Product Overview
WIKA Sensor Technology compact & subminiature load cells pack force measurement into a coin-sized body for tight OEM pockets — button and subminiature compression cells for robots, instruments, and medical devices. These are the WIKA-ST (legacy tecsis XLC28 / XLC86) cells — send a tecsis part number and we match the current WIKA-ST equivalent.
Related WIKA-ST load cells & force sensors
S-Type & Universal Load Cells — general-purpose tension / compression
Pancake & Low-Profile Load Cells — thin axial disc — structural test & press force
Rod-End & In-Line Load Cells — thread into the loading line — no fixturing error
Canister Load Cells — high-capacity cylindrical — to 750,000 lb
Key Features & Benefits
- Proven strain-gauge measurement — a bonded-foil Wheatstone bridge reads the deflection of an elastic metal element — the measurement principle that has anchored electrical force measurement for decades. A repeatable, well-understood physics, not a novelty.
- All-stainless, sealed for the plant floor — welded stainless bodies keep moisture and contaminants out of the bridge — the leading cause of load-cell drift — so the cell holds calibration in industrial service. Built to survive where it is installed.
- Reads into what you already have — a low-level mV/V bridge output feeds any indicator or DAQ with bridge conditioning; an inline amplifier is available where a 4–20 mA or voltage signal has to run to a PLC. Match the output to the receiver, not the other way around.
- A form factor for how the load arrives — pancake, S-type, canister, rod-end, bending-beam, and subminiature builds let you introduce the load the way the application allows — axially, in-line, hanging, or in a tight pocket. The element shape is chosen for the load path.
- Legacy tecsis part numbers cross-referenced — these XL-series cells are the tecsis line, now built and shipped under WIKA Sensor Technology; a legacy tecsis part number cross-references to its current WIKA-ST equivalent. An installed-base part number is still a live order.
Specifications
- Operating principle
- A bonded-foil strain-gauge bridge in a very small compression body — the subminiature build measures grams; the foil bridge is exchanged for a semiconductor bridge at the lowest gram ranges for usable output.
- Force mode
- Compression.
- Form factor & mounting
- Compact / coin-sized low-profile body that drops into tight assemblies — robots, OEM instruments, medical devices, in-line force takeoffs. Easy to install; the compact build withstands impact loading.
- Body / element material
- Stainless steel.
- Construction & sealing
- Welded / low-profile stainless body; the compact XLC28 is built to withstand impact loading.
- Capacity / measuring range
- XLC86 subminiature 0–50 g to 0–1,000 lb; XLC28 compact 0–250 to 0–100,000 lb.
- Output
- XLC28 1.5 mV/V nominal; XLC86 ranges from 0.1 mV/V/g up to 2 mV/V nominal depending on range.
- Excitation
- 5 VDC.
- Bridge resistance
- XLC28 350 Ohms; XLC86 500 Ohms (semiconductor, 50–500 g) or 350 Ohms (foil, 1,000 g–1,000 lb).
- Non-linearity
- XLC86 ±1.00% FSO; XLC28 ±1.0% FSO combined (linearity / hysteresis / repeatability).
- Hysteresis
- XLC86 ±0.50% FSO.
- Repeatability
- XLC86 ±0.10% FSO.
- Zero balance
- ±2% FSO.
- Operating temperature range
- −65 to +250°F (−54 to +121°C).
- Compensated temperature range
- +60 to +160°F (+15 to +71°C) (XLC28) / +65 to +160°F (XLC86).
- Thermal effects (zero / span)
- On zero ±0.01% FSO/°F; on span ±0.01–0.02% reading/°F.
- Overload (safe / ultimate)
- Safe overload 150% of capacity; ultimate overload 300% of capacity.
- Electrical connection
- Integral cable.
- Options
- Overload protection (XLC86); extended compensated temperature range; inline amplifier; cable length.
- Lead time & quotation
- Quote-only, no public price list; lead time runs with range and options. Use the input form to send a legacy tecsis part number for a current WIKA-ST cross-reference.
Common Applications
- Robotics and automation — gripper and end-effector force
- OEM instrument and medical-device force measurement
- In-line compression in tight machine, robot, and fixture spaces
- Compact test fixtures and benchtop rigs
- Embedded compression in tight, space-constrained assemblies
Choosing among the load-cell forms comes down to the load path: pancake / low-profile for axial structural and press force, S-type for general tension / compression, canister for high-capacity columnar weighing, rod-end / in-line to thread straight into the loading line, bending-beam for platform weighing, and compact / subminiature for tight OEM pockets. For force through an existing structural pin (lifting and rigging) see Load Pins; for twist see the torque sensors.
Design & Selection Considerations
- Size the capacity to land the working load in the upper-middle of the range — aim for the routine load at roughly 50–90% of capacity: enough resolution and signal-to-noise, with headroom so peaks and transients never exceed the rating. Oversize and resolution suffers; undersize and an overload shifts the calibration. Account for shock and dynamic peaks, not just the static load.
- Keep the load axial, centered, and free of side load — most cells are rated for axial force only — an off-center or side load reads wrong and can damage the cell. Use the manufacturer’s load buttons / rod ends, keep the structure stiff and aligned, and on multi-cell arrays mount every cell coplanar. Most load-cell errors in the field are installation errors, not sensor errors.
- Read the accuracy terms the same way on every datasheet you compare — FSO quotes the error against full range, so a %FSO figure is a larger relative error at low load; BFSL reports linearity against a best-fit line. A ±0.03% cell is test-and-measurement grade, ±0.25–1% is industrial / OEM grade. Make sure two cells quote accuracy the same way before you compare them.
- Pick the output from what receives the signal and how far away it is — a raw mV/V bridge is right into a DAQ or indicator with bridge conditioning on a short, shielded run; an inline amplifier (4–20 mA or voltage) reads straight into a PLC and rides out long, noisy cable runs. Decide it from the receiver, not by default.
- Overload past safe but short of burst is the dangerous zone — safe overload (commonly 150% of capacity) is the load the cell can see without losing calibration; the ultimate rating is where it is destroyed. A cell overloaded between the two keeps reporting plausible, wrong numbers. Recalibrate after any suspected overload before you trust the data.
- Match the body material and temperature range to the environment — aluminum bodies are lighter and lower-cost; stainless resists corrosion and washdown; every cell has a compensated temperature band, with extended-temperature compensation available where the process runs hot or cold. Specify the environment up front and the material and compensation get built in.
To spec the right WIKA-ST compact or subminiature load cell:
Use the input form to tell us the capacity (and the real worst-case peak), the force mode (tension, compression, or both), the accuracy class you need, how the load is introduced and how much room there is, the output (mV/V or amplified 4–20 mA / voltage) and the receiving device, the environment (temperature, washdown, hazardous area), and any calibration documentation or approval required (ASTM E74, OIML / NTEP). A legacy tecsis part number is enough to start — we cross-reference the current WIKA-ST equivalent.
Force & Pressure Application Sheet ›Talk to an engineer directly — Scott Prater, Principal · 917-580-0878 · scott@pratertechnical.com
Specifications compiled by Prater Technical Partners from WIKA product datasheets.