As technology has progressed, test and measurement systems are becoming more advanced and capable for a wide variety of applications and industries. This is because manufacturers want more data in the product development process to create better products, and they need solutions that can perform in any condition, especially when running field testing. This is increasingly important in force measurement as real-world testing is paramount to a safe and reliable product. And with the need for real-world force testing comes the need for sensors that can work effectively in hazardous environments including rain, wind, underwater, explosive environments, and exposed conditions.
Fortunately, sensor hardware has come a long way in terms of the protection we are able to provide for the internal electronics. Varied materials and component construction allow us to make standard and custom sensors built for a variety of environments. In this article, we will introduce the most popular hardware material (metal), along with sealing and protection methods. We will answer why certain metals and methods are best based on the environmental conditions, as well as provide examples in which force measurements sensors can optimally perform.4