Different Types of Industrial Scales and their Uses
The weighing scale serves various purposes based on the industry and application for which it will be used. Industrial scales, as they are commonly known, come in a variety of ways.
Types of industrial scales:
Weighing machines that you see at homes, hospitals, or doctors’ clinics are digital weighing machines to check human body weight.
Instruments that you see in laboratories to confirm accuracy up to the weight of milligrams are known as calibration weights.
A truck scale, also known as a weighbridge, is used explicitly for weighing trucks, lorries, and other heavy-duty vehicles. Truck scales are widely used in manufacturing, logistics, shipping, roadways, agriculture, and similar industries. The weighbridge accurately weighs the load a vehicle carries. Usually, the companies check the load twice — once when it is loaded with goods and the second time after emptying the load. It helps in knowing the weight of the material that is under transportation.
Bench Scales are small and compact, and users can place them on any plain surface like a workbench or a tabletop. They have a weighing capacity of 0.2 g to 0.5g and work without any issues on both wet and dry surfaces.
Counting scales: Mostly the manufacturing units and packaging processes are the ones that use the counting scales. They must count numerous numbers of objects of similar weight at the same time. For example, if you’re packing nails, check the weight of a single nail, and set the weight limit of 500 grams. The counting scale will correctly process how many nails have been determined when weighing multiple nails together. However, this concept can only work if the numerous items are all the same weight. You must first set a pre-limit for the machine to accurately count a high volume of identical parts in one go.
Balance scales are mainly seen in laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry, and hotel kitchens, where accuracy is essential. These balance scales can weigh items of up to 0.01mg correctly. Its load cell capacities broadly define the precision of a balance scale.
Common considerations when selecting weighing scales for different applications
The main purpose of industrial scales is to weigh objects and other materials used in different industries accurately. Since the applications are various, the scales are also available in different sizes, forms, and costs with features suitable to those specific businesses. However, accuracy, consistency, stability, and efficiency are the most crucial factors for all the scales.
Selecting suitable weighing scales looks like a simple process, but it requires lots of inspections and testing.
Accuracy: Precision in weights is essential or the purpose of selecting specific scales is lost if the weights are wrong. If it reads precisely, the device and maintenance costs also come down.
Durability: The scales should be robust enough to hold the weights of goods and materials. For example, the truck scales should be rugged and strong, as they need to bear the weight of fully loaded mining trucks. The scales are used several times in one day for weighing many truck loads.
Scale Endurance: Evaluate a scale by the longevity and how well it withstands the weight while being subjected to other environmental factors.
Conclusion: Look for the scale manufacturers who assess their scales to endure environmental stress. The load cells should also be robust to withstand adverse conditions.
