Digital Scales
How to Calibrate a Digital Scale
When it comes to explaining how to calibrate a digital scale, here’s a bit of reassurance: Calibrating a digital scale is not that complicated. Because scale calibration is important – required by law in many instances – we offer these instructions on why and how often digital scales should be calibrated.
We’re talking not only precision scales and analytical balances able to weigh in grams and milligrams but also industrial scales weighing in pounds, sales used for recipes, determining percentages, totalizing, counting and other functions used in industry today.
Why you Should Know How to Calibrate a Digital Scale
First of all, as noted above, in many instances it’s required by law. Another source is the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Weights and Measures Program Requirements, which provides detailed information on this topic.
Why Calibrated Scales are Important
All of us are familiar with transactions where scale accuracy … Read the rest
How to Maintain a Digital Crane Scale
A digital crane scale, while ruggedly constructed to perform heavy lifting and weighing functions, is also a precision instrument that must be maintained on a regular basis. While maintenance is important for any weighing instrument from an accuracy standpoint, heavy-duty crane scales must be checked regularly to avoid a mechanical failure that could cause a load to drop with potential disastrous results.
Crane scale manufacturers such as Kern, whose products are offered by Tovatech, provide maintenance instructions as part of their operations manuals. We’ll use here as an example the Kern HTS industrial hanging scale available in four models with maximum weight capacities from 1500 to 10,000 kg (~3,300 to 22,000 pounds) The scale is powered by a rechargeable battery and is shipped with an infrared, battery-powered remote control with a range of approximately 25 feet.
Crane Scale Maintenance Guidelines
Key lifting components on crane scales … Read the rest
Dual-Range Industrial Platform Scales with Bluetooth Interface
Scales used in industrial locations can be exposed to a variety of contaminants as well as stresses and strains during their lifetime.
A new family of dual-range industrial platform scales with high ingress protection (IP) ratings against dust and liquids are ideal for general weighing, piece counting, tolerance weighing and filtering out vibrations in harsh operating environments. The dual-range Kern SXS series, available from Tovatech, features an extremely rugged stainless steel platform structure resistant to bending. The silicon-coated load cell has an IP rating of 67 or totally protected against dust (6) and against temporary immersion (7). The backlit stainless steel display connects to the weighing platform by a 2.5 m cable. Wall-mountable, the display has an IP rating of 68 for continuous use in wet areas.
These rugged industrial scales have 2-second stabilization and can be ordered with an optional wireless Bluetooth … Read the rest
Semi-Micro Analytical Balance Simplifies High Resolution Weighing
The LF-225 DR multi-function dual-range semi-micro analytical balance offered by Tovatech is an ideal solution when highly accurate weighing is required on a regular basis. This balance is crafted in Japan with exceptional quality workmanship. Researchers, jewelers and others can benefit from the readability of 0.01 mg up to a 92 g capacity or 0.1 mg up to a 220 g capacity. Linearity in these ranges is ±0.03 and ±0.02 mg; repeatability is ±0.02 and ±0.1 mg respectively.
The USB port on this Windows® compatible balance simplifies transfer of data to a pc or printer.
Featuring a one-key calibration function the LF-225 DR semi-micro balance has internal weigh chamber dimensions of 6 x 6.25 x 9 inches, an unusually tall space. The novel sliding door mechanism permits users to open the right side glass door with the left hand while placing samples on the weighing … Read the rest
Understanding the 3 Rs + L of an Analytical Balance
Selecting the correct analytical balance for precise weighing is not an easy task. We’ve covered several key points in previous posts but it’s always a good idea to provide a refresher course – especially as it relates to terminology that is sometimes confusing yet important. In this case it’s the 3 Rs: readout, repeatability and reproducibility plus linearity.
We also provide hints on applying these criteria to selecting a lab scale.
R #1: What’s readout? Also called readability it’s what you can read on the scale’s display panel. Simple enough but in terms of specification you’ll have to decide on what you require in terms of the smallest difference displayed when weighing. Usually its 0.1 milligram but in the case of a semi-micro balance it may be 0.01 mg.
R #2: Repeatability is the ability of a balance to display … Read the rest
Scale with Remote Display Gives 0.1g Resolution
The separate weighing platform of the new ILS 50K and companion ILS 30K, 50 kg and 30 kg capacity industrial scales, each with 0.1 g resolution and a 5 g minimum load, makes these laboratory balances ideal quality control instruments for accurately weighing heavy toxic, odor-emitting or contaminated samples under fume hoods or in glove bags. The rugged stainless steel weighing platform handles compact high-density samples such as drilled cores and sawed beams of concrete, and is connected to the control and display unit by a cable approximately 1 meter long.
Now available from Tovatech, these lab scales are offered with external calibration (the ILS configuration using a separately purchased 30 or 50 kg weight) or with automatic internal calibration (the ILJ configuration). ILJ models will re-calibrate every 3 hours or when there is a temperature change of 3⁰C or more.… Read the rest
How to Select a Digital Bench Scale
A bench scale is generally placed on – you guessed it – a bench or a countertop. A distinguishing characteristic of digital bench scales vs. platform scales is that the controls and display are part of the unit whereas a platform scale display is separate from the weighing platform.
Kern bench scales available from Tovatech have weighing ranges from 6 to 60 kg allowing them to support a broad range of applications. Most are available with standard disposable battery power or optional rechargeable battery power in addition to line power. This is a big plus if you need portability or perform weighing operations beyond the reach of an outlet.
Specifying Digital Bench Scales
This is a straightforward process until it comes to added bells and whistles you may require for your operations. First the basics:
At the top of your list is the … Read the rest
IP65-Rated Platform Scales Solve Multiple Weighing Tasks
Platform scales are workhorses of weighing, often finding themselves in environments that cause less rugged weighing systems to fail. The new Kern SFE platform scales, now available from Tovatech, build on the ruggedness and reliability of platform scale weighing systems. Their silicon-coated load cells and separate free-standing or wall mounted stainless steel control panel/display units are packaged in IP65-rated housings. This means these high-precision but rugged platform balances are totally protected against dust. When exterior surfaces need cleaning they resist low-pressure jets of water.*
Three Models with Readouts of <1 oz
SFE platform scales provide maximum weighing to 15, 30 and 60 kg (33, 66 and 132 pounds). Respective readouts are 5, 10 and 20 grams (all less than one ounce). Easy-to-follow instructions allow operators to use the control panel to perform a variety of weighing tasks including recipe, tolerance, and animal/dynamic. … Read the rest
Selecting an Entry-Level Single Cell Analytical Balance
An analytical balance is one of the more precise weighing and measuring tools available to industrial and academic research organizations. Laboratory balances equipped with single cell weighing systems have traditionally represented the high end of these precision weighing systems but at a cost premium. Technology advances have changed that, as evidenced by the new Kern ABS/ABJ series of analytical balances available from Tovatech.
What is Single Cell Weighing?
Simply stated, these systems use a single block of material such as aluminum as the weighing mechanism as opposed to multiple-component conventional balances. Because they have no moving parts there is no wear and tear. As a result these balances continue to perform well for a longer time than scales with conventional weighing mechanisms.
Other important advantaged include improvements in accuracy, precision, speed and reproducibility of weight values due in no small part to … Read the rest
How to Judge Scale Accuracy
At Tovatech we frequently find that customers are confused about weighing terms associated with analytical scales and precision balances, especially as it relates to scale accuracy. This comes as no surprise to us because, in fact, the terminology is confusing. Different manufacturers of analytical balances will use different weighing terms, some of them incorrect, by the way, to describe the performance and accuracy of their products. When you evaluate electronic scales you should compare the performance of a specific manufacturer’s products against each other rather than with those of different manufacturers.
Why Weighing Terms are Important
The importance of scale accuracy applies to many weighing operations across the weighing spectrum from moisture analyzers to counting scales. Some applications are more important than others. For example, you might tolerate a small degree of inaccuracy when weighing out a quantity of … Read the rest