The Shimpo FGE-X DART series digital force gauge with liquid crystal display (LCD) measures compression (push) and tensile (pull) forces in quality control and process control applications. The LCD shows either present force measured in real time or the maximum positive or negative peak force measured over the course of a test. It has a measurement accuracy of + or - 0.2 percent of full scale. The gauge has a 1,000-hertz (Hz) sampling rate and updates measurements 1,000 times per second.
The gauge can withstand an overload of up to 200 percent of full-scale capacity. The reversible LCD and keypad provide readability when the gauge is held upside down. The user can adjust the speed at which the display refreshes, for readability. A tracking function adjusts measurements to account for changes in ambient temperature and humidity, which can impact measurement accuracy. The zero function clears a reading on the display and zeroes the meter before measurement for improved accuracy. The display can be set to show compressive force as positive and tensile force as negative, or the other way around. The gauge can be held in one hand during use, or it can be mounted on a compatible stand (not included) for hands-free operation.
A removable hanger allows the gauge to be suspended from a hook or fixture. The gauge comes with one hook, one chisel, one flat head, one notched head, and one cone head sensor attachment that screw onto the sensor shaft for conducting tests on a variety of devices. It also comes with an extension rod for increasing the reach of the gauge's sensor. The unit accepts metric-threaded attachments and comes with a thread adapter for use with attachments that have English thread. The unit's calibration function helps maintain accuracy of measurements. The gauge's body is constructed from die-cast aluminum, which resists wear. The unit automatically shuts off after 10 minutes of non-use to conserve battery life, and a low-battery indicator shows when batteries need to be charged. The gauge operates on one rechargeable nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad) battery (installed), and it comes with an AC/DC power adapter that charges the battery and provides a back-up power source for the gauge.
Force gauges, also called push-pull gauges or tension gauges, measure the tensile (pull) or compression (push) force applied to an object. They are used to test the strength and functionality of a variety of machines, electronic components, cables, wires, and consumer products in scientific, medical, automotive, quality assurance, and manufacturing applications. A digital force gauge shows the amount of force in digits on the gauge's display. Response time varies among digital force gauges depending on the speed of the processor. An analog (or mechanical) force gauge shows measurements on a calibrated dial. Analog force gauges are not as precise as digital force gauges, but they provide instantaneous measurements and can be used in a wider range of environmental conditions than digital force gauges. Hooks, compression plates, levers, handles, test stands, and other accessories can be used with the gauge for taking measurements on objects with a range of shapes and sizes.