In the beginning of rolling mill time there were no load cells. Mill setup was entrusted to the skills of experienced operators who made careful manual adjustments on a slab to slab or strip to strip basis.
When strain gages, and then extensometers, and finally load cells became available, they were used to monitor roll force at first only for research purposes, and then to warn mill operators of impending overload.
In the 1950's everything changed when Automatic Gage Control (AGC) was applied to both single and multi-stand mills. The computers running AGC algorithms required input from sensors in and around each mill stand, and the most important parameter was roll force. Load cells became critical components of AGC systems.
Over the years many different kinds of roll force load cells have been developed and applied to mills - strain gage based, magnetic, capacitive, pneumatic, etc. - but most have long been abandoned.
Today KELK Rollmax Load Cells are widely acknowledged to be the best of the best. Incorporating strain gages as sensing elements and constructed from solid, high strength stainless steel forgings, they are always the strongest part of any millstand, and have outlived all competitive products when used as replacements in the same mills.
With higher overload capability, better accuracy, superior temperature compensation, lower error from uneven loading, and an incredible warranty, KELK Rollmax Load Cells are always the best value.
KELK Strain Gage Extensometers
Extensometers are simple, economical sensors attached to rolling mill housings to measure the strain in the housing posts resulting from roll force. Roll force can be derived from these measurements, but due to outside influences, these calculated results can never be as accurate as direct load cell force measurement.
However, there are applications in which strain gage extensometers can provide useful rolling information, and in such cases KELK can provide extensometers that are superior to all competitive products.
