Industrial Terminology Glossary – S
S.I. (System International)
System International, the new name for the Metric System, establishes international standard definitions for the ampere, kelvin, second, metre, kilogram, candela, and mole. All other measurements are derivations of these seven standards.
Safety Factor
The ratio of a material’s strength to an expected strain, used to determine the maximum load that a piece of equipment can handle before breaking.
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
An international maritime treaty which sets minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships.
Sample Rate
The number of times per second an electrical signal is sampled (measured), expressed in Hertz. For example, when measuring voltage with a multimeter the multimeter samples the voltage some number of times per second, then displays an average of some number of samples.
Scale (Delineated)
A series of marks or points at known intervals used to define quantities of a measurement on a measuring device.
Scale (Weight or Mass)
Any of a variety of devices used to measure the acceleration due to gravity (weight) of a mass.
A systematic method for categorizing scales by their precision and accuracy levels. The higher the scale class, the finer the scale’s accuracy. Read More…
Secondary Junction
An unwanted connection between a pair of thermocouple wires tending to produce a signal representative of the secondary junction temperature rather than the measuring junction temperature.
Sense
In load cells, leads used to sense the excitation voltage at the load cell and adjust for unexpected resistance variations in copper wiring.
Sensitivity
Refers to a measuring instrument’s responsiveness to a change in environment.
Sensitivity Drift
Defines the amount by which an instrument’s sensitivity of measurement varies as ambient conditions change.
A servo, short for “servomechanism,” serves as a sophisticated feedback control system integral in numerous applications to achieve precise control over the position of a mechanical system. Read More…
Setpoint
The target value for a specific variable in a control system
A setup block, sometimes called a tri-block, is used in machining fields, typically to aid in setup of milling applications. It is a block of steel that is precisely squared and parallel.
Settling Time
The time elapsed from the application of an ideal instantaneous step input to the time at which the instrument output has entered and remained within a specified error band.
Shaker Testing
Shield
A sheath of conductive material that when properly grounded protects against electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference.
Shift Test
Assesses the weighing reliability of a scale under off-center loading
Shunt
A calibrated low resistance connected in series with a current source and in parallel with the input terminals of a voltmeter in order to enable measurement of currents in an electrical circuit.
Side Load
Any weight or load acting perpendicular to the main axis of force in a load cell system.
Signal Conditioner
A circuit module which offsets, attenuates, amplifies, linearizes and/or filters the signal for input to the A/D converter. The typical output span of a signal conditioner is ±2 VDC.
Single In-line Package (SIP)
A computer chip package that contains only a single set of in-line pins.
Signal Trim
Method in a multicell system of load cells that places a variable resistor across the signal leads to adjust the output signal voltage
A critical precision instrument used for highly accurate angle measurement and calibration. Read More…
Single Ended Input
Amplifier with one input referenced to a Resistance/Capacitor or Diode/Resistor circuit used to dissipate transient energy peaks.
Solar Testing
A sound meter, also known as a sound level meter or decibel meter, serves as a tool for quantifying the magnitude of sound. Read More…
Span Adjustment
Means by which the gain of a process or strain meter may be adjusted so that a specified display span in engineering units corresponds to a specified signal span.
Span Calibration
Method of calibrating a strain gauge system in which the full-span value of the equipment and is applied and the display is adjusted so that the corresponding signal from the strain gauge is represented by the appropriate value on the display.
A precise tool used for examining the dimensions of splines, which are raised or tooth-like features on a shaft or hub that engage with corresponding grooves in another part to transmit torque and maintain alignment. Read More…
Stability
Changes in accuracy over a year’s time due to aging of components.
Static Overload Capacity
The maximum capacity which a load cell can be loaded without negatively affecting performance (zero balance etc.) . Measured as a percentage of the nominal load capacity.
Stay Rods
A rod designed to horizontally restrict a component of a weighing system.
Stopwatch
A watch with the ability to start, stop, lap, and reset times.
Strain Gauge
A device that is made of fine wires that are cemented under the test surface and that is used to measure the strain of various forces on an object.
The wires change their resistance by stretching and compressing.
Strain Gauge Amplifier
Amplifies the small signal from a strain gauge
Sublimation Point
That temperature at which certain solids will pass to the vapor state without passing through the liquid state
Also referred to as solar testing, sun simulation testing is a type of environmental testing which subjects products to radiation mimicking that of the sun. Sun simulation testing often includes the control and exposure of other environmental test parameters such as temperature and humidity as well.
Suppressor
A passive device which partially or wholly limits electrical interference or noise. A MOV (metal oxide varistor) is a noise suppressor.
A solid and flat slab that serves as a fundamental reference plane for exacting tasks such as inspection, precise marking, and setup of machinery and tools. Read More…
The quantification of small deviations and irregularities present on a surface, typically resulting from the methods used during manufacturing, such as cutting, grinding, or casting. Read More…
Synchronous Motor
An AC motor whose speed is exactly proportional to the frequency of the applied alternating voltage.
