One challenge that many manufacturers in various industries must face is the requirement to count a wide variety of small parts. Small parts are tedious and impossible to hand count in an industrial setting without human error, which is why more efficient methods are available.
No matter the industry, small parts are needed. Small parts are used in the manufacturing of plastic goods, electronic components, vehicle parts, and even more surprising ones, like in food processing and pharmaceuticals.
These businesses — and the warehouses that serve them — must track the inventory of small parts, and efficiently, but how? Below, the expert metrologists at Arlyn Scales reveal how a precise counting scale is the most economical method.
Counting Small Parts by Weight
Parts counting by weight is simple to accomplish with a reliable parts-counting system. With an industrial counting scale, you can weigh a representative sample batch of a specified number of parts.
Next, enter the number of the small parts that were included in the sample batch into the counting scale control pad. The scale then calculates the weight of each piece of the batch; this is known as the “piece weight.”
For example, if the sample batch contains 10 screws, you must place the screws on the platform of the counting scale, then enter the number “10” into the scale control panel.
The counting scale calculates the weight of each item.
The scale automatically divides the weight of the load by the piece weight to determine the number of pieces in the weighted load. After that, you may weigh and count the entire batch much more quickly using the counting scale.
How to Minimize Inefficiencies When Counting by Weight
Many batches of small parts contain parts identical in weight. Therefore, an accurate counting scale is the tool that will accomplish the task of quickly and efficiently counting these small parts.
However, some materials are not well suited for counting by weight. Items and parts that vary in weight, even if they appear identical, will register incorrect measurements.
Alternatively, small items that consistently have identical weights are ideal for counting by weight. You can maximize consistency by regular calibration of the scale, and by regularly double-checking your math.
Industries that Rely on Counting Scales for Small Components
Counting scales may be utilized in industrial applications for bolts, screws, nuts, clips, pins, and several other small pieces. Remember that these components must be identical in weight for an accurate count!
In the electronics industry, counting scales may be used for capacitors, resistors, plugs, sockets, connectors, and other, discrete electrical hardware. Moreover, accurate counting scales are necessary for packaging parts like these for shipping.
In fact, counting scales may even be used in receiving parts to verify that the number of parts in an incoming shipment is accurate.
Accuracy
Counting solutions for quantifying large numbers of small objects are readily available. However, when counting the smallest of parts, accuracy becomes harder to ensure.
When using an Arlyn Scales counting scale, even factors like the weight of objects being identical can be measured if applicable. Though many manufacturers produce counting scales, we manufacture the highest quality and most accurate scales for counting small parts.
We offer a variety of scales for industrial, manufacturing, research and other industry businesses understanding how accurate figures play a vital role in each one.
Improving Accuracy: Resolution Feature
All scales have a parameter of measurement known as the “resolution.” However, counting scales must have a very high resolution to accurately count small parts.
This means that the scale must be very accurate and the platform must be highly sensitive. One way to increase the accuracy for a counting scale is to use a larger sample size.
Regardless of the resolution, using a sample size of 100 pieces, instead of 10 pieces, produces a more accurate piece weight for small parts.
Durability
Another important feature of a counting scale is that the scale needs to be durable enough to handle overload. Often, counting scales are used for counting and weighing parts made of steel or iron.
The counting scale needs to be able to handle an overload on the platform of the scale. For example, if a worker sets a load of steel parts on the scale, the scale should be durable enough to handle an overload well above the recommended load.
Yet another important feature of a counting scale for industrial applications is resistance to shock. The counting scale platform must be resistant to shock because the possibility always exists that workers will drop a load onto the platform with force.
The Advantage to Arlyn Scales Counting Scales
Your operators have limited time available to weigh batches of small parts. Therefore, a great feature of an excellent counting scale is to enable the worker to obtain a piece weight for a part and then save the individual item’s weight to the scale itself.
This means that the counting scale should have a feature that allows the user to save piece weights for several items. This feature makes the worker more efficient while performing the task of weighing small parts.
Each time the worker needs to count a batch of the same item, the piece weight for the item is recalled. As the industry leader in the manufacturing of counting scales, we provide scales that are accurate, feature-packed, and durable.
Industrial Parts Counting Scales for Heavy Use
The Arlyn 8200 counting scale allows the operator to obtain a piece weight for a batch of small parts, and then save the piece weight into the scale’s memory. A sample of a particular batch of small parts only needs to be weighed one time to obtain the piece weight for the part.
The piece weight is saved directly on the scale to be recalled each time that particular part is weighed. Aryln Scales counting scales improve efficiency with the convenient feature of saving piece weight to memory.
Counting Scales for Small Parts with Stainless Steel Load Cells
Most counting scales manufacturers their load cells with aluminum. Our counting scales load cells are manufactured from durable, heavy-duty stainless steel.
Stainless steel load cells offer the durability necessary for industrial counting applications. Stainless steel load cells make our counting scales much more resistant to shock and overload than scales manufactured by other companies.
Small Parts Counting Scales with SAW Precision
When an extremely high level of accuracy is required, our Surface Acoustic Wave Scale provides a level of accuracy that exceeds any other scale on the market.
Additionally, the SAW scale has a high resistance to overload and shock.
The SAW scale’s overload margin is 200% of the load rating to ensurethat the scale is not damaged by an overload of or shock to the platform.
Clear Communication with Your Counting Scales for Discrete Parts
Our counting scales also offer communication features that are second to none. These can gather counting and weight data, and transfer that data to inventory applications, spreadsheets, and other applications — which saves time and money in any industry!
We offer communication features for our scales that provide you with greater control over the data. Your operators can save weight data to a USB device, transmit the data over a network, or export the data for use in other applications.
Our engineers are mindful to the needs of various industries and they work tirelessly to develop new methods to ensure that we improve efficiency. Various communication options are representative of the effort of engineers to ensure that we improve efficiency for every application.
Find Precise Counting Scales for Small Parts at Arlyn Scales
Engineered and manufactured right on site at the New York factory, we produce the best scales available at the most competitive price. We are regarded for our high-quality products as we use innovative and premium materials in the manufacturing process.
No matter your industry and application, we will provide a scale that offers accuracy, efficiency and convenience. To learn more about how to count pieces on a scale, reach out to our team today.
