Load testing: Need a simple instrument to mesure force.

[racookpe1978]

Odd problem, but I need to evaluate and recommend improvements for the hand-operated clamps for our remote-site toolrooms: The long "furniture clamps" ones we use are hardware-store quality, and it would be charitable to pretend they merely fail.

C-clamps are still available, but they are limited to 10" and have a number of other problems including weight, capacity, access, restrictions on use and the basic "slipperiness" of the small pads.

One measure I wanted to compare was clamping force between various brands, but can't find a simple, practical (cheap) but usably accurate gage (say +/- 5 lbs) to measure the force being created.

Where do I start looking for a gage or meter that reads out in kg or pounds (like a scale does) but would measure "horizontal" forces squeezing together or pushing apart?

Given a gage, I can some up with some sort of test rig or jig, but the gage/meter is stumping me.

 

[desertfox]

hi racookpe1978

What came to mind it first was a load cell, but could you make spring balance knowing the spring characteristic's then measure its compression to obtain force.

desertfox

 

[MintJulep]

A spring and a ruler.

 

[GregLocock]

A hydraulic or pneumatic button and a pressure gauge.

Actually quite tricky to do cheaply.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[hydtools]

Use a bathroom scale. If you can not apply the clamp load confidently near the center of the scale, set up a lever arm to press on the scale as you apply a clamp to the end of the lever an a fixed table to which the scale and lever are mounted. Knowing the lever ratio you can calculate the applied clamp load.

Ted

 

[unclesyd]

I believe that you could rig up one of these valve spring testers to do the job. I've seen them for around $60.00. These have 10 pound increments so you should be able interpolate to 5 pounds.

http://www.proformparts.com/mistore/Wc307526534794.htm

 

[Ron]

Dillon makes gages to do what you want...here's a link

http://www.dillon-force.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=9&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

 

[SnTMan]

One of my college projects was a hydraulic load cell, really pretty cheap and easy to make, if you got a machine shop.

Regards,

Mike

 

[racookpe1978]

Bookmarked, thanks for the info and recommendations.

Now, I just have to get the boss to get me a bigger budget. 8<)

 

[unclesyd]

You can buy the valve spring tester on E-Bay for $59. If you need more resolution just install a different gauge.

 

[SnTMan]

Well, for the price, the valve spring tester looks like the way to go.

Regards,

Mike

 

[racookpe1978]

Checking it. Robert