Six load components at the wheel center, while the vehicle is driven.
A wheel force transducer measures every load the road puts into the vehicle, at the wheel and while it is driven, to develop its durability, handling, ride and efficiency. Michigan Scientific has designed and built them for more than 25 years. The LW and LW-2T series run from 25 to 700 kN, rugged enough for daily use in the field, precise on all six components and simple to fit on any vehicle.
Two adapters made for your vehicle, a transducer, a telemetry transmitter or a slip ring, and one interface box. The transducer is weatherproof and temperature compensated, and each one is calibrated on all six components. To move the system to another vehicle, only the two adapters change.
The only parts made for your vehicle. The hub adapter follows the bolt circle and wheel offset, the rim adapter follows the tire size.
Takes the place of the wheel center. Four-arm strain gage bridges, weatherproof, temperature compensated.
3 forces · 3 moments · 2 accelerations
An inboard telemetry transmitter, powered by induction, or an outboard slip ring with its spinning amplifier. Both digitize the signals on the wheel and fit the same transducer.
also carries wheel speed and angle
A bracket for telemetry, a rod for the slip ring. On a steered wheel, the stator angle correction device (SAC) corrects the wheel angle in real time, so the loads are resolved into vehicle axes with the right angle and no custom over-the-wheel bracket is needed.
In the cabin. Resolves the loads into vehicle axes and corrects the crosstalk between components, in real time, with a front display, a USB-C connection to its embedded web page and IEEE 1588 PTPv2 synchronization.
CAN 2.0 · CAN FD · analog · EtherCAT · Ethernet
Vehicle, static wheel load, peak Fx and Fz, peak My, rim size. Models meeting every criterion, ranked by margin.
Set the criteria. Closest models first.
| Model | Vehicle | Max static load (kg) | Fx, Fz capacity (kN) | My capacity (N·m) | Rim size (in) | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LW Six-axis wheel force transducers sealed to IP67, with slip ring or telemetry, 25 to 65 kN radial: from motorcycles and ATVs to passenger cars, SUVs, light trucks and forklifts. | ||||||
| LW25 | Motorcycles · ATVs · Small cars | 550 | 25 | My 3 400 | 11 in (and larger; 8 in and larger with a two-piece rim adapter) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW50 | Passenger cars · Light trucks | 1 020 | 50 | My 6 500 | 12 in (and larger) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW55 | Forklift trucks · Heavy vehicles with small wheels · Scooters | 1 120 | 55 | My 5 900 | 8 in (and larger) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW60 | Passenger cars · SUVs · Light trucks | 1 225 | 60 | My 9 000 | 12 in (and larger) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW65 | Passenger cars · SUVs · Light trucks | 1 320 | 65 | My 10 500 | 12 in (and larger) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW-2T Six-axis wheel force transducers for heavy loads, 35.6 to 700 kN radial: from ATVs and forklift trucks to class 8 trucks, heavy equipment and hub test rigs. | ||||||
| LW9.5 | ATVs · Utility vehicles · Lightweight vehicles | 725 | 35.6 | My 5 400 | 10 in (and larger) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW-2T-20K | Pick-up trucks · Vans · SUVs | 1 815 | 90 | My 20 000 | 16 in (and larger, single or dual) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW9.5-HS | Forklift trucks · Heavy vehicles with small wheels | 1 900 | 93 | My 9 500 | 10 in (and larger) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW-2T-30K | Commercial vehicles · Medium-duty trucks · Skid steers · Forklift trucks · Off-road equipment | 2 720 | 133 | My 30 000 | 15 in (and larger, single or dual) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW150 | Class 8 trucks | 4 400 | 150 | My 40 000 | 19.5 in (and larger with slip ring; 22.5 in and larger with telemetry) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW-2T-40K | Commercial vehicles · Medium-duty trucks · Skid steers · Forklift trucks · Off-road equipment | 3 630 | 178 | My 40 000 | 15 in (and larger, single or dual) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW-2T-50K | Class 8 trucks | 4 540 | 222 | My 68 000 | 19.5 in (and larger, single or dual) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW-2T-60K-S | Class 8 trucks · Off-road vehicles | 6 125 | 300 | My 81 000 | 20 in (and larger, single or dual) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW-2T-100K | Class 8 trucks · Off-road vehicles · Heavy equipment | — | 445 | My 135 000 | 22.5 in (and larger, single or dual) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW-2T-100K-S | Class 8 trucks · Off-road vehicles | 9 070 | 445 | My 108 000 | 20 in (and larger, single or dual) | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW450 | Heavy equipment | — | 450 | My 135 000 | — | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
| LW700 | Heavy equipment · Construction equipment | 23 800 | 700 | My 275 000 | — | Request a quote Configure Datasheet |
No catalogue model meets every criterion. Custom versions exist: ask us.
Vehicle mass, rim size and test type available? Send them, an application engineer selects the transducer and the adapters. Send the data
All the loads between the road and the vehicle pass through the wheel center. The transducer measures them there, each as an independent signal, expressed in vehicle axes.
The LW and LW-2T series cover radial capacities from 25 to 700 kN, in five vehicle classes. It is the widest wheel force transducer range in the world.
Capacities are the radial force Fx, Fz of the models listed. Wheel force transducers supplied since 1999 to vehicle manufacturers, tire makers, test laboratories and defence.
The assembly takes the place of the wheel on the hub, with no modification to the vehicle. The interface box is set up from its embedded web page, with no software to install. Fitting four wheels takes less than one hour.
Bolt the assembly to the hub, in place of the wheel.
Fix the stator restraint. With the angle correction device, no custom over-the-wheel bracket is needed.
Connect to the embedded web page of the interface box. The front display of the CT3 shows the settings, the serial number of the connected transducer and any error code.
The loads arrive in vehicle axes on CAN, CAN FD, analog, EtherCAT or Ethernet.
Free remote training session with each rental. On-site support and road load data acquisition service are available.
8:51 · Installation and setup of the LW65 telemetry wheel force transducer. The video is loaded from YouTube when you press play.
Three recordings made with LW transducers. The annotations are those of Michigan Scientific.
Right front wheel of an SUV. The vertical force drops at the pothole entrance, then spikes as the suspension compresses at the bottom. The longitudinal force spikes when the wheel hits the edge.
Right front wheel of an SUV. The load transfers from rear to front during braking. Wheel speed and longitudinal force drop each time the ABS releases the brakes.
LW9.5 on a utility vehicle. The force is zero while the wheel is airborne, peaks at landing, and returns to zero when the wheel bounces.
Original charts in lb and mph.
The same transducers, calibration and support either way. A rental can turn into a purchase.
Best forFor a single campaign, a peak of activity, or a first test before investing.
Best forFor recurring tests, a dedicated rig, or a model made to your vehicle.
Custom transducers for unusual bolt patterns, motorsport hubs, agricultural and off-highway wheels are made to order.
Durability Road load data Load spectra at the wheel center for chassis and body durability. 
Dynamics Braking and cornering Forces and moments per wheel during braking, lane change and cornering. 
Test rig Road simulators Drive files and response checks, with the transducer mounted on the rig. 
Winter Snow and ice Telemetry version, weatherproof, no cable through the hub. From the first adapter to each recalibration, the same team follows your transducers.
Service Adapter design Rim and hub adapters designed for your vehicle from its original rim, or a design guide to make them yourself. See the service 
Service Rental Over 30 transducers in the fleet, delivered complete and calibrated, adapters on request. See the service 
Service Calibration All six components, in laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. See the service 
Service Technical support Application engineers by phone, e-mail or on site, and a loan unit for an urgent breakdown. See the service CAD files, brochures and guides to choose, design and set up a wheel force transducer.
A 2D drawing and a 3D model for each LW model, with the datasheets.
On each model’s pageThe range, its system and its applications, to read or to share.
The model for your vehicle, its adapters and the way its stator is held.
The electronics that go with the transducer, and the installation on video.
Choose an LW wheel force transducer when you need the loads the road puts into the vehicle: durability, vehicle dynamics, road load data for a rig. Choose a TW wheel torque transducer, a separate family, when you only need drive and brake torque: driveline efficiency, drag torque, rolling resistance.
The transducer mounts between a rim adapter and a hub adapter designed from the profile of your original rim. Minimum rim size depends on the model, from 8 in for an LW25 with a two-piece rim adapter.
Both carry the same signals and are swappable on the same transducer. The slip ring assembly is wired and contains the encoder. The telemetry transmitter is powered by induction and sends the digitized signals by radio to the telemetry stator, which holds the encoder pick-ups.
Yes. An LW transducer mounts on a rig through flanges or hubs, spinning or not.
Yes. The rental fleet holds over 30 wheel force transducers, commercial vehicle models included, and many adapters. A rent-to-own program, a free remote training session, on-site support and a road load data acquisition service are available.
Send the vehicle, the wheel size and the quantity. You get a configured offer, to buy or to rent.
More details to give? Use the full contact form.
