Load cells are manufactured according to the type of load to be supported and the way the cell is positioned to measure it. According to this, three main groups of load cells could be considered, which would be: compression, tension or bending.
Based on this variety, different load cell formats are created in industry, which are almost always used for the same applications:
Single point load cells, typically used on platforms up to 800X800 mm with a single central sensor. They are also used in dynamic controllers and filling or multi-head systems.
They are usually made of aluminium and for not very high loads, which can go from 0.6 kg to 600 kg.
Bending or shear beam, which are used in 4-cell platforms or small silos. They have good capacity to work together in weighing systems and are usually made of stainless steel and with a high degree of waterproofing protection.
Traction or “S” type, which can normally be used both in traction and compression. They are usually used in suspended weighing systems as crane scales or dynamometers, and their capacities can range from 15 kg to 10.000 kg.
Compression and double double shear beam, which are usually used for weighing large loads such as storage silos or weighbridges.They are designed to be placed under the element to be measured, measuring a compression force exerted on a single axis. They are usually quite compact and of high precision.