We offer dynamic force measurement solutions to measure impact forces that require high data rates to consistently capture peak impact forces. Examples of such applications include failure strength testing, impact force measurements, vibration testing and material characterization.

Our solution includes:

• Load cells with capacities up to 100,000 lb.
• Base and platform to make it easy for users to place test object on platform
• USB load cell interface with data capture rate of a) at least 1 KHz or b) at least 10 KHz up to 50 KHz
• Factory calibration so you can use it out-of-the-box using NIST traceable dead weights or calibrated test frames
• True force measurement (not just G-values. You can literally measure the weight of an object with the same system!)
• LoadVUE Pro software for 1 Khz (or SensorVUE software for multiple sensors) or LV-1000HS-10K software for plotting and logging at up to 50 Khz

Importance of Data Capture Rate

When trying to capture the peak force during a test, the data capture rate is a very important considerataion. If the duration of the peak is just a few milliseconds, then having a 1 Khz data capture rate means that you'll have just a few data points. In that case, one may miss the peak completely. And repeated tests may not give you satisfactory consistent results. That is why our faster solution with up to 50 khz data capture rate (of calibrated force values) maybe very important for your particular test.

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Impact Force Measurement Solution with 1 KHz Data Capture

It comes with a impact sensor with a platform and a base, a USB Sensor Interface with 1 KHz data update rate and LoadVUE Pro (LV-1000) software that can handle data rates  up to 1 Khz - live - and allow you to display, log and plot data on a Windows PC or Tablet. A minumum 8 GB of RAM and a recent model PC with Win 8/10 is recommended for this application. 

The base LoadVUE Pro software allows a user to display the applied force in real time and do a force vs. time plot, capture the peak and low forces that occur during the test, log the data to a comma separated file as well as add user defined data to the report as needed to append the file with useful identifiers for the test. The software also allows the user to define the time span of interest for the plot as well as overlay previously captured data sets in order to compare one test to another. 

Please note the LV-1000HS-1K is the same as the LV-1000 LoadVUE Pro software that is shown in the tables below.

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Impact Force Measurement Solution with up to 50 KHz Data Capture Rate

This kit comes with a impact sensor with a platform and a base, a USB Sensor Interface with up to 50 KHz data update rate and LoadVUE Pro (LV-1000HS-10K) high speed software that can handle data rates up to 50 Khz and allow you to display, log and plot data on a Windows PC or Tablet. A minumum 8 GB of RAM and a recent model PC with Win 8/10 is recommended for this application. 

The high speed LoadVUE Pro software allows a user to capture the data for a short period of time in CSV format and display the force vs. time plot at up to 50 KHz (selectable by user). 

Here's what the LoadVUE Pro High Speed 10K software looks like:

  

Once the data is captured, you can zoom in and out of the plot to focus in on the area of interest.

 The LV-1000HS-10K software allows the user to "capture" the data during the test and then display the results on screen by opening the file. It cannot display the results in real-time unlike the LV-1000HS-1K software.  For applications that need at least 10 data points in 1 millisecond, we recommend you select this higher speed 10 KHz version of the interface and software, which allows a user to capture data at up to 50 kHz.

Metal to Metal Impact Forces

For capturing impact forces consistently and accurately, especially with hard surfaces impacting hard surfaces, we recommend using the same impact sensor with the DI-1000UHS-10K USB Sensor Interface and the LV-1000HS-10K software. This is NOT a live solution. You can capture data for say 10 seconds during which time the attention is on capturing data exclusively. As soon as the time period expires, the data is displayed as a Force vs. Time plot and captures as a CSV file.

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Impact Force Measurements Using Multiple Sensors

Sometimes, you may need to measure the impact on a larger area and may need to measure forces from multiple impact sensors. For example if you want to build a 3 foot by 3 foot platform on which you are going to drop a ball from a height of 10 feet, you will need to use four impact sensors at the four corners of a square. In those cases, you can place four of our impact force sensors with USB interface pairs at the four corners and make them all go into a USB Hub and then to your PC. SensorVUE software can display, capture and plot data from all four connected impact sensors at up to 1 khz each. 

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Impact Force Measurements Using Other Resistive Load Cell

 In the several configurations shown above we showed you the impact sensors with a base and platform. We offer them in 8" x 8" or 15" x 18" standard sizes. But you do not necessarily use these types of "scales". You can use any of our resistive load cells for e.g. the RSB2, RSB1, RAP3, RAP4, RAS1 or RSB6 load cells and use them with the DI-1000UHS-1K or DI-1000UHS-10K interfaces and LoadVUE/SensorVUE software to capture impact forces. Our solution is a very modular and versatile hardware, software solution to meet your particular needs. 

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How is Our Solution Different from Other Solutions

Most available dynamic force measurement systems use an accelerometers to make measurements. This requires the user to interpret the acceleration data (usually provided as G values) to estimate the actual force of impact. This complicates the task of the user who has to correctly estimate the mass of the "system" to arrive at the force values. Such dynamic force measurement systems fall under the umbrella of vibration measurement systems and can easily cost upwards of $8000 per channel.

Sample Data Files

Here are two sample data files (in CSV format) captured during a one foot drop test of a plastic object. The data was captured at 50 kHz.  Each file has over 150,000 points. Since Microsoft Excel can graph only 32,000 points, you may need to use other software like R, Matlab etc to graph this data. 

Sample File 1

Sample File 2

Our reasonably priced solution provides a very practical method of computing the actual measured forces as experienced by our sensor. The platform provided as part of our solution makes it easy for users to place test samples that will be subjected to the impact.

NOTE: You can use ANY of our resistive load cells and mate it with either the DI-1000UHS-1K (up to 1 KHz) or DI-1000UHS-10K (up to 50 KHz) high speed interface devices to create your own unique combination needed for your application. Just have to add SensorVUE software or LV-1000HS-10K software respectively to display, log and plot data on a Windows PC/Tablet. 

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Impact Test Measurement Demo with RAP3/RAP4 load cell, DI-1000UHS-1K Interface and LV-1000HS-1K

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Setting up Impact Force Sensor

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Measuring Impact Force from a Hammer @ 50Khz Data Capture Rate

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Measuring Impact Force from Ball Drop @ 1Khz Data Capture Rate

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Impact Force Estimator