Load Cell Scale

To meet the project requirements, I implemented a mechanical advantage system that applied a 1:3 force ratio onto the load cell from the weighing platform. To process the load cell signal, I used an AD623 instrumentation amplifier along with a digital filter to remove noise. The weight readings were then translated to rotary motion using a NEMA 17 pancake stepper motor driven by a TB6600 stepper driver. A coupled potentiometer with a 3:1 gear reduction was used to read the motor’s angular displacement for feedback and calibration.

For the initial testing of the electronics, I connected the components to an Arduino to verify their compatibility and functionality. Once the system was validated, I transitioned to programming the final setup using NI LabVIEW, which operates with a block diagram interface. I first developed a program to acquire sensor data, incorporating several input fields that allowed me to adjust parameters in real-time to achieve accurate load cell readings. Next, I created a stepper motor control module based on the logic from my Arduino C code, utilizing nested loops and timed intervals to rotate the motor with precise step control and speed. Finally, I integrated both block diagrams into a single LabVIEW program to achieve a fully functional system.