Bench scales are the workhorses of the weighing industry. A bench scale can be used for a variety of tasks such as packaging, parts counting, food portion control, and many other duties. The space efficient and compact design allows it to be used in a variety of environments. With the right technology inside the scale, the bench scale can provide high accuracy and high resolution. Arlyn Scales has been a leader in the scale manufacturing industry for the past thirty years. We’ve been a leader because we couple reliable and durable materials with cutting edge technology to create scales that are abuse resistant, as well as precise. The scales are manufactured in our factory in Long Island, New York adjacent to our business offices. This convenient arrangement allows us to ship factory direct to our customers. By doing so, our customers can save significantly due to the elimination of distributors, who mark up the cost for their profit. The money that we save by not paying distributors goes right back into our scale design and manufacturing processes. This means our customers get the highest quality scale at a price that our competition can’t begin to match.
Strain Gauge Bench Scales
Over the past sixty years, the standard for affordable and accurate measurement has been the strain gage scale. The strain gage designation refers to the load cells in the scale. Load cells are the foundation of any scale because they help provide the accuracy and resolution of a weight measurement. We manufacture our load cells using precise, computer-controlled equipment. Within the load cell is a spring element, which is affixed to the floor of the scale the underside of the scale’s platform. Four thin sections are incorporated into the spring element; these are called flexures. Strain gauges are wired together to form a Wheatstone’s bridge and then bonded onto the flexures. When an object is placed on the platform, the spring element bends, which causes the flexures and strain gages to bend. This causes a change in the resistance of the gages, which changes the bridge’s voltage output. This voltage is sent through an Analog to Digital Converter, where it is translated into numeric form and sent to the digital indicator, where the weight value can be seen. However, not all strain gage load cells are created equally. The majority of manufacturers opt for aluminum construction because it is inexpensive and easy to tool. And while aluminum has its place in scale design, strain gage load cells are not it. See, the issue is that the spring element must be a relatively thin piece of metal because it must be flexible. When paired with aluminum construction the load cell is left vulnerable to damage from shock loading and overloading. It also loses accuracy and wears out more quickly with regular use. This means scales must either be repaired or replaced more often, which costs money and reduces productivity. Our strain gage load cells are stronger and more accurate due to their stainless steel construction. We can also coat the strain gages with a silicone to protect it from a wet working environment. Our Standard Series 6200 Bench Scales use our strain gage load cells and provide excellent resolution at a variety of capacities ranging from 4 lbs. with a resolution of 0.0002 lb. to 150 lbs. with a resolution of 0.05 lb. Should you need a little more resolution, the D-6200 family can double your resolution with capacities up to 100 lbs.
Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Bench Scales
Prior to the introduction of our Ultra Precision line of scales, higher resolution and precision were provided by Magnetic Force Restoration (MFR) scales. However, these scales have three issues that prevent them from being a viable solution for many businesses. The first is that they are extremely expensive to purchase and operate. The second is that they are prone to drifts in accuracy due to air currents and vibration as well as temperature instability. The third is that they don’t offer high capacities, capping out at about fifty pounds. However, our Ultra Precision scales utilize SAW technology, which is inherently better than strain gages and far less costly than MFR scales. We manufacture these load cells using a special aluminum alloy, which we chose for its hardness, spring characteristics, lack of plastic deformation, and temperature performance. Instead of flexures and strain gage transducers on the spring element, we affix two SAW transducers on either side of the metal beam. One is a transmitter and the other a receiver. The transmitter produces a SAW wave that is detected by the receiver where it is amplified and then sent back to transmitter. This is done over and over, creating a feedback loop. The frequency of the SAW wave between the transmitter and receiver depends on the distance between them. When weight is applied to the platform, the distance increases, causing the frequency to increase as well. By digitally measuring the frequency of the wave, the scale can produce a precise weight value on its digital indicator. Because SAW load cells can take a more accurate measurement with less bending from the spring element, we’re able to use a thicker piece of metal in its construction. This makes the load cells more robust and improves their performance because they are less subject to distortion. Because SAW technology doesn’t require an analog to digital signal conversion, they are inherently more accurate than strain gage load cells. They are less affected by changes in temperature and are far more stable over time. The biggest benefit SAW scales provide, however, is their ability to produce precision measurements at high resolutions at higher capacities than strain gage technology at a far more reasonable cost than MFR scales. A ten pound capacity features a resolution of .0001, while a 500 pound capacity features a resolution of .005. While strain gage bench scales are suitable for the majority of operations, SAW scales are perfect for manufactures of paints, powders, and plastics as well as those that mix chemicals or produce pharmaceuticals.
Our Top Priority
No matter what kind of scale you need, you may be unsure which model or which options suit your specific industry. Our customer support staff is available to answer your questions and to help guide you through the selection process so you purchase a scale with all the features you need and none of the ones you don’t. If our standard models don’t exactly meet your needs, be sure to ask us about our custom options. As a manufacturer, we have the ability to design and build a completely custom solution for you. If you’re in the market for a new scale, contact Arlyn Scales today! We can be reached through the Contact Us form on our site or by phone at (800) 645-4301.
