Figure shows the inside of a column-type loadcell. The positions of the foil type active and passive strain gauges and their connections can clearly be discerned. These gauges together with their trimming and temperature compensating resistors are wired into a Wheatstone bridge network. The column and base are machined from a one piece forging of special heat-treated high tensile steel. Since that time, however, strain gauges have proliferated both as mechanical scale components and in stand-alone load cells. Today, except for specific laboratories where precision mechanical balances are still used, strain gauge load cells dominate the weighing industry. Resistance Strain Guage Loadcells The loadcell is completed by a cast iron case which encloses the gauged portion, being sealed by O-rings at the top using the machined grooves. The case also carries the output cable socket. The typical cell having a nominal capacity of 20 tons is about 3.5 inches high including the cap and suffers a compression of about 0.006 inch at full load to give an output of some 18mV with a standard input of 10V. An 800 tons cell would be about 17.5 inches high and would compress about 0.025 inch for a similar output. Combined errors are claimed not to exceed + or- 0.1%. The problems of non-axial loading almost disappear if the loadcell can be used in tension instead of compression. In many cases this is not convenient, but when it is, loadcells of the kind illustrated in fig. are available for the purpose.