in a region of elastic element 7 that is designed to be largely load free strain gauges can be used to detect changes in the shape of expansions or compressions on the surface of components strain gauges make it possible to determine loads by experimentation and to formulate a claim about the load on the material in its actual range of application strain gauge 8 is composed e g of a film strain gauge wherein the measuring grid film is composed of resistance wire that is approximately 3 to 8 u03bcm thick the measuring grid film is laminated and etched out on a thin plastic carrier and is equipped with electrical contacts in a special embodiment strain gauge 8 includes a second thin plastic film on its top side the second plastic film is securely bonded to the carrier in order to mechanically protect the measuring grid in a further embodiment a plurality of strain gauges is disposed on one carrier in a defined geometry constantan or nicr compounds are used in film strain gauges the shape of the measuring grid is dependent on its use and is oriented to the specific applications the length of the measuring grid is approximately 0 2 to 150 mm the carrier films of strain gauges 8 9 are composed of acrylic.