Measuring torque generated by motors or brakes can be accomplished via directly coupling a rotary torque sensor inline with the motor shaft or mounting the motor directly to a reaction torque sensor. However, sometimes neither of these solutions work, such as with a torque dynamometer. In this case, a load cell is used and the equation Torque = Force x Distance is used to convert the measured force to torque.
How it Works
- A brake has a moment arm attached with a fixed distance to the center of the axis of rotation.
- At the end of the moment arm, an K-2145 load cell is attached to measure the force generated through the arm as the brake generates torque as it resists motion
- In this scenario, the K-2145 is ideal, since it is highly resistant to extraneous loads and can resistant sudden changes in motor output.
- The signal generated by the K-2145 is then amplified via an Amplifier to be sent to a DAQ, displayed by an IPE50 Panel Mount Display, or logged using the LCV USB Output Module on a PC running software.
- Any force measured by the K-2145 can simply be multiplied by the distance to the center of the motor to derive the torque via the equation: Torque = Force x Distance.
- Force to Torque Conversion can be performed automatically, in real time, using the math function on the included in VS3.
- Additionally, the Amplifier can be used to monitor the torque via the VS3 software while generating an analog output for closing the loop with a motor controller.
