Calibration Service for Sensors
Loadstar Sensors offers calibration and repair services for most of the sensors we offer including - Load/Force/Weight, Displacement, Torque and Level Sensors. We have a state of the art calibration facility in Fremont, CA. Every load cell we ship is calibrated and verified to make sure we meet the highest quality standards. Please contact us to let us know what kind of calibration service you need!
What is Calibration?
Calibration is the process of applying known inputs (such as loads or forces or weights) to a sensor and measuring the output parameter such as voltage or current in response to the applied known inputs. A calibration curve - linear, quadratic, cubic or other function - can be fitted to the obtained data and the resulting equation used to infer applied forces from the output voltage.
Why Calibrate?
Sensors can change their behavior due to repeated use, misuse, abuse or simply with the passage of time. So why do you need to recalibrate your Sensors?
- To make sure it is working accurately within its specifications
- To meet ISO or other QA/QC requirements
- To make sure the accuracy is in line with international references outside your facility
- To avoid injury, errors or mistakes creeping into your products if sensor is reporting wrong results
We recommend recalibration of your sensors, at least once a year if you use it moderately. If the sensor is put to heavy use then you might want to recalibrate it more frequently on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. If you suspect that the sensors are not behaving as expected then we recommend that you check the results carefully and send it in for inspection and recalibration immediately.
Cost: From $150
Note: Some customers require a sensor to be tested to see how "off" it is when received prior to calibration. In such cases, please make sure to add an 'As Received' verification service to your recalibration orders.
Types of Calibration?
Load cells must be calibrated before use to ensure accurate and reliable force or weight measurements. Each load cell may have slight variations due to manufacturing tolerances, mounting conditions, and environmental factors. Calibration aligns the sensor’s output with a known standard, correcting these variations and allowing the load cell to provide precise and consistent readings in its intended application. Without calibration, measurements may be significantly off, leading to errors in data, quality issues, or even safety risks.
The load cells can be ordered:
- without any calibration (Not Recommended)
- with mV/V Calibration without any interface or data acquisition unit
- with Digital calibration with a digital load cell interface
- with Analog calibration with an analog load cell interface
Load Cell Only - Without Calibration
For load cell only orders without integrated calibration, a "nominal" value certificate, calculated at the time of manufacture, is included. This certificate provides a representative output value, for example, 2 mV/V or 1.989 mV/V. The corresponding stock keeping unit would be RAS1-050S-S. Typically, customers integrate these load cells with their own data acquisition systems or displays and perform a system-level calibration prior to use, although we understand that not all end users possess this in-house capability.
Load Cell Only mV/V Calibration
Load Cell Calibrated with Digital Interface
In our PC kit, the load cell is paired and calibrated with a digital interface like DI-100U, DI-1000U, DI-1000ZP etc. The pair can be calibrated in Compression (Push), Tension (Pull), or Universal (both push and pull) mode. This kit includes Calibration Certificate that is also traceable to NIST standards. The calibration coefficients are programmed into the digital interface and both the load cell and the interface are labeled to indicate they have been calibrated as a matched pair.
Load Cell Calibrated with Analog Interface
How to Order Recalibration Service
Get a Quote
Get a Quote
- Send us the serial number of your sensors
- Let us know how urgently you need the recalibrated load cells back
- We will send you a formal quote
Get a Quote
Place an Order for Recalibration
Place Order
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- Accept Estimate. We will convert Estimate into an Invoice
- Make a payment with credit card or send us a PO
Ship us the items for Calibration
Pack & Ship
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- Pack & ship the items to be recalibrated
- Include the Invoice # on the box or inside the box
- Send us the tracking number for the shipment
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Ship us the items for Calibration
Evaluation and Processing
Evaluate
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- If sensor is in good working condition we will recalibrate
If sensor needs repair or replacement we will advise options & cost
- If sensor is in good working condition we will recalibrate
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Ship Back
Ship back
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- Standard processing time 2 weeks after receipt
- Expedited processing options available
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Ship Back
Calibration Equipment
Loadstar Sensors uses state of the art equipment traceable to NIST standards to perform calibrations. We calibrate each and every sensor before it leaves the building. Our internal standards are much more stingent compared to ISO or other standards. We are not an ISO certified test lab but use NIST traceable equipment, references and dead weights as needed to perform all calibration services.
For Load Cells we use one of the three pieces of equipment as show below.
Calibrating with Dead Weights
Calibrating with Instron up to 10K lb
Calibrating with Instron up to 100K lb
How we Calibrate
Calibrations can either be Digital Calibrations or Analog Calibrations. We calibrate integrated load cells like the iLoad, iLoad TR or iLoad Pro directly using the raw digital output from the sensors. For most resistive load cells mated to DI-100, DI-400 or DI-1000 with USB or Wireless Output, we perfroma a digital calibration that outputs the calibrated values directly in Lbs or Kgs. For most resistive load cells mated to an AI-1000 or AI-1000CV, we perform an analog output that provides a best fit linear curve of Force vs. Voltage.
Digital Calibration
We apply known values to the sensor and read the resulting output signal. For example in the case of load cells, we place known dead weights (up to 100 lb capacities) or apply reference force using a test frame up to 100K lb.
We collect data at at least 5 points for one way calibration and for 9 points for two way calibrations at different load levels (as % of full scale loads).
A Typical Digital Calibration
Apply known loads and read the raw digital values from the Digital Load Cell Interface
Curve Fit
A polynomial best fit curve is calculated which yields coefficients A, B, C and D for a cubic curve. These coefficients are burned into the sensor itself or into the interface device to which the sensor is mated. The applied load is computed during use as follows:
Raw Weight = A*Count3+B*Count2+C*Count+D
Computed Weight = Raw Weight – Tared Weight
Calibration Certificate
A calibration certificate lists details about the sensor, the equipment used, applied and measured loads with the percentage errors a fraction of the full scale capacity or range of the sensor. A calibration certificate with each of our shipped sensors.
You can view a Sample Digital Calibration Certificate here.
Analog Calibration
When a customer requests an analog calibration we apply loads and measure the resulting voltage or current output.
At each load position, we read the voltage in the 0.5 to 4.5 V DC range.
A linear curve with Force as the calculated parameter and voltage as the varying parameter is calculated. The equation looks like:
Force = A * Voltage + B
We provide this calibration equation to the customer who can then use it to compute the appleid force in their own application.
You can view a Sample Analog Calibration Sheet here.
Sample Calibration Certificates
A calibration certificate lists details about the sensor, the equipment used, applied and measured loads with the percentage errors a fraction of the full scale capacity or range of the sensor. We include a calibration certificate with each of our sensors.
You can view Sample Calibration Certificates:
A Word about Calibration
The load cells are calibrated under ideal lab conditions in our facility in California. Calibrated values can differ due to a variety of factors such including variations in gravitational fields at different locations, altidtude, environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, vibration in contacting surfaces etc.
For best results, users should calibrate the sensor in place after mounting it into their particular setup. We suggest that you ask a professional calibration shop to come to your facility and provide calibration service at your location for best results.
How to Calibrate Sensors Yourself
If you have good references or test equipment and can apply known values to the sensor, then you can calibrate it yourself. You need to have LoadVUE Pro, SensorVUE or ControlVUE software, has a recalibration utility that can help you recalibrate using a friendly GUI WIndows application that helps you calibrate, burn and test the sensors after calibration.
The calibration utility allows a user to use one of several methods to recalibrate a load cell. These include:
- Enter mV/V number provided by manufacturer if you trust it
- Do a 2 point quick linear calibration
- Do a multi point calibration
- You can verify the results quickly within the utility after calibration.
Software Cost: Starting From $199
