Parts counting scales are an ideal tool to use for counting parts that are identical in weight. Items such as bolts, screws, nuts, rivets, washers and other fasteners would fit this criteria. Similarly, electrical contacts, connectors, resistors, diodes, and integrated circuits would also be suitable. The scale operator places a small sample of parts on the digital scale platform, and through the keyboard, enters the number of parts in the sample. The industrial scale then calculates the weight of a single part. At this point, as parts are added onto the platform, the electronic scale can divide the total weight by the piece weight of the part to determine the total number of parts.

The accuracy of a parts counting scale is highly dependent on the accuracy of determining the piece weight during the sampling process. Arlyn Scales provides very high resolution for their digital scales in order to enhance this process. But for very small parts that must be counted in great quantity, the scale must have even higher sampling accuracy. Arlyn Scales Ultra Precision scales are ideal for this purpose. They provide twenty times the accuracy of standard parts counting scales.

For heavier parts, such as assemblies, castings, and enclosures, parts counting capability can be added to larger capacity scales. These include platform scales and floor scales. In some cases, as smaller bench scale is used for the sampling process.

Other industrial scale features can also be included in the parts counting scale. These can allow parts data to be communicated to a computer, or collected in a USB memory stick. It can also be sent directly to a local printer to provide adhesive labels.

Counting parts by weight is an efficient means of determining inventory levels. Any item that is consistent in weight may be counted by a parts counting scale. These items can include standard industrial hardware, such as fasteners, washers and clips. Electronic devices are another perfect item to count by weight.

A good parts counting scale must have two primary features. It must have enough capacity to accept the full containers of parts. And it must be sensitive enough to accurately determine the weight of just a few sample parts. These two characteristics are often mutually exclusive. As a rule, the higher the capacity of the scale, the lower the sensitivity.

The accuracy of the weight of the sample parts is the largest factor in determining the accuracy of the parts counting results. As the samples may only represent one percent of the capacity of the scale, or even less, the scale sensitivity should be one hundred times greater than that. Very few industrial scales can meet this requirement. But the precision scales offered by Arlyn Scales in their SAW family provide sensitivity of greater than one part in one hundred thousand. For example, a SAW counting scale with a capacity of 100 lb has a display sensitivity of 0.01 lb with even greater internal sensitivity. This is twenty times higher than the readability of standard strain gage industrial scales. For counting small pieces, this will result in an accuracy level that is twenty times greater.

Often, high sensitivity and accuracy indicates that the precision scale may be delicate, and prone to damage during use. The SAW ultra precision scales provide overload capacity of more than four times the rated capacity of the scale. Most other industrial scales only offer an overload specification of one and a half times rated capacity. Therefore, the precision scale does not need any kind of special handling to produce very accurate results.