Product Overview
WIKA Sensor Technology rod-end / in-line load cells thread directly into the loading line — male or female rod ends that replace a turnbuckle or clevis so the cell becomes part of the linkage, removing the fixturing misalignment that corrupts a poorly-mounted cell. They are the right choice for actuators, cylinders, and load frames where clean axial alignment is hard to guarantee. These are the WIKA-ST (legacy tecsis XLRF / XLRM) 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
Canister Load Cells — high-capacity cylindrical — to 750,000 lb
Compact & Subminiature Load Cells — button / subminiature for tight OEM pockets
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 body that threads directly into the loading line. Putting the cell in-line removes the fixturing between the load and the sensor, so it removes fixturing-induced error — the choice where alignment is hard to guarantee.
- Force mode
- XLRM tension and compression (standard, hermetically sealed); XLRF tension, with tension / compression an order option.
- Form factor & mounting
- In-line body threaded on both ends; threads straight into actuators, cylinders, and load frames. Thread size is an order option; a connector guard is available.
- Body / element material
- Stainless steel.
- Construction & sealing
- Threaded in-line stainless body; the in-line geometry removes fixturing variability from the measurement.
- Capacity / measuring range
- XLRF 0–2,000 to 0–200,000 lb; XLRM 0–2,000 to 0–750,000 lb.
- Output
- 2.0 mV/V.
- Excitation
- 10 VDC, 15 VDC max.
- Bridge resistance
- 350 Ohms.
- Non-linearity
- ±0.15% FSO (2K–50K lb) / ±0.2% FSO (other ranges).
- Hysteresis
- ±0.15% FSO (2K–50K lb) / ±0.2% FSO (other ranges).
- Repeatability
- ±0.05% FSO.
- Zero balance
- ±1.0% FSO.
- Operating temperature range
- −65 to +250°F (−54 to +121°C).
- Compensated temperature range
- +60 to +160°F (+15 to +71°C).
- Thermal effects (zero / span)
- On zero ±0.005% FSO/°F; on span ±0.005% reading/°F.
- Overload (safe / ultimate)
- Safe overload 150% of capacity.
- Electrical connection
- PTIH-10-6P connector below 50K lb; MS3102E-14S-6P above 50K lb; integral cable optional.
- Calibration
- Standard calibration positive in tension (XLRM).
- Options
- Built-in amplifier; integral cable; extended compensated temperature range; bridge resistance; thread size; connector guard; tension / compression (XLRF).
- Lead time & quotation
- Quote-only, no public price list; lead time runs with capacity, thread, and amplifier option. Use the input form to send a legacy tecsis part number for a current WIKA-ST cross-reference.
Common Applications
- Actuator and hydraulic / pneumatic cylinder force
- Load-frame and test-machine in-line force
- Cable, tie-rod, and linkage tension
- Robotics and automation force feedback
- Control-loop force measurement where alignment is hard to guarantee
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 rod-end 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.