From calibrating industrial presses to monitoring biomedical devices, load cells perform the critical task of converting applied force into reliable data. They underpin applications that demand consistent measurements under diverse conditions, leading to process stability and product quality.
Among these, the button-type load cell becomes a go-to solution when space constraints meet strict accuracy requirements. Its slender, circular design enables straightforward integration into compact assemblies without sacrificing performance. With the growth of automated manufacturing lines and wearable technologies, the demand for button-type load cell applications has increased, making these miniature sensors indispensable in today’s precision-conscious world.
What Are Button-Type Load Cells?
Button-type load cells, often called low-profile compression sensors, are miniature transducers specially designed to measure axial force. Housed in a circular, pancake-like geometry, they consist of a slender stainless-steel body, a strain gauge bridge internally bonded to a flexure element, and a sealed cover.
The flexure deforms microscopically when a compressive load is applied to the top button surface. Next, the strain gauges detect this deformation and generate proportional electrical signals. Their unique circular, low-profile shape allows integration into confined spaces and makes button load cell mounting straightforward within OEM assemblies.
What gives these button-type load cells stable mechanical properties, high fatigue life, and corrosion resistance is their 17-4 PH stainless steel make. This build guarantees sustained precision under repeated loading cycles in harsh environments.
Key Advantages of Button-Type Load Cells
Button-type load cells offer an exceptional blend of size and performance. These load cells are appropriate for uses when there is a shortage of space:
- Ultra-compact footprint: Their pancake-style geometry allows installation in tight assemblies with minimal clearance.
- High accuracy & repeatability: With strain-gauge technology and precision manufacturing, they deliver errors as low as ±0.1 % of full scale. The performance remains the same even under repeated loading cycles.
- Robust stainless-steel construction: Usage on marine-grade or 17-4 PH stainless steels guarantees corrosion resistance and mechanical strength in harsh environments.
- Minimal hysteresis and creep: Advanced flexure designs maintain stability, with negligible signal drift over time.
- Wide load-range coverage: Capacities span from a few newtons up to tens or kilonewtons, accommodating diverse test regimes.
- Easy button load cell mounting: Low-profile bases and standardised fixtures simplify integration into OEM equipment.
- Perform in tension and compression: Here bidirectional force measurement for dynamic testing is supported by dual-mode variants.
- Shock and vibration tolerance: Designed to withstand industrial shocks without compromise to accuracy.
- Wide temperature compensation: Engineered to perform consistently across extended thermal ranges.
Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Button Type Load Cell
- Selecting the right button type load cell begins by ensuring its load capacity comfortably exceeds your maximum expected force, avoiding overload and preserving sensor life.
- Next, verify the accuracy class, often defined by OIML or NIST standards. Doing so is important to ensure repeatability and low non-linearity, hysteresis, and creep within your tolerance.
- Environmental protection is critical. It is important to choose an IP rating (e.g., IP67 or IP68) that guards against dust, water spray, or immersion, maintaining performance in harsh conditions.
- Assess physical dimensions and mounting options, whether inline, side-mounted, or through dedicated button load cell mounting fixtures, to integrate the sensor without introducing parasitic loads.
- Finally, confirm calibration intervals and compatibility with your signal conditioner’s excitation voltage, input range, and filtering to achieve seamless system integration and accurate data acquisition.
Sensomatic Button Type Load Cells
As a known and trusted button-type load cell manufacturer, Sensomatic is taking the centre stage. The company produces reliable and compact sensors, keeping precision force measurement in focus. Their button load cells are widely used in those industries where space is limited, yet accuracy remains a necessity.
One of their reliable button-type load cell is the BT-MINI. In either compression or tension mode, this small and adaptable device is ideal for universal button-type load cell applications. BT-MINI offers a capacity range of 500 kgf and 1000 kgf.
Next, for smaller setups, Sensomatic introduces an excellent choice through BT-SUB MINI. As an ultra-compact model, it is available in 50, 100, 200, and 250 kgf capacities. It can again handle both tension and compression and is thus suitable for high-precision, space-constrained uses.
Conclusion
Small in size, big in impact, button-type load cells are redefining how we measure force in tight spaces. With Sensomatic’s reliable design and easy button load cell mounting, precision is just a step away. Discover your ideal fit now.
