Strain gauges take centre stage at Sensor & Test

Many different configurations are available, including linear, half-bridge, full-bridge, and shear patterns. In addition to standard transducer class gauges, high-resistance gauges can now be produced in a small package. (10,000 Ω is available in a 1 mm sq. grid area.)

This small grid area helps to increase transducer output in a number of applications such as pressure sensing. A tight tolerance of ±0.2% can now be produced on resistance values ranging from 1,000Ω to 20,000Ω. Increased resistance values are a preferred choice when low power consumption is crucial, as in battery-powered devices.

If an application demands the highest possible bridge output to improve its signal-to-noise ratio, the higher gauge resistances will permit increased bridge excitation voltages. Featuring a scanner with eight software-configurable input channels with RJ-45 connectors, the System 8000 StrainSmart Data Acquisition System can accept signals from strain gauges or strain-gauge-based transducers, thermocouples, or high-level voltage sensors.

Strain gauge channels support full-, half-, or quarter-bridge configurations and offer built-in precision completion for 120 Ω, 350 Ω, and 1000 Ω bridges. The System 8000 is intended for static and dynamic test and measurement applications. System scanners may operate independently, or up to 16 scanners can be used concurrently for a maximum of 128 channels.

Each channel's data is processed in a modern 24-bit digital signal processor, and filtering is performed using finite impulse response (FIR) multi-stage filters. This provides excellent noise rejection, stability, and unsurpassed measurement accuracy. Sampling rates are 1000, 500, 200, 100, and 10 samples/second.