A load cell converts mechanical force into a more conveniently measured format. Many load cells are based on electric strain gauges, which convert compression, tension or shear force into a proportional analog electrical signal. This signal is processed to determine the forces acting on the load cell. One force that load cells often measure is weight, and load cells can be used to measure the weight of very large and heavy objects. Care must be taken when using load cells to make sure that the changes being measured aren't distorted by errors which can be introduced by thermal and other side-effects.
Types of load cells include the electrical strain gauge, the hydraulic load cell and the pneumatic load cell.
There are many mechanical configurations of load cells. They include: compression, s-beam, platform, single-point, low profile, compression/tension, bending beam and canister load cells.
Compression load cells simply measure how hard the cell is being pushed against. They come in varying sizes.
S-Beam load cells resemble a block of metal with notches cut out of it to form a squarish S shape. They can measure compression and tension.