TC-LB Miniature Load Button Load Cell

Product Description

TC-LB miniature load button overview

The TC-LB is a compression-only miniature load button load cell built from 17-4PH precipitation-hardened stainless steel, designed to measure compressive forces in the tightest and most spatially constrained installations. Its flat, low-profile puck shape and small diameter allow it to be placed between mating surfaces, inside fixtures, or beneath structural joints to capture contact and compressive forces that no conventional load cell geometry could accommodate. Integrated #6-32 UNC mounting threads make fixturing straightforward, and stainless steel construction with IP64 protection ensures reliable performance in harsh and demanding environments. Available in capacities from 100 lbf to 10,000 lbf, the TC-LB is a direct improved-accuracy drop-in replacement for the FUTEK LLB400 series.

Capacity range

100 lbf

up to 10,000 lbf

Rated output

2 mV/V

compression only

Construction

17-4PH

stainless steel / IP64

Safe overload

150%

of rated capacity

Typical applications

The TC-LB is commonly specified wherever a compression force needs to be measured in a confined space where conventional load cell geometries cannot fit.

Clamping and press force monitoring

The TC-LB sits directly between a clamp jaw, press platen, or die face and the workpiece, measuring the actual compressive force being applied. This makes it a practical tool for validating clamping forces in fixtures, monitoring press loads in stamping and forming equipment, and setting up automated assembly presses.

OEM embedded sensing

The flat, low-profile form factor and small outer diameter allow the TC-LB to be embedded directly into machine structures, test fixtures, and mechanical assemblies where a protruding sensor would interfere with the system. Integrated mounting threads allow secure, permanent installation without additional hardware.

Robotic end-effectors

The TC-LB's flat, low-profile form factor allows it to be integrated directly into robotic end-effectors and grippers, measuring the actual contact force applied to a workpiece during pick-and-place, assembly, or insertion tasks. This enables precise force control without adding meaningful bulk or weight to the end-effector assembly.

Automated force feedback and control

With a standard 2 mV/V analog output and shielded 28 AWG cable, the TC-LB connects directly to PLCs, DAQ systems, and force indicators for real-time compression monitoring, overload detection, and closed-loop force control in automated systems where space precludes a larger sensor.

Compression testing in confined spaces

The TC-LB's compact puck geometry makes it the practical choice when a compression test needs to be performed in a location where a standard load cell body would not physically fit, such as inside a housing, beneath a bolt head, or within a small test fixture on a benchtop machine.

Harsh and demanding environments

Built from 17-4PH precipitation-hardened stainless steel with an IP64 rating, the TC-LB withstands dust, light moisture, and the mechanical stresses of industrial and laboratory environments where standard steel sensors would corrode or degrade over time.

Technical notes

Installation and loading

The TC-LB is compression-only and must not be used in tension. Load must be applied concentrically through the dome on the top face. Do not apply load inside the marked exclusion zone around the mounting threads, as off-center or edge loading will produce inaccurate readings and may damage the sensing element. For best results, ensure the mating surface is flat and perpendicular to the axis of loading. The #6-32 UNC mounting threads allow the TC-LB to be screwed securely into a fixture plate or machine structure for permanent installation.

System integration

The TC-LB operates at a rated excitation of 10V AC/DC (20V max) and produces a 2 mV/V analog output signal via a shielded 4-conductor 28 AWG integrated cable (2 ft). It is compatible with any standard force indicator, DAQ system, or PLC analog input accepting a mV/V bridge signal. It is a verified improved-accuracy drop-in replacement for the full FUTEK LLB400 series across all matching capacities.

Key specifications

Rated output 2 mV/V ±0.06% zero bal.	Bridge resistance 700 Ω	Effect on zero ±0.2 µV/V /°F	Effect on span ±0.4 µV/V /°F
Operating temp. range −60°F to +135°F	Insulation resistance ≥500 MΩ at 50V DC	Mounting threads #6-32 UNC	Safe overload 150% of rated capacity

Cable wiring

The TC-LB ships with a 2 ft shielded 4-conductor 28 AWG integrated cable. Standard color code:

■ RED	+Excitation
■ BLACK	−Excitation
■ GREEN	+Signal
■ WHITE	−Signal

Drop-in replacement for

The TC-LB is a direct improved-accuracy substitute for the FUTEK LLB400 series. No wiring or mounting changes are required:

➤	FUTEK FSH04603 (100 lbf)
➤	FUTEK FSH04604 (250 lbf)
➤	FUTEK FSH04605 (500 lbf)
➤	FUTEK FSH04606 (1,000 lbf)
➤	FUTEK FSH04607 (2,000 lbf)
➤	FUTEK FSH04551 (5,000 lbf)
➤	FUTEK FSH04552 (10,000 lbf)

Specifications

PART ID	CAPACITY (lbf)	NONLINEARITY (±lbf)	HYSTERESIS (±lbf)	REPEATABILITY (±lbf)
TC-LB-100LBF	100	0.15	0.15	0.05
TC-LB-250LBF	250	0.375	0.375	0.125
TC-LB-500LBF	500	1.25	1.25	0.25
TC-LB-1KLBF	1000	2.5	2.5	0.5
TC-LB-2KLBF	2000	7	7	1
TC-LB-5KLBF	5000	12.5	12.5	5
TC-LB-10KLBF	10000	25	25	10

Dimensions / 3D Drawings

Download 3D Drawing
TC-LB-5K10Klb.step

Download 3D Drawing
TC-LB-1002Klb.step

Note: You may need a software that can open/view STEP files.

Data Sheets
Download Now

Interchangeable

Transcell Part ID	Futek Series	Futek Crossover
TC-LB-100LBF	LLB400	FSH04603
TC-LB-250LBF	LLB400	FSH04604
TC-LB-500LBF	LLB400	FSH04605
TC-LB-1KLBF	LLB400	FSH04606
TC-LB-2KLBF	LLB400	FSH04607
TC-LB-5KLBF	LLB450	FSH04551
TC-LB-10KLBF	LLB450	FSH04552

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	Compression only Designed for pushing force measurement in tight spaces · IP64 rated · 17-4PH stainless steel
	Same-day shipping In-stock orders ship the same business day · Free 2-day delivery
	Manufacturer direct Designed & supported by Transcell in Buffalo Grove, IL since 1981
	2-year limited warranty US-based technical support included · repair or replace guarantee