Maximize Small Aircraft Capacity with Scales

By melissa | Published: May 21, 2009

The most important goal in commercial aviation is the safety of passengers and crew. Tremendous efforts are made to assure that aircraft are built safely. Critical functions are provided with redundancy, to avoid disaster when there is some mechanical failure. Engines are designed to work well beyond their rated specifications, both in terms of power and environment. Navigation devices provide a variety of fail safe functions, allowing pilots to obtain necessary flight information.

Of course, any aircraft is designed for a specific capacity. It should never be loaded beyond this point. This includes the weight of passengers, luggage and fuel. Larger aircraft are typically limited by the number of passenger seats. Statistical data provides the average weight of a single passenger and their luggage. The correct amount of fuel needed can then be calculated. But statistical data becomes in issue for much smaller aircraft. If there are only six passenger seats, it is always possible that each of the passengers, and the pilot, may be considerably lighter than average. This would allow the plane to carry more cargo, or require less fuel. On the other hand, they may be much heavier than average. This could result in an exceedingly dangerous situation where the plane was carrying more than it was designed for.

Industrial scales, such as those provided by Arlyn Scales, are being pressed into service to obtain actual accurate weights of the passengers, luggage and crew. These platform scales provide resolution as high as 1/10 of a pound. The electronic scales may transmit their data to a computer system for totals and record purposes. These digital scales are light in weight, but very rugged. It is easy to move the platform scale to a loading area, and then move it back to the cargo area, if necessary. Industrial scales can become a critical tool in the efforts to maintain the highest levels of safety.

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Accurate Paint Mixing Requires Accurate Weighing

By melissa | Published: May 18, 2009

It seems quite obvious that it is necessary to accurately measure all of the ingredients that must be mixed together to manufacture any formulation. What is not as obvious is the level of accuracy that must be attained. This, of course, is highly dependent on the material being formulated. Some types of mixtures are, by their nature, not very accurate and standard. This may be the case with agricultural products and animal feed mixtures. Others may need higher accuracy, but these levels may be easily achieved by a regular digital scale. Standard industrial scales can provide accuracy as good as 1/10 of 1%. Many chemicals, cleaning solutions, foods, and other mixtures easily fall within this range. This allows the typical bench scales to be used for smaller quantities, or floor scales, platform scales or drum scales to be used for larger batches.

But this level of accuracy is not suitable for certain special formulations. Pharmaceuticals may need greater accuracy. Another field which typically requires extremely high precision weighing is the formulation of paints. While there are no safety issues here, the mixture of pigments and other ingredients must be exceedingly precise in order to satisfy the color sensitivity of the human eye. Even very small discrepancies between two batches of paint can be instantly identified when they are displayed side by side. This type of specialty weighing calls for ultra precision scales with accuracy ranges that are ten to twenty times better than regular industrial scales.

Arlyn Scales offers a range of ultra high precision digital scales known as SAW scales, or Surface Acoustic Wave scales. There is a range of bench scales with capacities ranging from 10 lb up to 100 lb. A second range of high capacity SAW scales range in capacity from 200 lb up to 500 lb. These may be used as bench scales, or alternatively as platform scales or drum scales. Paint mixing becomes a much more accurate process with this type of weighing instrument.

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Manage Hazardous Wastes with an Industrial Scale

By melissa | Published: May 18, 2009

Every living being has an interest in our environment. We all need to breathe clean air and drink safe water. We would all like to be able to use the outdoors without being subjected to medical and other hazardous wastes. No one wants to deal with beaches that are littered with dangerous items, and no one wants to discover that inappropriate materials have been dumped in their neighborhoods.

For all of these reasons, there are many rules and regulations pertaining to the management of hazardous wastes. Some of these simply define what materials and items are deemed to be hazardous and which are not. Others outline the methods required for physically handling hazardous materials. There are specifications for the types of clear and accurate documentation that must be maintained.

Much of this documentation is associated with the amounts of these materials. Generally, they must be weighed at all steps in the process. Clearly, it is important to know how much material is generated. That can be determined by using a good quality industrial scale. Depending on the amounts and type of hazardous waste, this could be a bench scale with resolution as high as 0.001 lb. If it is a liquid that is stored in a pail, tank or drum, then a drum scale would be considered. Cylinders of hazardous liquids and gasses are weighed on cylinder scales. Platform scales, floor scales and pallet scales are used to weigh larger containers, totes and larger tanks. The weight can be recorded by hand onto the proper form. Alternatively, Arlyn Scales offers computer interfaces for most of their electronic scales. Weights can now be automatically stored in a database file, or can be printed on labels and other types of forms. It is even possible to use a USB memory stick to log the weight information from these digital scales, along with the time and date of the weighing action. This is particularly useful for maintaining high quality records.

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Use Digital Scales to Control Automatic Filling

By admin | Published: May 8, 2009

All types of liquids, powders, pellets, slurries and other materials are handled in a wide variety of different types of cans, buckets, pails, drums, tanks and other types of containers. Traditionally, these have been filled by hand. Liquids are often dispensed by a manually operated pump or gravity fed valve. Other types of materials may also be gravity fed, or filled by use of a conveyor or other type of device. In all of these cases, the accuracy of filling is dependent on the operator. Of course, it is also labor intensive, as the operator is needed at all times to monitor the filling process.

Industrial scales are perfect for monitoring the filling process. A bench scale is used to keep track of the weight during the filling process for smaller sized cans, pails and other containers. A drum scale will serve this purpose for drums and small tanks, whereas a platform scale or floor scale can handle larger dewars and larger tanks. While this will solve the accuracy issue, it still requires the filling operator to read the scale and control the filling process.

Arlyn Scales offers a programmable set-point controller for their entire line of bench scales, drum scales, platform scales and floor scales. This allows the filling operator to program the desired weight into the industrial scale. Electrical signals from the scale will control the filling device, shutting it off when the target weight is reached. While this minimizes the efforts required of the fill operator, there may still be some inaccuracies caused by latent delay in turning off pumps, and valves, and the material remaining in fill pipes or tubes.  This controller permits a second target value to be programmed, which can set the filling into a much slower trickle feed. Generally, this will be sufficient to obtain the desired target weights.

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Keep track of your Electronic Scale from Your Computer

By admin | Published: May 8, 2009

The weight values that are shown on the indicator of an industrial scale are of critical importance to the scale operator. A bench scale may be weighing small packages. Or a parts counting scale may be determining the number of parts in a container. Larger drum scales and platform scales may be determining the amount of liquid in a tank or dewar or drum. And large floor scales will be weighing totes, pallets and large tanks. Besides reading the weight information, the operator of the electronic scale can also perform certain control functions, such as applying a tare weight, zeroing the weight on the scale, and choosing the units of measurement, such as pounds or kilos.

While it is required and expected that all digital scales provide all of this functionality locally, it is often desired to be able to also perform all of these functions from another location. In these cases, the most common requirement is to read weight data and control the scale from a local computer. Arlyn Scales provides optional Remote Indicator software that can be operated from any Windows based computer. The electronic scale must be connected to the computer. Typically, this connection would be an industrial standard RS-232 communication line. Alternatively, the USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection may be used.

Now, the computer operator can read weight data directly on the computer screen. They can also save this data in some other computer format, including spreadsheets and databases. Furthermore, the industrial scale can also be controlled directly from the computer. If the scale must be switched from the Net mode to the Gross mode, or the weight of a container must be subtracted, this may be accomplished from the computer keyboard.

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Wheelchair Scales Offer Easy Access

By melissa | Published: May 5, 2009

For any wheelchair bound individual, the ease of use of items within their environment is critically important. Often, patients with limited mobility may need to have their weight monitored. This may be to insure that there is no significant loss in body weight due to improper nutritional intake. Alternatively, rapid weight gain may be a sign of build up of fluids caused by different types of medical issues. Wheelchair scales are used to accurately weigh these individuals.

Some important features of this type of platform scale include a large platform size, making it easy and safe to position the wheelchair on the scale. The height of the top of the wheelchair scale should be as low as possible. This makes it easier for the patient to wheel themselves up a ramp and onto the platform, or for a care giver to push the wheelchair up. Furthermore, a very low scale platform will only require a short ramp, avoiding the need for additional space required if a longer ramp must be used for a higher scale platform. Arlyn Scales achieves extremely low wheelchair scale height by incorporating high strength stainless steel load sensors. Most other scales use other types of metal for the load cells, which must be considerably larger for the same load capability. Furthermore, Arlyn Scales embeds the load sensors directly into the frame of the scale, further lowering the overall height.

The construction of the wheelchair scale itself, and the ramp, is of welded aluminum. This provides the dual benefit of a very rugged and durable platform that is also quite light in weight. Therefore, the scale can be easily moved throughout a facility or home. It may even be stored by placing it on its edge, leaning against a wall, thereby minimizing required floor space.

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Using your Electronic Scale should be Easy

By melissa | Published: May 5, 2009

An industrial scale is a wonderful instrument for determining the weight of an item. Bench scales accurately weigh small items. Depending on the capacity of the digital scale, the readability of the weight can be as small as 0.0001 lb. Platform scales weigh larger packages and drums up to 1000 lb, whereas floor scales and pallet scales can accepts loads up to 20,000 lb. The accuracy of the electronic scale is dependent on the type of technology used. High quality industrial strain gage scales have an accuracy range of approximately 1/10 of 1%. If greater accuracy is required, alternate ultra precision scales, such as Arlyn Scales Surface Acoustic Wave technology can provide ten or even twenty times better accuracy.

But even an industrial scale with the best accuracy obtainable will not be of value within an industrial process if the user chooses not to use it because it is too difficult. Even if the electronic scale is being used, if the reading cannot be easily read, it is likely that inaccurate results will be obtained. Gross errors will occur if the front panel controls are confusing, potentially resulting in readings of kilograms where pounds are expected.

Good design practices can combine ease of use with excellent accuracy. For example, Arlyn Scales provides a combination of clearly marked front panel controls with a graphics, menu driven digital display. The user is guided through weighing operations by menu prompts which automatically scroll to the next operation. Furthermore, the very low profile of the industrial scales assist the scale operator in placing objects onto and off of the industrial scale platform. High quality stainless steel load cells protect the scale from damage caused by dropping items onto the scale platform, in addition to providing many years of trouble free use.

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Industrial Scales Protected from Difficult Environments

By melissa | Published: April 21, 2009

No one ever said that it was easy to be an Industrial Scale. This type of electronic scale must be very accurate, or for certain demanding applications they must be ultra precise. They must be easy to use, so that even untrained users can obtain weights without errors. Digital industrial scales must be able to send their data to other industrial systems, such as printers and computers. This is often accomplished using RS-232 communication lines, or more conveniently, USB or Ethernet computer connections. The industrial scale must be constructed, well, industrial strength, so that it will not be damaged from normal industrial applications. This is valid for all types of industrial scales, ranging from the largest floor scales to smaller platform scales, cylinder scales, drum scales, and bench scales and counting scales.

But not all industrial applications are created equally. Just being tough will be sufficient for most situations. But certain uses require an electronic scale to be able to withstand harsh chemical environments. One of the most common of these is found in municipal water treatment facilities, both for the municipal water supply itself, and for the treatment of waste water. A wide variety of very corrosive materials are metered in very small amounts into the treatment process. The drum scales that hold these drums must not get damaged by chemical spills or even the vapor from these chemicals. Floor scales that are used to hold tanks or totes must be similarly protected.

Arlyn Scales offers cylinder scales, platform scales and floor scales with stainless steel construction and a unique coating for excellent protection. The coating on these industrial scales is comprised of a special anti corrosive epoxy. Even the best coatings will only protect the electronic scale if it has not been scratched or abraded. Ultra hard garnet particles are mixed into the epoxy to protect the scale platform from wear.

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Industrial Scales Use the Internet to Send Data

By melissa | Published: April 21, 2009

The primary purpose of an industrial scale is to obtain weight data. For many applications, that data is used locally. For example, a shipping clerk may weight a package on a platform scale and write the weight directly into a shipping manifest. On the production line, a parts counting scale may be directly used to count out the correct number of parts to put into a package or box. On the factory floor, a worker may use a drum scale to fill his drums with the correct amount of liquid. In a doctor’s office, a wheelchair scale is used to determine the weight of a patient.

But often, the data must be used at some other location or at some other time. The weight of a package to be shipped may need to be automatically entered into a parcel manifest. Or a label may need to be printed. A record in a database may need to be kept of the number of packages filled by the parts counting scale. The contents in the drum on the drum scale may need to be monitored from a remote location. The doctor may need to keep records of the patients weight for each visit.

An Internet connection is an ideal means for performing all of these functions. Arlyn Scales offers this as an option for all of their industrial scales. This connection may be used specifically within an individual facility. Other computers on the local area network may be given access to any or all of the connected electronic scales. Or, with the proper software, these Arlyn Scales may be viewed, and controlled from any device that has Internet connectivity. This is particularly suitable for larger organizations that may need to collect data from a number of different facilities. It is also especially useful in those situation where there are mandated documentation requirements, as the data can be sent to the appropriate database files.

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Accurate Cylinder Weighing on Cylinder Scales

By melissa | Published: April 10, 2009

Whenever the amount of a liquefied gas in a gas cylinder needs to be determined, a number of problems are uncovered. It would be reasonable to try to measure the contents by measuring the gas pressure. But liquefied gas tanks will show full pressure if there is any gas at all in the tank. This is because the liquid will “boil” into gas. As soon as the liquid is depleted, the full pressure will quickly drop to no pressure at all. Another method is to use a sight gage on the side of the tank. This is usually not at all practical.

The most effective method is to weigh the tank and its contents on a cylinder scale. This type of industrial scale, manufactured by Arlyn Scales, has a very low profile stainless steel platform, easing the task of moving the full cylinder onto the scale or off. For the same reason, it must be extremely rugged. Located inside of the electronic scale platform is an extra wide, stainless steel sensor. These are particularly well suited to withstand the huge torque loads that are developed when a full tank is resting on the edge of the platform.

Cylinder scales may be directly connected to existing process instrumentation. One of the standard interfaces, used widely, is a 4 – 20 ma analog current loop. While this interface is available, it is advisable to use a digital interface whenever possible. The most widespread method for sending data from industrial scales is the RS-232 standard. Other, more recent standards include the Universal Serial Bus (USB). Another, more advanced method is offered by Arlyn Scales. An Ethernet connection provides a method of data transmission from the cylinder scale into a local area network. Any computer on that network can now access the scale data. With additional software packages, that same data can become available over the Internet.

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