This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Strain Gauges category on DigiKey.com
Strain Gauges are devices used to measure strain forces on materials. The most common consists of an insulating flexible backing with a metallic foil pattern. The gauge is attached to an object with a suitable adhesive. As the object is deformed, the flexible backing and foil are deformed, causing a change in electrical resistance. This resistance change is usually measured with a Wheatstone bridge.
SelectionCharacteristics
Specifications to determine which strain gauge is right for your application.
Pattern Type: Indicates the relative orientation of the resistive elements on the gauge.
Strain Range: The maximum strain (change in dimension divided by original dimension) measurable by a device.
Resistance: Indicates the resistance of the strain gauge to the passage of electricity. Measured in Ohms, the higher the number is the more resistance it provides to the system. The metric system applies to Ohms so you may see milli (m) and kilo (K) or other metric designators connected to the ohm value of the device.
Resistance Tolerance: Characterizes the extent of permitted variability of overall device resistance among samples of a given part number, resulting from variations in manufacturing.
Length - Active: The length of the region of a device that contains sensing elements.
Length - Overall Pattern: Length of gage foil pattern, including contact pads; does not include backing or alignment marks.
Length - Overall: The length of the strain gauge.
Width - Active: The width of the strain-sensing region of a device.
Width - Overall Pattern: The total width of the conductive-patterned region on a gage, inclusive of connection pads.
Width - Overall: The width of the strain gauge.
Operating Temperature: Recommended operating temperature, typically given in a range or as a maximum. Exceeding these temperatures may affect performance or damage the device and other system components.
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | FS-L-095-103-ST |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 905-1000-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Spectra Symbol |
| DESCRIPTION | Strain Gauge 3.75" (95.25mm) |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | MMF404140 |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 1033-1055-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Micro-Measurements (Division of Vishay Precision Group) |
| DESCRIPTION | Linear Strain Gauge ±3% 0.126" (3.20mm) 0.100" (2.54mm) |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | MMF336118 |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 1033-1044-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Micro-Measurements (Division of Vishay Precision Group) |
| DESCRIPTION | Stacked Rosette Strain Gauge ±1.5% 0.039" (1.00mm) per section 0.045" (1.14mm) per section |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | 4543 |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 1528-4543-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Adafruit Industries LLC |
| DESCRIPTION | Strain Gauge |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | MMF403743 |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 1033-1057-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Micro-Measurements (Division of Vishay Precision Group) |
| DESCRIPTION | Linear Strain Gauge ±3% 0.126" (3.20mm) 0.100" (2.54mm) |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
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