Glossary Category: Core Force Measurement Concepts

A standardized rating that defines the allowable measurement error of a force instrument as a percentage of its full-scale capacity.

The maximum force a dynamometer or force gauge is rated to measure accurately without damage or permanent deflection.

A suspended weighing device that measures the load of an object while it is being lifted by a crane, hoist, or rigging system.

A calibrated instrument used to measure mechanical force — typically tension, compression, or load — in industrial, utility, and testing applications.

A compact, handheld instrument for measuring push or pull forces in quality control, field testing, and assembly verification applications.

The process of quantifying the amount of push, pull, tension, compression, or torque applied to an object, using calibrated instruments that convert mechanical force into a readable value.

The maximum measurable value of an instrument; used as the reference point for expressing accuracy, resolution, and error as a percentage.

A transducer that converts a mechanical force into an electrical signal, typically used as a fixed component in industrial weighing and process control systems — distinct from a dynamometer.

A built-in design feature that prevents permanent damage to a dynamometer when an applied force temporarily exceeds the instrument’s rated capacity.

A verification procedure in which a component or structure is subjected to a specified test load — typically 1.25x to 2x its rated working load — to confirm structural integrity before service.

A controlled procedure in which a specified tensile force is applied to a component, connection, or structure to verify it meets a minimum holding or breaking strength requirement.

The smallest increment of force that an instrument can detect and display, expressed in the same unit as the instrument’s capacity.