Recently, many customers have inquired whether our company has a six axis force sensor with analog output. In this column, I will introduce this issue to my friends.
The working principle of a six axis force sensor is to first convert the elastic deformation on the elastic body into a change in the resistance of the strain gauge through a strain gauge. Then, through an ADC chip, the analog signal of the resistance of the strain gauge is converted into a digital signal. These digital signals are then compensated and calculated in various ways, and finally output in the form required by the customer. The customer’s needs include both digital signals such as serial ports, CAN, and Ethernet, as well as analog signals such as 0-10V or 4-20mA.
We mostly recommend six dimensional force sensors with digital output to customers, mainly because the internal circuits of 6 axis force sensors are based on digital calculation. If customers need analog output, we also convert the sorted digital output into analog output and provide it to them. And the customer’s receiving equipment is usually a computer or PLC controller, which is actually based on digital signal calculation internally. Our 6 axis load cells provide analog output, and the customer needs to convert it into digital output for use, which adds two additional conversions and may have a slight impact on data transmission. In addition, analog signals are more susceptible to electromagnetic interference and other factors during transmission because they are continuously changing voltages or currents. So we morely recommend six axis force sensors with digital output.
However, we fully understand the customer’s need for analog output. Generally speaking, such customers have already prepared acquisition devices or controllers with analog input functions. For example, many customers have NI’s acquisition boards, most of which are analog input. For this purpose, we can also provide sensors with analog outputs in various forms, including voltage output and current output. However, many devices that use NI acquisition boards also have USB interface. If the customer agrees, we can still provide digital output six axis force sensors with USB interface, which can also be connected to the customer’s device for normal use.
Overall, in order to meet the diverse needs of our customers, we can provide multiple six axis load cells with digital output, analog output, different sizes, and capacity. If you have any related requirements, please feel free to contact us and we will arrange professional sales engineers to serve you.
