Robust strain sensors for heavy duty applications

At this year's Sensor+Test, STW will be presenting the SMX.dms-a strain sensors. They record force, weight and vibration in a wide variety of demanding applications, both mobile and stationary.

Strain sensors play an important role in ensuring the safe and reliable operation of mobile machines and stationary systems. The sensors detect mechanical deformations in load carrying structures, for example bridges, chassis, steel girders, railway tracks or wind turbines. With the SMX.dms-a sensors, STW offers particularly robust and easy to install strain sensors for applications with high demands from the acting forces and the prevalent environmental conditions.

With protection class up to IPX9K, an operating temperature range of -40 ... +85 °C and a minimum measured value deviation over the entire temperature range, they are suitable for use under the most adverse conditions, for example in presses, mobile machinery or in tunneling and mining equipment. There, the strain sensors monitor critical machine structures, measure axle loads or are used for load detection in lifting systems and for collision detection. The SMX.dms-a sensors contribute to the condition monitoring of safety-relevant systems and prevent unplanned and costly machine downtimes. Strain sensors therefore play an important role in protecting people and machines and ensuring the productivity and efficiency of the work process.

The SMX.dms-a strain sensors can be parameterized in the measuring range from 120 μm/m to 2000 μm/m, with a configurable offset.

In addition to their robustness, the sensors offer user-friendly installation and retrofitting. The SMX.dms-a has a height of just 25 mm and can therefore be integrated into very confined installation spaces, especially useful in existing systems.

The SMX.dms-a provides a digital (CAN) or analogue output and supports the STW open-source software platform openSYDE. openSYDE supports the integration, parameterization, commissioning and monitoring of the sensors.

STW will be showing these solutions and technologies at Sensor+Test in Nuremberg from 11-13 June in Hall 1, Stand 508.

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