Control and Monitor Industrial Scales from a Computer
Collecting data from industrial scales is an important task. Industries all over the world utilize electronic scales to measure, maintain, and update. Digital scales, commonly found in most packaging firms, must be able to weigh incoming cargo precisely to verify shipments. Manufacturers implementing parts counting scales depend on the scale to accurately determine the number of pieces it is weighing for correct billing. Animal scales, used by zoos, veterinarian offices, and animal caretakers rely on their scales to prescribe the proper dosage of medication for the animals. In today’s tech savvy community, controlling and monitoring industrial scales from a computer is vital for a company’s survival.
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In the past, operators of scales such as digital bench scales, parts counting scales, and drum scales had to record the measurements manually – with a pad and pencil. Thus, allowing room for human error. Not to mention the limitations this system poses for its users. Some digital scales added a feature which offered printer output connections, permitting the user to print the data for record keeping. Printing labels, invoices, and documents can be done with ease. The industry standard on most scales, including the platform scales and parts counting scales is an electronic communication connection is called RS -232. Although this system has been widely used for many years, it has many limitations. For one, the electronic scale must be connected to a computer or printer through a cable. This restricts the distance between the digital scale and the device. It also only supports a single device. Therefore, requiring a separate cable for each scale. A shortcoming that is not acceptable in many industrial settings. In addition, computers and printers of this day and age are typically not equipped with an RS-232 input, making the connection to such devices difficult.
Superseding the competition, Arlyn Scales meets any clients’ needs by offering a variety of communication options for their entire line of industrial scales. This includes the standard RS-232, the efficient RS-485, the common USB and the very convenient Ethernet.
The RS-485 communication port is similar to the RS-232, except it allows up to ten scales to be connected to a single cable and then to a computer. Arlyn Scales provides a RS-485 to Universal Serial Bus (USB) adaptor. It converts the scale’s data to standard USB format. Because most computers of this day and age are equipped with USB, scales such as floor scales, precision scales, and cylinder scales, can now all be connected. However, it also poses similar drawbacks to the RS-232 system. Separate USB cables are needed to collect each scale’s data and the distance between scale and computer is still limited by the length of the cables.
To avoid such issues, Arlyn Scales has implemented the use of the Ethernet to their scales. No longer will the user be bounded by single cable connections for their bench scales, platform scales, floor scales, tank, and cylinder scales. Scales with Ethernet devices can be directly connected to a Local Area Network (LAN). Several scales can be connected at once. Scales can communicate to computers, printers, and other such devices.
Besides providing their users with a multitude of communication options on their scales, Arlyn Scales has developed two software utilities. Running in Windows, the user-friendly software offers the user two options. The first software allows the operator to monitor the scale and send commands to the scale. The Remote Indicator Software can store data from the scales into Excel spreadsheets or Access databases. Graphs, charts, and tables are easily generated through these programs as well. With a time-stamp option, record keeping is accurate and effortless.
The second option is called a “keyboard wedge.” The data from the electronic scales can be sent to any Windows applications. This becomes especially useful for companies who utilize in-house database programs or who wish to create their own specialized programs, such as an accounting program, which can correctly bill customers with real-time weight measurements. Controlling peripheral hardware, such as feeders or filler is possible. If the software was a part of a feedback control loop, where material is fed onto industrial scale platforms, the speed or flow rate can be controlled.
Arlyn Scales can also be connected to the wireless Internet. Scales can then be controlled and monitored from off-site locations. Remote access to collected scale data means monitoring scales easily in this global community. Companies with several locations can efficiently compare information from all of their sites. Operating scales remotely provides users with tremendous money-saving options. Industries using drum scales to measure hazardous chemicals will no longer need to visit the site to obtain data.
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