The figures in the table below represent typical characteristics but force transducers and force measurement systems will often operate outside these ranges with increased measurement uncertainty.
Force transducer types and their broad characteristics
| Device type |
Typical range of rated capacities |
Typical total uncertainty
±% fso |
Temperature sensitivity
% fso per °C
(operating range) |
| Strain gauge load cells: semiconductor |
1 N to 10 kN |
0.2 to 1 |
0.2 to 0.5
(-40°C to +80°C) |
| Strain gauge load cells: thin film |
0.1 N to 100 N |
0.02 to 1 |
0.02
(-40°C to +80°C) |
| Strain gauge load cells: foil |
5 N to 50 MN |
0.02 to 1 |
0.0015
(-40°C to +80°C) |
| Piezoelectric crystal |
1.5 mN to 120 MN |
0.3 to 1 |
0.02
(-190°C to +200°C) |
| Hydraulic |
500 N to 5 MN |
0.25 to 5 |
0.02 to 0.1
(5°C to 40°C) |
| Pneumatic |
10 N to 500 kN |
0.1 to 2 |
0.02 to 0.1
(5°C to 40°C) |
| LVDT, capacitive, tuning-fork, vibrating wire |
10 mN to 1 MN |
0.02 to 2 |
0.02 to 0.05
(-40°C to +80°C) |
| Magneto-elastic |
2 kN to 50 MN |
0.5 to 2 |
0.03 to 0.05
(-40°C to +80°C) |
| Gyroscopic** |
50 N to 250 N |
0.001 |
0.0001
(-10°C to +40°C) |
| Force balance** |
0.25 N to 20 N |
1 part in 106 |
0.0001
(-10°C to +40°C) |
** Many sorts of displacement transducer may be used with the gyroscopic load cell and the force balance and their performance limits will depend on the specific type used.
For more information see different types of force transducer.
