3 Helpful Tips When Using Industrial Scales

There are hundreds of industrial scale styles, but at the end of the day, every person who purchases an industrial scale is aiming to achieve the same thing: obtain accurate weight measurements from his or her industrial scale.

For most weighing applications, you can determine the weight of objects using a number of different types of scales; however, depending on the application, there is usually one scale that is better than the rest.

Regardless of what you need to weigh and how you decide to weigh it, here are a few tips for how you can ensure accuracy and proper function from your scale at all times.

  1. Buy the Right Scale For Your Application

It’s not difficult to determine what kind of scale you need depending on what your weighing application is, but there are a lot of options to pick from. What you need to consider when buying an industrial scale is: the maximum weight capacity of the scale, the environment your scale will be in, and the materials used to build your scale.

The maximum weight capacity of your scale should exceed the weight of the heaviest object you plan to measure; however, you do not want the weight capacity to be too high—it’s just unnecessary. Buy a scale that has a maximum weight capacity relative to what you plan on weighing.

Consider the environment your scale will be in. If you know your scale is going to be exposed to moisture, harsh chemicals, and/or explosive or flammable materials, then you need a scale that is capable of operating safely in the environment it is located. Fortunately, there are scales constructed specifically to operate safely in questionable environments.

Many scales are available in aluminum and stainless steel construction. Aluminum is a lighter and less expensive option than stainless steel, but stainless steel is more durable and can endure more abuse than aluminum. The material you choose for your scale depends on your specific application, but consider this before you buy!

  1. Test Your Scale Regularly

After you purchase the best possible scale for your application, your work is not done. It’s natural for scales to deteriorate over time. Scales become increasingly less accurate and dirtier with time. That’s why you must test the accuracy of your scale regularly, even if the scale isn’t showing signs of abnormalities.

The best way to test the accuracy of your scale is to test-weigh objects you already know the weight of. Cast iron or stainless steel test weights are often used. If the weight of the object is not what you know it should be, then that’s your cue to figure out why your scale is delivering inaccurate results. Set up a schedule to test the accuracy of your scale so you remember to do it on a regular basis. This is the best way to ensure your scale is delivering accurate weight readings continuously.

  1. Keep an Eye Out For Abnormalities

Sometimes it can be very obvious a scale is not working like it should. For example, creep and non-repeatability are common signs that a scale is not functioning properly. In addition to testing your scale’s accuracy on a regular basis, you should also keep your eye out for common abnormalities.

How to Check For Creep: Place an object on your scale’s platform. If the weight reading fluctuates and doesn’t settle on one weight reading, then this is creep. You should immediately check to see why creep might be happening and recalibrate your scale if necessary.

How to Check For Non-Repeatability: Place an object on your scale’s platform. Get a weight reading. Then, remove the object and put it back on the scale’s platform. If the second weight reading is different than the first weight reading, then this is non-repeatability. You should immediately check to see why non-repeatability might be happening and recalibrate your scale if necessary.

Whenever you notice abnormalities with your scale, take a good look around your scale and make sure nothing is impacting the readings your scale is producing—for example, dust build-up under the scale platform, vibrations from other machinery, or breezes from outside or air ducts.  

Find The Scale You Need at Arlyn Scales

When you buy an industrial scale, you are making an investment to improve your business and the operations you complete using your industrial scale. To ensure efficient operations at your business, you need accurate weight readings. To ensure accurate weight readings, you need to monitor the operation of your scale to make sure it is working like it should.

There are hundreds of industrial scale styles and you can create the ideal scale for your weighing application with Arlyn Scales. Check out our full selection on our website today.

Contact Arlyn Scales

Reach out to Arlyn Scales if you need assistance choosing the right scale for your weighing application. Our knowledgeable and experienced team of industrial scale experts can help you design the perfect scale for your specific needs. Call us today at 800-645-4301 or fill out our online contact form.