New Miniature Low-level Force Sensor is Small but Perfectly Formed

The new Type 9215A miniature force sensor from Kistler Instruments is only 23.3mm long and 6.0mm diameter and weighs only 2.5g making it ideal for both laboratory and industrial applications where space is at a premium. This highly sensitive, piezoelectric force sensor is suitable for measuring quasi-static and dynamic tensile and compression forces from 1mN to 200N in three calibrated ranges. The sensor has a sealed DIN 1.4542 stainless steel body with an M5x0.5 external mounting thread and an M2 tapped bore for force input.

The highly sensitive measuring element fitted under low preload gives the sensor very high rigidity with simultaneously low sensitivity to transverse force and acceleration over the -50°C to +180°C operating temperature range. The versatility offered by the three measuring ranges, 2N, 20N and 200N, and the low force sensitivity make the new sensor exceptionally suited to a wide range of applications in product testing and for highly sensitive force measurements in research and development. Typical applications include:

medical device testing; contact force measurement on keys, switches, relays and similar components; measurement of spring characteristics; measurement of electrical connector contacts extraction forces; construction of highly sensitive miniature force plates for wind tunnel measurements; force measurements on automatic assembly machines, robots and micromanipulators.

The sensor comes with a force introducing cap and a fork wrench as standard whilst connecting cables from 1m to 10m are available options. With the cable connected and the O-ring correctly fitted in the cable connector, the plug connection is splash proof to IP65.