Load Cell Types: Shear Beam, S-Type, Compression and Single Point
Short answer: the main load cell types are shear beam (floor, platform and tank scales), S-type (hanging, tension and crane weighing), pancake and low-profile compression (high capacities, presses and force testing) and single point (bench and platform scales with one load cell). Pick the type by how the load is applied, then the capacity, material and approval. Load cells are quoted by phone: call with the type, capacity and quantity you need.
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A load cell turns force into a small electrical signal that the scale indicator reads as weight. Most industrial load cells are strain gauge cells: the metal body flexes very slightly under load, and strain gauges bonded to it change resistance in proportion. What differs between types is the shape of the body and how the load reaches it. MNM Scales has supplied and replaced load cells for over 30 years, since 1992, and our technicians install and calibrate them in our Cypress, TX shop and on-site. This guide explains each type; for sizing and ordering, see our load cell buying guide.
Load cell types at a glance
| Type | How the load is applied | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| Single-ended shear beam | Compression, one end bolted down, load on the other end | Floor scales, pallet scales, platforms, tanks and hoppers (usually 4 cells) |
| S-type (S-beam) | Tension or compression through threaded ends | Hanging and crane scales, hoppers on rods, test rigs |
| Pancake (tension/compression) | Through a threaded center hub, either direction | Force testing, presses, high-capacity weighing |
| Low-profile compression disk | Compression on top, in a short height | Very high capacities where height is limited |
| Single point | Load anywhere on a platform mounted to one cell | Bench, retail and small platform scales |
Shear beam load cells
A single-ended shear beam is bolted at one end and loaded at the other. It is the workhorse of floor and platform scales because it is compact, easy to mount, and tolerant of loads that are not perfectly centered on the cell. Four of them under a deck, wired through a junction box, make a typical floor scale. Examples we stock: the MNM Scales ZEMIC H8C 2,500 lb single-ended beam load cell, NTEP, the MNM Scales GX-1-SSH-5K stainless steel washdown shear beam, 5,000 lb, NTEP for wet areas, and the GX-1-20K large envelope shear beam, 20,000 lb for heavy-duty decks. More on floor scales in our floor scale buying guide.
S-type load cells
An S-type load cell is shaped like the letter S, with a threaded hole at each end. It works in tension, hanging a load below it, or in compression. That makes it the common choice for hanging scales, crane scales, hoppers suspended on rods and test fixtures. Examples: the MNM Scales MS-1-500 500 lb S-type load cell and the MNM Scales MS-1-5K 5,000 lb S-type load cell, both alloy steel. Choosing a complete hanging scale instead? See how to choose a crane scale.
Pancake and low-profile compression load cells
A pancake load cell is a flat, round cell with a threaded hub in the center. It measures in both tension and compression and is common in force testing, presses and material testing; see compression scale vs force gauge vs load cell. Examples: the MNM Scales IDS-672-1K pancake load cell, 1,000 lb and the MNM Scales IDS-672-10K pancake load cell, 10,000 lb. For very high loads where height is limited, a low-profile compression disk such as the MNM Scales 100,000 lb low-profile compression load cell sits under the load in a short height.
Single point load cells
A single point load cell carries a whole platform on one cell and is built to read the same wherever the load sits on the platform, within the cell’s rated platform size. Bench scales, retail scales and many small platform scales use one. Example: the MNM Scales LC-4204-K300 300 kg single point load cell: aluminum, IP54, 5 m cable, for platforms up to 600 x 700 mm.
How to choose the right load cell type
- How the load is applied: hanging or pulling points to S-type; a deck or tank on legs points to shear beams; a press or fixture points to pancake or compression cells; a small platform points to a single point cell.
- Capacity: size each cell for its share of the load, plus the weight of the deck or vessel, with a margin for off-center and shock loads. Our load cell buying guide walks through the math.
- Material and sealing: alloy steel suits dry areas; stainless steel and sealed cells suit washdown and outdoor use (see our washdown scales guide).
- Approval: for a legal-for-trade scale, use NTEP-approved load cells, such as the H8C and GX-1-SSH-5K above.
- Output and wiring: match the mV/V output and the 4-wire or 6-wire cable to your indicator, and do not shorten the cable.
- Mounting: mounting hardware and junction boxes are not included with bare load cells unless the listing says so.
Common load cell problems
The issues our technicians see most are load cells that go bad after heavy use or overload, cut or crushed cables, moisture in the cable or junction box, and indicators where someone entered calibration mode or changed a setting by accident. If readings drift, will not return to zero, or change depending on where the load sits, check the cables and the junction box first. Our technicians repair scales in our shop and on-site (see scale repair in Houston).
Indicators and calibration after a load cell change
A new load cell needs an indicator to read it and a calibration once it is installed. The MNM Scales LP7515 indicator is rated 4.9/5 by Amazon reviewers; see LP7515 indicator calibration, or browse scale indicators. MNM Scales is TDA licensed with registered technicians. In the Houston area, on-site service is $295 plus $2 per mile, round trip, charged once per visit, with calibration priced per scale on top (see industrial scale calibration in Houston).
Why buy from MNM Scales
- Load cells, junction boxes, indicators and cables from one company, quoted by phone
- One of the largest scale distributors and an authorized dealer for the brands we sell, in business since 1992 (over 30 years)
- In-house calibration with a certificate, or NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate; mail-in calibration also covers scales bought elsewhere and is usually done within 1–3 business days after we receive the scale
- TDA licensed with registered technicians; on-site service in the Houston area is $295 plus $2 per mile, round trip, charged once per visit, with calibration priced per scale
- Scale rentals of all types of scales
- Order pickup at our shop, 21249 FM 529 Rd, Cypress, TX, by appointment
- Phone answered 24/7 at (832) 290-3120
Need a load cell? Call or send us the type, capacity, quantity and cable length, and we will quote the right cell for your scale.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of load cells?
The main types are shear beam, S-type, pancake or low-profile compression, and single point load cells. They differ in shape and in how the load is applied.
Which load cell is used in a floor scale?
Most floor scales use four single-ended shear beam load cells, one at each corner, wired to the indicator through a junction box.
What is an S-type load cell used for?
S-type load cells are used for hanging and crane scales, suspended hoppers and test rigs, because they measure in tension as well as compression.
What is a single point load cell?
A single point load cell supports a whole platform on one cell and reads the same wherever the load sits on the platform, within its rated platform size. Bench and retail scales often use one.
Are load cells for legal-for-trade scales different?
For a legal-for-trade scale, use NTEP-approved load cells. We stock NTEP shear beam load cells such as the MNM Scales ZEMIC H8C and GX-1-SSH-5K.
How much does a load cell cost?
Load cells are quoted by phone. Call (832) 290-3120 or request a quote online with the type, capacity, quantity and cable length you need.