There are several different types and shapes of strain
gauge based load cells, including shear beams, bending
beams, buttons, rings and canisters. They are capable of
sensing compression and traction forces and can be used
directly or indirectly in several different applications. For
multidimensional, there are some commercial load cells able
to capture forces along one axis by means of a central rod. The
rod is equipped with strategically positioned strain gauges in
order to acquire not only compression and traction but also the
axes moments. Some types are more sophisticated and capture
the three axes forces and their angular moments with a total of
six components.