The terms torque transducer, torque sensor or torque meter designate an instrument meant to measure a torque, i.e. the product of a force and a lever arm.

A static torque meter or torque sensor is a transducer made of a metallic proof body which receives the torque to be measured and deforms elastically by the application of this force. In modern strain gauge transducers such deformation (strain) is connected to a miniature electric circuit attached to the test specimen, resulting in a modification of the electric resistance. This resistance variation is measured by the Wheatstone bridge method, whereby two legs of the electric circuit are supplied with an analogue voltage, continuous or intermittent, and an analogue voltage variable according to the force applied to the torque transducer is collected between two other legs in the circuit.

Torque is, from the mechanical theory point of view, a vectorial input and the precision measured must take this characteristic into account, as well as other mechanical laws, such as action and reaction principles, action-at-a distance, etc. This approach leads to adopt a number of precautions, both in the design and application of a torque measurement and calibration instrument.

Learn more about torque calibration instruments : torque meter calibration ; torque measurement

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