mode. The SKU would look like this:
PC Kit Orders
PC Kits include a load cell, a DI-100U USB Load Cell Interface, Calibration,
a calibration Certificate traceable to NIST standards and LoadVUE Pro Software on a USB Drive.
PC Kits with USB Output do not need a power supply. They are powered through the USB port of your PC/Tablet.
Our software requires the use of a Windows PC/Tablet running Win 8/10/11. We recommend at least 8 GB RAM.
Part Numbering Scheme for PC Kit Orders
The SKU for a typical PC or digital Kit order includes the load cell or family name, capacity, digital interface, calibration mode, and software. The SKU for the PC or digital kit would look like this:
Calibration Options for PC Kit Orders
The PC Kits come pre-calibrated and are ready to use.
They can be ordered for Compression only, Tension only or Universal (both) use.
Each kit will come with a calibration certificate showing traceability to NIST standards.
Calibration is generally recommended at least once a year.
But if any errors are noticed or suspected, then we recommend recalibration
to make sure the sensors operating within specs.
Customers can send it to us for recalibration or do it themselves if they have good references but will need LoadVUE Pro or SensorVUE or ControlVUE software to recalibrate the load cells.
How to Use the PC Kits
Insert the USB stick with the LoadVUE Pro software into your PC/Tablet running Win 8/10/11.
A file manager popup window will show up and list the setup file on the drive.
RIGHT Click on the Setup file and 'Run As Administrator' to install the software on your PC properly.
When you connect your sensor+interface via the USB dongle into your PC, you can open the Device Manager and see a new USB Serial Port listed under the Ports section (e.g. COM4).
This ensures that the software has installed properly.
Right Click on the COM port and follow instructions to change the Latency Timer to 1 ms. You can find detailed instructions on the Latency Timer User Guide.
Analog or PLC Kit Orders
PLC or Analog Kits include a load cell, an AI-1000 Signal Conditioner, Analog Calibration, and Calibration Certificate traceable to NIST standards and a power supply.
How to Connect the Analog or PLC Kits
Power supply included with Kit but power between 8 and 30 VDC regulated can be input between pins 6 and 7 if available from your PLC or DAQ.
Part Numbering Scheme for PLC Kit Orders
The SKU for a typical PLC or Analog Kit order includes the load cell or family name, capacity, analog interface, and calibration mode. The SKU for the PLC or Analog kit would look like this:
PLC or Analog Kit Orders - Calibration Options
If ordered for Compression (push forces only) then output varies between 0.5V DC at zero load to 4.5 V DC at full load.
If ordered for Tension (pull forces only) then output varies between 0.5V DC at zero load to 4.5 V DC at full load.
If ordered for Compression (push forces) and Tension (pull forces) then, the output varies between 2.5V DC at zero load to 4.5 V DC at full load in one mode and between 2.5V DC to 0.5 DC in other mode.
Please note that the noise level is typically +/- 1 mV over a span of about 4000 mV typically.
Please make sure to keep your cell phone off near the points of use to reduce noise. Also, make sure that you don’t plug in the power supply to the AI-1000 on the same outlet as the power supply to your notebook or PC.
PLC or Analog Kits - How to Use
Connect the output pins (Vout – Pin 5) and Ground (pin 8) usually provided with a yellow wire and a black wire on the terminal block into your PLC or DAQ.
Read the Vout at zero load and remember this voltage. Let us call is V0.
Read the Vout with load cell applied. Let us call this V1.
Force = (V1 – V0) * Calibration Value (lb/volt)
For e.g. Force = (2.5 V - 0.5 V)/25 (lb/volt) = 2 * 25 = 50 lb
The Calibration Value (lb/volt) is provided on the calibration certificate included with your kit.
Mc Master SKUs
How to Filter and Sort Product Information
To find the right product(s) quickly, you can filter and sort the products based on specific criteria. Make sure to scroll to the right to view more columns with detailed information.
Hide Fields
If you want to view specific fields/columns in the table, you can Hide the rest of the fields/columns. To hide fields, click on the Hide Fields menu and click on the items you wish to hide. The hidden fields/columns will disappear from the view.
To view the hidden fields/columns again, just select the desired fields again.
Filter Data
To find a product based on a specific criteria, you can define the search conditions under the 'Filter' menu. Add multiple conditions by clicking on the "+" sign. If you no longer want to filter the products based on the condition(s), simply click on the delete icon.
Example: To search for Displacement Sensors, you could:
- Click on the 'Filter' menu
- Select Add Condition
- Select "Sensor Type" in the 'Where' dropdown menu
- Select "contains" in the second box
- Type "Displacement" in the third box
The table will display all the Displacement Sensors we offer. You could specify more conditions to filter the results further.
Scroll to the right to view more columns with detailed information.
Sort Data
You can sort the products by any of the fields/columns. To sort the products, click on the Sort menu and select the field/column by which you wish to sort the products. You can sort the products by multiple fields by clicking on '+' and adding the name of the field.
The fields are sorted alphabetically either in ascending or descending order.
