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An S-type load cell belongs in a straight force path between two attachments. If the threads are offset, a rod end is seized or an adapter bottoms out before it is seated correctly, the assembly can bend the sensor as it loads it. The result may be a wandering zero, different readings after reassembly or premature damage. This guide concentrates on mounting and replacement checks for METRAVON MV-LC0186 and the lower-capacity MV-LC0190, rather than treating their similar purpose as evidence that the fixtures are interchangeable.
S-Type Load Cell Threads: Capacity Changes the Connection
The MV-LC0186 range includes discrete ratings from 20 kg to 10 t. Its thread specification changes across the range, so ordering a larger capacity can require new joints and a different installation height. Check the exact thread pitch, usable engagement, shoulder clearance and locking arrangement against the selected drawing. A nominal thread diameter alone is not a complete adapter specification.
| MV-LC0186 rating group | Reference attachment size and replacement check |
|---|---|
| 20-150 kg | M8 connection shown. Verify the fitting length and clearance around the smaller body. |
| 200-1000 kg | M12 connection shown across these groups. Body thickness changes between the 200-500 kg and 700-1000 kg drawings. |
| 1.2-5 t | M20 connection shown. Do not retain a smaller joint merely by adding a thread adapter. |
| 7.5 / 10 t | M24 / M32 x 2 respectively. Confirm the complete joint rating, body envelope and installation length. |
The groups above describe the drawing families, not continuous availability at every intermediate capacity. The quotation should state the selected rated load and mating hardware. Joint strength, wear allowance and resistance to unscrewing must suit the application; the load cell rating does not certify the rest of the suspension.
Let the Joint Align Without Letting the Assembly Twist
A correctly selected rod end or clevis can accommodate the movement its bearing permits. It does not remove every side force. Check the actual angle and freedom of movement under load, including the position at the end of a machine stroke. A joint can rotate freely on the bench and bind once a guard, spacer or adjacent frame limits its travel.
During tightening, use the approved holding and locking method for the sensor and fittings. Do not react assembly torque through the sensing section or use the cable as a restraint. No universal tightening torque is given here: it depends on the thread, fastener, engagement and joint design. Record the specified method with the fixture drawing so a maintenance replacement can reproduce it.
For suspended weighing, check swinging and rotation as well as vertical travel. Safety retention must not carry part of the weight during normal measurement. Installation and servicing of a suspended assembly require independent rated support; a live reading is not a substitute for securing the load.
A Small Test Fixture Has a Different Signal Budget
MV-LC0190 provides 1, 5, 20 and 50 kg options. Its reference drawing shows M6 attachment threads, and its standard cable is only 0.2 m. Plan the amplifier position and cable restraint early: a stiff extension or moving connector can become significant when measuring a small force.
The 1 kg option is nominally 0.5 mV/V, while the 5, 20 and 50 kg options are nominally 1.0 mV/V. At 5 V excitation, their calculated full-scale signal changes are 2.5 mV and 5 mV respectively. MV-LC0186 is nominally 2.0 mV/V, giving 10 mV at the same excitation. These are signal-range calculations, not measured calibration results. The actual sensitivity and zero must still be established for the supplied sensor.
Before retaining an existing amplifier, compare its excitation voltage, differential input range and usable resolution at the smallest force of interest. MV-LC0186 lists 4-12 VDC excitation and 385 +/-10 ohm input resistance; MV-LC0190 lists the same excitation range but 350 +/-5 ohm input resistance. Matching the excitation range does not by itself establish the rest of the measurement chain.
Test the Fixtures When the Force Changes Direction
For tension-only use, test the installed assembly in tension. If compression or reversal is required, obtain confirmation of the exact model's permitted loading and calibration in both directions. The product family name is not enough to qualify a compression linkage, and a tension joint may become unstable or develop clearance when the force reverses.
Approach the same reference forces from increasing and decreasing loads. Record zero after unloading, then repeat after the approved fixture reassembly procedure. A shift after reassembly points toward an attachment or seating issue that a single span calibration would miss. Record positive-force convention too, so a PLC or test program does not interpret compression as tension.
Repeated cycling requires more information than a maximum load. Specify the force range, reversal frequency, anticipated cycles and impact events. Neither the overload figures nor a static calibration report establishes fatigue endurance. The force-reversal selection guide covers the broader test-system requirements.
Mounting Questions
Q1. Can I reuse the old rod ends when the thread matches?
Inspect their load rating, wear, thread engagement and available angular movement first. Check the assembled length against the original fixture as well. A matching thread can hide a weaker fitting, a damaged bearing or a different shoulder position. Reuse is reasonable only when those checks support it.
Q2. Why does the reading change when I move the cable?
The cable may be applying a small mechanical force, particularly on a low-capacity fixture. Secure it to the stationary structure with enough slack for the permitted movement and repeat the test. If motion still causes abrupt electrical changes, inspect the cable and termination. Do not compensate for the symptom by repeatedly resetting zero.
Q3. Does an S-type sensor provide a safe lifting assembly?
No. A measurement rating does not approve hooks, joints, retainers or the complete lifting arrangement. Where the sensor forms part of a suspended load path, qualified personnel must assess the entire assembly and applicable requirements. Request the relevant documentation before specifying it for that duty.
Q4. Does the overload percentage cover an impact or a jam release?
It does not describe those events sufficiently. MV-LC0186 lists 150% full-scale safe overload, while MV-LC0190 lists 120%; neither number supplies a permitted impact energy, side load or cycle count. Identify the peak force and direction generated by the mechanism and review protection for that event. Do not use the overload percentage as extra working capacity.
Summary
For an S-type installation, specify the attachments before ordering the sensor. Send METRAVON the rated force, direction, joint drawings, movement and amplifier details through the enquiry page. A quotation tied to those details is more useful than a capacity-only offer, particularly when a replacement changes the thread or signal level.
