Tips

February 16, 2017
Porous Surface Installation
How do I install a foil strain gage sensor on a porous surface? For precision strain measurement, the bonded, rolled-foil strain sensor should be attached to a contiguous surface with a surface...
February 9, 2017
Strain Sensor Resistances Explained
Why are there different strain sensor resistances?  The story for strain gage electrical resistance goes back many decades.  Originally, 120 Ω was used, because that value matched...
January 26, 2017
STC Explained
What is the STC number in the gage part number? STC stands for Self-Temperature-Compensation.  The number itself relates to the material coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that the gage...
December 29, 2016
The Benefits of Real-Life Tests
Why should I use strain gage sensors when I have an FEA model of my part? Computer models are useful tools for predicting structural performance, but they only tell part of the story.  Strain...
December 15, 2016
Making Sense of Sensors
Why so many different patterns and options? The simplest answer to this question is, because there are so many different applications and test requirements.  From a quick check of a material...
December 1, 2016
Strain Gage Sensor Installation
How hard is it to install a foil strain gage sensor? With practice, installing strain gage sensors becomes a routine operation.  It does require meticulous attention to detail and strictly...
November 17, 2016
Strain Gage Sensor Selection
How do you determine which strain gage sensor to use?   There are a number of important considerations when selecting a strain gage sensor.  These include, but are not limited to,...
November 4, 2016
Option Selection
What options are available that I can select for a particular foil strain sensor?  Particular options for specific gages are ordered by appending the option name to the end of the sensor...
October 20, 2016
Clearer Signals
How do I prevent electrical noise from interfering with the strain gage sensor signal?        First, make sure the gage installation has been done properly....
October 6, 2016
Excitation Voltage
Bonded, electrical resistance strain gage sensors require an excitation voltage for operation. The voltage drop across the gage resistance is measured before and after deformation to determine the...