Method and apparatus for making load measuring pick-ups less sensitive

Abstract

A measuring pick-up or detector shall be made less sensitive against off-center load applications if necessary. At least it must be made certain that the off-center load sensitivity is within a permissible tolerance range. For this purpose the sensor body (1A, 1', SB) of the detector (1) to which there is applied at least one pick-up element or strain gage (5), is held for each load application in a different fixed position in a mounting (2) in such a way that, spaced from the clamping position a test load can be applied in a direction deviating from the direction and/or position of the axis of symmetry (CA, AS) of the sensor body (1A, 1', SB). A respective output signal is measured and correlated to the applied test load. At least one additional test load of the same size is applied in a different load application direction, and the respective output signal is again measured and correlated to the second test load. Then, the output signals are evaluated with reference to a tolerance range (TR) stored in a memory of a control unit (11) to determine whether a tuning of the sensor body is necessary to make the pick-up less sensitive. If such tuning is necessary, at least one tuning is performed. The tuning may be a mechanical material removal from the sensor body and/or as an electrical tuning by resistor adjustments.