Load cell (SEN-14729) - straight bar as an S-type load cell

Other Hardware Sensors
1

Hello!

It's my first post here.

I was looking for a way to make some sort of a luggage load cell that works with Arduino. There are a few options on Amazon but they don't seem to be sensitive enough and the range that they offer are way over my needs.

On the Sparkfun website I found this small straight bar load cell and I was wondering if it is possible to make use it to weight things that are hung on it. Let me explain.

I was thinking that if I weld a bolt and a hook on two metal plates that are about half the width of the load cell and I screw them into the load cell's holes on both sides, so that the force down is exactly in the middle, I may be able to get accurate enough readings.

In my head it looks something like this:

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I've never used load cells with Arduino before. Do you think it will work?

2

That cell is for bending moment, not shear, I think. You diagram shows only shear applied to the load cell. Mind you its hard to tell from the datasheet just what it measures and how the forces are meant to be applied to it...

Actually on a bit more reflection I think it might work for shear, so I think you're OK, but its not totally clear how its designed to be used.