M o d e l N o . M E - 7 0 0 1
A d d i n g L o a d C e l l s
5
012-13878A
Adding Load Cells
To measure the compression and tension forces in individual
members, add load cells (e.g., PASCO Model PS-2200) to any
PASCO Structure. Replace a beam with two shorter beams and
a load cell.
#5 beam = load cell + two #3 beams
#4 beam = load cell + two #2 beams
#3 beam = load cell + two #1 beams
Use thumbscrews to attach two beams to a load cell as shown in
the Figure.
When using load cells, assemble your structure with the screws loose.
This will simplify the analysis by ensuring that the
members experience only tension and compression without moments.
See the instructions that came with the load cells for details about how to connect the load cells to an interface or datalog-
ger and collect data.
Calibration of Load Cells
Load cells are factory calibrated; however, you can re-calibrate them in software
or on the datalogger. Assemble the fixture shown in Figure 10 to support the load
cell. See the documentation for your software or datalogger for instructions.
When calibrating a load cell, it is necessary to apply a known load. Hold or clamp
the fixture at the edge of a table and hang a mass from it as shown.
Note that the hanging mass applies tension to the load cell; therefore the known
force that you enter into the software or datalogger should be a negative value.
For example, if the mass is 1.0 kg, the applied force is -9.8 N.
Figure 6: A load cell combined with two #2 beams is
the same length as a #4 beam
Figure 7: Calibration
fixture
Load Cell
Mass