Load Cells and Force Sensors

While SMD sensors are used in a vast array of applications from automotive to automation and undersea to outer-space, two markets stand out as extraordinary opportunities: medical instrumentation and pressure measurement. Medical instrumentation manufacturers are adding sensing capabilities for closed loop feedback control at an ever-increasing rate. SMD's twenty-two years' experience in design combined with the flexibility of its proprietary thin film technology position the company as an unparalleled medical sensor supplier. Inorganic dielectrics linked with precision thin film resistor circuitries are ideal for medical sensing requirements. Applications included noninvasive disposable set pressure sensing, reagent reservoir flow and weight sensing, tocodynamometers, medical scales, bag sensing, plus orthopedic and physical therapy. Pressure transducers are an ideal application for our proprietary sputtered thin film strain gauge technology. Long-term stability is so superior that SMD sensors are the core sensing technology in some pressure calibrators used to calibrate other manufacturer's pressure transducers! Temperature coefficients are orders of magnitude better than silicon transducers and are linear from -40°C to +150°C. Stainless steel and Hastelloy™ wetted surfaces offer superior performance. Diaphragm sensors can include integral RTD's, 500Vac dielectric strength, and ranges of 30 psi through 30,000 psi (2 bar though 2000 bar). Lower range pressure sensors to inches of water full scale are available.

SMD provides a seemingly infinite variety of sensors to accurately measure force, pressure, acceleration, and other physical parameters. Approximately 90% of SMD products are custom designed; these sensors meet the more specialized needs of OEM’s. SMD’s peerless engineering team designs sensors for unique requirements and aggressive cost targets. Typical specialized requirements include small sizes, high temperature, low capacities, “Cenelec” dielectric, and overload-proof sensors. SMD’s familiarity with state-of-the-art medical products, has led to the development of complete, value-added, SMD produced subassemblies, which incorporate one or more sensors, signal conditioning, electronics, and other features. Products range from sensors to fully packaged transducers all the way to data acquisition systems. This value-added capability is becoming one of the fastest growing parts of the business.