Versatile temperature control system for strain gage curing

For the production of strain gage transducers, hot curing adhesives are generally used to ensure complete transfer of the strain from the measurement object surface into the strain gages. Optimum temperature curves for hot curing and postcuring of strain gage installation are different according to adhesive models and manufactures. Commercial curing ovens with temperature control functions are expensive in general to buy. Thus, in this paper, we develop a cheap but versatile temperature-controlled oven system for strain gage installation using an oven and a thermocouple, which is small, light and easy to use, and can be applied to almost all kinds of adhesives and strain gages. The performance of the developed temperature-controlled oven system for strain gage curing has been demonstrated by experimental works.