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Transducer-Class ® Strain Gages

Gage Series

Transducer-Class gages are available in the following combinations of grid alloys and backings:

N2A Open-faced constantan-alloy patterns constructed on a thin, laminated, polyimide-film backing. This series is capable of low and repeatable creep performance. Construction is very rugged,which will help prevent gage handling damage.

J2A Encapsulated constantan-alloy patterns. Both the encapsulation and backing are thin, laminated polyimide film. Gage soldering tabs are exposed for simplified lead connections. Creep performance is equal to the N2A Series, although the presence of an encapsulating layer will require a change in creep code selection to maintain the same performance.

EA Open-faced constantan-alloy patterns with a flexible cast-polyimide backing. Creep scatter is somewhat more pronounced than with all other series. Consequently, EA gages are normally available with only one creep code per pattern.

N2K Open-faced modified-Karma-alloy patterns constructed on a thin, laminated, polyimide-film backing. More rugged and flexible than the TK or SK Series, N2K gages are popular for transducer applications where lower cost K-alloy gages are desired. All N2K gages are supplied with copper soldering pads (DP) for ease of leadwire attachment. Most gages in the N2K Series can also be modulus compensated.

N3K Special, open-faced, modified-Karma-alloy patterns constructed on an ultrathin, laminated polyimide-film backing. Their small size and high resistance (5000 ohms) makes them ideally suited for 4 to 20 mA process control transmitters and battery-operated systems. All N3K gages are supplied with a copper soldering pad (DP) on each gage tab.

TK Open-faced modified-Karma-alloy patterns with a thin, reinforced, laminate backing. These gages have a higher operating temperature range and greater fatigue life than N2A , J2A , EA , N2K , or N3K gages. However, they are generally more costly. Most gages in the TK Series can also be modulus compensated. All TK gages are supplied with a copper soldering pad (DP) on each gage tab.

SK Fully encapsulated, modified-Karma-alloy patterns with a preformed solder dot on each gage tab. Both backing and encapsulation are thin, reinforced, laminated material. Due to the relatively stiff backing and encapsulation, SK-Series gages are less flexible than all other series and care must be exercised in handling and bonding. Some SK patterns can be supplied with modulus compensation (EMC) options.

J5K Encapsulated, modified-Karma-alloy patterns specially constructed to improve gage performance at elevated temperatures. Because of the laminated polyimide-film backing and encapsulation, all J5K patterns are fully flexible without being brittle. Copper soldering pads (DP) are exposed for simplified lead connections. Some J5K gages can be supplied with modulus compensation (EMC) options. For best high-temperature performance, J5K-Series gages should be installed with M-Bond 450 high-temperature adhesive.

J5E A family of platinum-tungsten-alloy patterns constructed with a thin, flexible polyimide backing. Sensing grids are fully encapsulated by a polyimide film overlay and include a preformed solder dot on each gage tab. With a gage factor more than double that of conventional strain gages, platinum-tungsten-alloy patterns provide standard transducer output levels at less than half the normal spring-element stress values. This allows for higher overload safety, increased fatigue life, and improved linearity in many transducer designs. A negative gage-factor-versus-temperature slope also provides modulus compensation in many types of steel transducer spring elements. A relatively high thermal output of platinum-tungsten alloy makes precision static measurements difficult.

Specification Comparison Table