Load Cell Measurement Error - Using Different Top Block Adapters Can Produce Errors
Can a load cell adapter plate or block be interchanged without introducing additional error?
This post will attempt to answer this question. The answer is maybe. If the new adapter consists of the same material and has identical characteristics, then it may be able to be substituted, without introducing additional error. Though some material will harden with repeated use and there could be a difference. It is important the material of the top block be softer, has a lower hardness than the load cell it is used with. If a top block is replaced, the recommendation is to have the force measuring equipment checked or calibrated to ensure errors are accounted for.
Figure 1 A Load Cell and Custom Top Adapter Recommended and Available from Morehouse
Using a top adapter with a different hardness value may affect the strain level in the load cell column or web; and therefore, result in different measurement outputs. We have observed errors of up to 0.307 % from varying the material on top compression pads. We highly recommend the end-user send us the top adapter they are using with the load cell Adapters, and even load cell bases, that are not flat may produce additional errors. We have conducted several tests and have found repeatability errors to be about 3 times higher when the compression pads or load cell base is not flat. Morehouse has a full machine shop and can grind top adapters for a nominal fee (typically $40 to $50 per block). We can also fabricate adapters as shown in the picture above.
A Real-World Example: A customer brought in a 1,000,000 LBF load cell for calibration. Morehouse performed a calibration. The output of the load cell was recorded as 1,500 LBF higher than the previous calibration for a force applied 1,000,000 LBF.
Is this a stability issue, or an adapter issue?
After calling the customer, we were informed a new top-loading block was supplied with this load cell for the current calibration. When we told them what was happening, they sent the original top-loading block. When tested, the original block resulted in an output of 1,000,180 LBF when loaded to 1,000,000 LBF.
Figure 2 Overall Measurement Error Graph of Differences Between Top Adapters
When using the new adapter and figuring the measurement error between the different top blocks (adaptors), Expanded Uncertainty would have increased from 269 LBF with the original top adaptor to 1,490 LBF using the newly fabricated adaptor. The individual contribution to the overall measurement uncertainty was dominant.
Another Example:
A customer sends in a single column load cell and asks Morehouse to calibrate the load cell with our adapters. Wanting to make better measurements, we let the customer know that we should use their blocks and there could be a change in the output by not using their adapters. The customer instructs us to use our adapters and since we are client-focused, we perform the test. The test shows a large variation or change from the previous calibration. The actual error percentage is higher than expected and we notify the customer. Having a calibration interval decrease from two years is not satisfactory for the customer. Therefore, the customer agrees to send in their top and bottom compression plates and Morehouse begins to test, and test, we test on different days, and with different variations of blocks as shown below. The results of the testing are the hardness of the material impacts the output of the single-column load cell.
Figure 3 A Slide from Morehouse Force Uncertainty Training Showing a Difference of 0.307 % When Comparing the Same Load Cell with Different Top Adaptors
What causes this error?
Figure 4 Load Cell Stress Analysis Example
There are two points to make.
#1. Material with different hardness experience different amounts of lateral deflection under the same amount of load. This causes different amounts of stress between the block and load cell
# 2. Flatness and smoothness of the block are important in that it will change the contact position on the load cell. The assumption is the load cell has a radius maybe R17 and is designed to be loaded exactly at the center of the spherical section, but an unbalanced or nonflat block can shift the contact point off-center. As the stress analysis above shows, a small amount of shift will change the stress distribution. The key is to use the same adapters in use as used in calibration. The adapters should be manufactured not to produce off-axis loads.
More information on this error and other common measurement errors can be downloaded here.
Conclusion
Different types of load cells will react differently to the hardness of the adapters. The top adapter tends to be the most critical component and can change the output of a force-measuring device by amounts of 0.3 % or more. These two examples show real-world examples where the overall expanded uncertainty was dramatically larger than what one may expect it to be. In both of these examples, the customer was expecting the expected performance of the load cell to be better than 0.025 % at capacity. In reality, the errors were five to ten times larger than what the customer expected. If these force-measuring devices were used for calibration, there could have been failures. Failures in testing that may have resulted in bad products being passed as good. Failures that may have impacted the lives and safety of several people. In keeping with our purpose of creating a safer work by helping companies improve their force and torque measurements, we urge anyone making force measurements to pay attention to the adapters they use and to send those adapters in at the time of calibration. If your adapters are not flat or if you need to purchase a top adapter for your load cells, our team can help you start making better and consistent measurements today. Plus, pairing a top adapter with a load cell can improve stability and often help in extended the calibration dates. Thus, less frequent calibrations are equal to more overall cost savings and a safer world.
Figure 5 Morehouse 200 lbf through 600,000 lbf Concrete test Kit with the Proper Adapters to Ensure Reproducible Results and Limit Measurement Error
Everything we do, we believe in changing how people think about force and torque calibration. Morehouse believes in proving our customers with the best measurement systems, including the top block or plate. We challenge the "just calibrate it" mentality by educating our customers on what matters, what causes significant errors, and focus on reducing them. Morehouse makes our products simple to use and user-friendly. And we happen to make great force equipment and provide unparalleled calibration services.
Wanna do business with a company that focuses on what matters most? Email us at info@mhforce.com.
Written by Henry Zumbrun
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