{"id":2149,"date":"2019-10-30T00:38:50","date_gmt":"2019-10-30T07:38:50","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-03-07T15:35:58","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T23:35:58","slug":"2149","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/2149","title":{"rendered":"Problems with force sensor giving bad readings because hex barrel has been removed and improperly reinstalled."},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article refers to the following products:<br \/> <a href=\"\/product\/dual-range-force-sensor\/\">Dual-Range Force Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>DFS-BTA<\/nobr>)<br \/> <a href=\"\/product\/wireless-dynamics-sensor-system\/\">Wireless Dynamics Sensor System<\/a> (<nobr>WDSS<\/nobr>)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both of these sensors have a hexagonal barrel, or standoff, extending from the sensor case. This part is firmly attached to the load cell with a tiny lock washer, and should not be removed. It is often reinstalled incorrectly, without the lock washer.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/10\/2149-DFS_lock-washer_attach.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-23521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/10\/2149-DFS_lock-washer_attach.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/10\/2149-DFS_lock-washer_attach-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/10\/2149-DFS_lock-washer_attach-381x285.jpg 381w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When installed without the lock washer, the sensor gives poor force readings, often much too large. This can be an issue when replacing a broken part, or when someone unscrews the hex standoff and loses the washer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When driven too far into its threaded hole, the hexagonal barrel contacts with the structural member that includes the strain gage.  It bumps up against it enough to create a faulty high force reading.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the washer is missing, the extender threads go too far in and can cause problems. Tip: When re-attaching the hex extender to the body of the sensor, use pliers to attach it tightly. If it is only &#8220;finger tight&#8221;, there is a chance it will unscrew whenever anyone detaches the hook.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the washer is missing, contact Vernier Technical Support to get a replacement. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may also be able to find them at a local hardware store as a Steel Split Lock Washer &#8211; for Number 6 Socket Head Screws, 0.148&#8243; ID, 0.216&#8243; OD.<br \/>\nAlso sold by McMaster:<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mcmaster.com\/#90073a007\/=13zvdxd\">http:\/\/www.mcmaster.com\/#90073a007\/=13zvdxd<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article refers to the following products: Both of these sensors have a hexagonal barrel, or standoff, extending from the sensor case. This part is&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43901,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3514,3509,472,3513,3511,3512,3510],"class_list":["post-2149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-barrel-tiny-washer","tag-dfs-wdss-gdx-for","tag-dfs-bta","tag-hexagonal-hex-standoff","tag-strain-gage","tag-strain-guage","tag-thread"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43901"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2149\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}