• MKE-5-IS
    NOW IN-STOCK: Explosion Proof Intrinsically Safe Weight Indicators. Battery Operated or w/ external power. Click for more.
  • 3rd Party Integration
    NEW: Want to add more advanced functions to your existing non-Arlyn scale? Integrate the full featured UpScale Touchscreen Indicator using "3rd-Party Integration" feature.
  • Google Spreadsheets
    HOW TO: Data Logging with Google Spreadsheets. Reduce demand on your operators and optimize your data collection process.
  • Keyboard Wedge
    NEW: Keyboard Wedge Feature. Our Keyboard Wedge Feature transfers data directly from your scale, and into a PC program.
  • Checkweighing Feature
    NEW: Introducing Checkweighing Feature. Streamline your operations with our Checkweighing Feature
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Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Scales and Strain Gage Scales

Industrial scale technology has been fairly stagnant for a number of years. The predominant technology has been strain gage load cells. When increased accuracy is required, magnetic force restoration, also known as magnetic force motor transducers are used. The disadvantage of force restoration is significantly increase cost. Recently, though, Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) scales have been introduced by Arlyn Scales. These Ultra Precision scales provide the accuracy of force restoration at a much lower cost . Strain gage scales have been available for more than sixty years. As is the case with all load cells, the strain gage cell is actually based on a spring element. It is usually made from aluminum or steel. It is machined so that it will deform in a very controlled manner as load is applied to it. When the load is removed, this spring element is designed to return to its original shape. A strain gage is actually a type of resistor. It is usually produced as a metal pattern with a thin film backing. An adhesive system is used to bond the strain gage to the spring element. Great care must be taken during this process to make sure that the adhesive layer is very thin and very uniform. Clearly, the bending characteristics of the spring will be compromised by the very poor bending characteristics of the adhesive. Furthermore, the strain gages must be very accurately placed. The load cell is designed to only detect vertical forces. But there are also horizontal forces that must be rejected. The placement of the strain gages with reference too the central axis of the load cell will affect this. As is the case with all resistors, strain gages are subject to change in resistance with changes in temperature. Although temperature compensation is attempted, the load cell output will still vary with temperature. In general, overall accuracy is limited to about 1/10 of 1%, and resolution is typically from 1 part in 5,000 up to 1 part in 10,000. Force restoration scales can provide much better accuracy and resolution. The weighing system consists of an electromagnet that supports the scale platform. The amount of current in the electromagnet required to counteract the weight on the platform will be proportional to that weight. The weight will be accurately known by carefully determining the amount of current. The platform must be directed by a very precise flexure system. Unfortunately, these flexures are prone to damage from side forces and shock loading. Also, the amount of current required rises quickly as the load on the platform increases. For scales with larger capacities, the flexure system needs to incorporate some mechanical advantage, or else the current requirements would become prohibitive. The final result is a somewhat sensitive but very accurate scale, at a cost that is often three to five times higher than strain gage scales. The newest technology SAW scales, also use load cells. But instead of measuring the amount of strain in the spring element, it measures the amount of displacement. This results in strain levels that are less than 10% of those found in strain gage cells. All of the errors associated with strain of the spring element are not measurable in SAW load cells. The displacement is measured with extreme accuracy by Surface Acoustic Wave transducers. The transducers are fabricated using the same technology as that used to produce integrated circuits. The substrate material is a crystalline structure made from lithium niobate. A metallized pattern, acting as a transmitter, has a signal applied that produces a bulk wave in the substrate. This wave travels down the length of the transducer and excites an equivalent signal on a parallel substrate. Another metallized pattern on the second substrate acts as a receiver. The signal receive is amplified, and then fed back to the transmitter. The frequency of oscillation of this feedback loop will be dependent on the distance between the transmitter and receiver, which is actually the displacement of the spring element. SAW scales provide accuracies of about 1/100 of 1%. This is equivalent to force restoration scales. Because the strain levels of the load cell are very low, they are about five times more rugged than strain gage scales. They are ten to twenty times more rugged than force restoration scales, making them suitable for use in harsh industrial environments. The cost of this technology is just slightly more than high quality strain gage scales, and only about one third the cost of force restoration scales.

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About Scales

  • Custom Scales Glossary of Terms
  • The History of Scales
  • Client Survey
  • Custom Scales Applications
  • Industrial Scales
  • Batching Equipment
  • Filling Scales
  • Scale Technology
  • Specialty Weighing
  • Scale Options – Communication Methods
  • Software Downloads
  • User Manuals & Specification Sheets
  • Compare Scale Display Indicators

Scales by Industry

  • Scales in the Airline Industry
  • Scales & Food Processing
  • Scales in the Agriculture Industry
  • Weighing Industrial Laundry
  • Digital Veterinary Scales
  • Counting Scales & the Postal Industry
  • Digital Bench Scales
  • Scales in the Electrical and Plumbing Industries
  • Scales in the Printing Industry

Types of Scales

  • Drum Scales
  • Corrosion Resistant Scales
  • Cylinder Scales and Gas
  • Accurate Cylinder Scales
  • Industrial Floor & Drum Scales
  • Environment Scales
  • Corrosion Resistant Scales
  • Ethernet Equipped Scales
  • Floor Scales
  • Multi Use Platform Scales
  • Industrial Paint Scales
  • Gas Cylinder Scales
  • Options in Industrial Scales
  • Ultra Precision Scales and Advanced Accurate Industrial Weighing
  • Weighing Hazardous Waste Materials
  • Wheelchair Scales & Digital Indicators
  • Rain Gauge Scales

Company Information

  • About Us
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  • FAQ / Help
  • Contact Us
    • Send Us Feedback
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Arlyn Scales

  • Session #:
  • Store
  • Products
    • Ultra Precision Scales
    • Scales for Hazardous, Explosive and Flammable Environments
    • Bench Scales
    • Counting Scales
    • Corrosion Resistant Scales
    • Crane Scales
    • Cylinder Scales
    • Digital Indicators – Scale Display Indicators
    • Digital Load Cells
    • Drum Scales
    • Industrial Floor Scales
    • High Resolution Balances and Scales
    • Platform Scales
    • Veterinary Animal Scales
    • Miscellaneous Scales
    • Back
  • About Scales
    • User Manuals & Specification Sheets
    • Scale Options – Communication Methods
    • FM Explosion Proof Scales: 5 Configurations For Different Industry Uses
    • Find a Scale
    • What are Digital Load Cells?
    • Media, Videos, and Industrial Scale Product Demonstrations
    • Scale Technology
    • Specialty Weighing
    • The History of Scales
    • Compare Scale Display Indicators
    • Custom Scales Glossary of Terms
    • Custom Scale Applications
    • Legacy Scale Support
    • Client Survey
    • Back
  • Software
    • Software Downloads
    • Scale Options – Communication Methods
    • Remote Indicator
    • MODBUS Utilities
    • Data Logging with Google Spreadsheets
    • AxChange – Cloud Monitoring and Tracking
    • Back
  • By Industry
    • Manufacturing and Automation Control Scales
    • Weighing Chemicals and Petrochemicals
    • Agriculture and Farming Weighing Equipment
    • Industrial Scales for the Construction Industry
    • Weighing Scales For Universities and Laboratories
    • Weighing Solutions for the Food and Beverage Industry
    • Scales For Hospitals and Medical Facilities
    • Industrial Postal Scales for Mail, Post, and Shipping
    • Scales for Warehouse Management and Inventory Control
    • Back
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us