Today’s modern engine compartments are optimized to consume nearly every cubic inch of space under the hood. This limited space makes it difficult to add instrumentation that measure engine and transmission mount forces, without compromising the engine position. Michigan Scientific Corporation’s TR3D load cells have a compact design and are ideal for incorporating into engine mounts to measure three perpendicular forces. Michigan Scientific has a range of TR3D load cells that are small enough to fit into light passenger cars and strong enough to be used in Class 8 trucks or agricultural equipment.
How Load Cells are Used to Develop New Vehicles
Developing a new vehicle takes much time and care so that it has optimum operation while keeping the driver and passengers safe. During the design, it is critical to know engine mount forces. TR3D load cells pick up events such as engine start-up and acceleration and can measure dynamic forces on a test track or simulator. This data can be used to design for chassis durability and to verify dynamic computer modeling.
Integrating Load Cells into Test Vehicles
TR3D load cells can be easily installed into engine mounts without changing the position of the engine or other components, while also keeping rubber isolators and other compliance materials intact. Michigan Scientific’s Application Engineers design custom stainless steel or aluminum adapters and set up load cells for accurate measurements. In order to do this, the Engineers take CAD data of the vehicle components, dissect them, and design custom adapters, that are specific to each vehicle.
The custom engine mount adapters are designed to minimize bending loads and cross-talk sensitivity without interfering with the surrounding components. Adapters can be made by modifying existing parts or by machining them from scratch in Michigan Scientific’s in-house machine shop.
Michigan Scientific Corporation’s TR3D load cells are an accurate and reliable way to acquiring data about engine and transmission mount forces. They can be incorporated into a vehicle without changing the position of the engine or removing isolators, allowing the most accurate test conditions possible. Michigan Scientific’s engineers will work with you to design custom adapters to replicate your existing engine mounts. If you are interested in measuring engine mount forces on a vehicle, please contact a Michigan Scientific engineer today.