Does anyone know of a decent source for inexpensive load cells?
I am wanting to improve on my bathroom scale corner weighting rig.
With just a brief search, the cells I found would cost more than just buying a real set of scales. I figure I must not know where to look.
Thanks
Have you checked Omega?
What type of suspension to you have? Depending on the actual set up it might be possible to transducerize a component. This would allow you to measure corner weights at the track and make any adjustments without scales. You could also measure on track force with a DAQ unit card in a laptop.
Let me know if you want to learn more about what's involved. The gages for a transducer are cheap, it's the labor to install that adds cost.
Joe
Here is a link to one example. They come in a bunch different limits but are really reasonable and durable.
I have that exact one running my sim rig brakes.
The "grassroots" method of gluing strain gauges onto a short piece of tube isn't going to be any cheaper, or work any better, than the ones in that Mouser link.
I'm amazed at the cost for the mouser load cells. The materials alone would cost more to buy.
If you were going to instrument the car then there is a benefit to a diy approach, but for a basic load cell it wouldn't be worth it.
There's more to designing a good load cell than glueing gages onto a tube. I did load cell design for a living and can help anyone on here that is trying to design their own.
Is this more accurate than the Mouser example? Mine also runs the brakes a sim rig (knock off Todd Cannon CST pedals), took about 1.5 weeks from China. They have multiple models and are also on ebay, IIRC http://www.elane.net/index.php?go=load_cell
Have you ever priced load cells for an Instron? Ouch...
My old man is a tester and suggests either transducer techniques or futec.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Here is a link to one example. They come in a bunch different limits but are really reasonable and durable. Mouser I have that exact one running my sim rig brakes.
Sorry to derail the thread, but more info plz? I have a sim rig and the brakes suck. I'd love to make them more realistic, and this looks downright affordable...
benzbaron wrote: My old man is a tester and suggests either transducer techniques or futec.
Both those are good products, but probably overkill for building scales to measure corner weights. The linearity is more than what is needed at the sub F1 level.
We used Transducer techniques load cells as reference cells to calibrate custom load cells, and futek is a nice high reliability product. Futek also makes some nice amplifiers for making the millivolt signal into a more useable signal ( volt or amps rather than millivolt).
Depending on the design of the load cell (s-beam, binocular, cruciform, etc) the mounting can impact repeatability as much as the load cell quality.
just buy some scales. there so cheap now! When i started racing we had 4 choices. $2000 set of digital scales (lbs per pad capacity) Grain scales. $600 for 4 postal shipping scales (400lbs per pad capacity) cheaply made hydraulic Cly with a V on top.
A sponsor gave me a hydraulic v set 1st they ended up in scrap pile quickly as they did not repeat at 1250 lbs total weight.... I went with Sunbeam postal scales. Now Jeg's and otheres have better scales in the $700 range that will do 1200 per pad.
Sperm bank?
In reply to 44Dwarf:
Hadn't seen the scales for 729 at jegs. That makes it tough to justify DIY. Although I'd still pick up a set of tires first with that money.
The mouser cells with the correct range are over 140 each. The elanes are 90 each with shipping. Need a cheaper option for it to be worthwhile. Hmmm.... Where does long acre get their parts?
Does your current bathroom scale set up use digital scales?
You may be able to harvest the load cells from them to make yourself a better scale for the application.
sevenracer wrote: The mouser cells with the correct range are over 140 each. The elanes are 90 each with shipping. Need a cheaper option for it to be worthwhile. Hmmm.... Where does long acre get their parts?
Use an internal lever/reducer to mechanically lower the range into the cheap 50lb load cells sweet spot. Think small internal Ruggles scales.
Ya I'm thinking of selling my scales to buy some of the Jeg units as it would be nice to check other things then the dwarf.
Anyone used one of these things? Wheel load checker as seen in Smith's Tune to Win
Have y'all seen the Ruggles Scales? Here's a link with some diagrams. Not sure if the pivoting wheel platforms are necessary. Should be pretty easy to DIY. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/569119-ruggles-scales.html
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Anyone used one of these things? Wheel load checker as seen in Smith's Tune to Win
Yes tried a freinds it was with in 25lbs but my scales are normaly with in 3.5 lbs if i roll off and back on.
I'm a big fan of the surplus Honeywell load cells on ebay. They might be above your target budget though.
In reply to sevenracer :
Here is a link to a reliable supplier: https://www.futek.com/home
They manufacture in the US and their sensors seem pretty accurate. Check out their application as well.
Only 9 years late with the canoe information.
Maybe now we'll get closure. What was the solution? Oh, the antici
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