What Is a Pancake Load Cell?
A pancake load cell is a device used to measure force or weight.
It contains strain gauges, which are made of delicate materials such as metal foil or wire. When a force or stress is applied to an object, causing slight deformation, the resistance of the strain gauge changes. Similarly, in a pancake load cell, when a load is applied, the disc-shaped frame undergoes slight deformation, resulting in a change in the resistance of the internal strain gauges. This change in resistance is typically small and is measured through electrical amplification circuits. Pancake load cells convert such changes into electrical signals for measurement, accurately capturing the values of loads or pressures.
They find applications in industrial weight measurement and testing, monitoring manufacturing processes, stress monitoring in buildings and bridges, as well as durability testing of aircraft and automobiles.