Scales are used in every industry. Whether for weighing produce at the grocery store, or weighing livestock on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma, scales are indispensable equipment.
There are a wide variety of digital scales used in different industries. These include bench scales, floor scales, and parts counting scales.
A less common, but important type of weighing platform is the hanging scale. These precision weighing balances are essential for optimizing operations across a range of applications.
Crane Weight Scales
A hanging scale is suspended from a crane or cable in the air and can provide near perfect measurements. This is because it is not anchored to the ground, so pressure from the scale won’t disrupt the reading.
These scales require no weights or platforms, and provide measurements by mid-air suspension. In effect, these hanging scales need to be safe and durable for years of wear and strenuous weighing, tugging, and pulling on all elements of the scale.
How Do Hanging Scales and Balances Work?
These scales include one hook at the top, which is used to hang the scale from some sturdy structure. Another hook is included at the bottom of the scale.
The item to be weighed is suspended from the bottom hook. It uses a load cell to measure and calculate the weight to be displayed on an electronic readout.
If the items to be weighed are not easily hung from the scale, or are very numerous, a pan or scoop can be hung from the scale, instead.
Industries That Use Digital Hanging Scales
Many different industries require the use of a high-capacity crane scale. They are vital in scientific research, manufacturing, and even in the fabrication of ships.
In the steel industry, rolls of steel must be cut. Hanging scales determine the weight of the roll both before and after cutting, improving precision when recording the measurements of the steel.
Overhead hanging scales are also used in shipping to monitor incoming shipments and materials in containers. The digital technology of newer scales easily adapts to the interface technology of the shipping company, allowing the data to be stored and making it easily searchable by both sender and recipient.
Crane Scales in Ship Production
When forging or molding metals, an overhead hanging scale can provide an accurate measurement of molten metals, forging ladles, and produced steel objects. In the ship fabrication industry, it is integral that the ship builders accurately weigh the ship.
The weight of the ship translates to safe passengers and freight and a safe journey to the destination. Hanging scales allow each component of the ship to be weighed before being brought on board or added to the construction of the ship.
Grocery Scale Solutions
Hanging scales are used in supermarkets to make it easy for individual consumers to find out how much their vegetable or fruit purchases are going to cost. These are often spring scales, with limited precision and ruggedness.
A commercial-grade digital hanging scale is very accurate and may also include capabilities for many other functions, such as the capability to switch weight measuring units. This would allow for weights to be read in pounds, ounces, grams, kilograms, or many other choices.
The precision of this type of instrument allows the user to weigh in confidence, knowing that their results are valid. These hanging weight platforms are constructed from high-quality materials, such as heavy-duty stainless steel, to endure a large amount of weight in industrial settings.
Features and Benefits of Hanging Scales
These scales are extremely useful because of their portability, precision, and durable design.
The portability of their design is one of the reasons that hanging weight scales are so popular.
In their simplest form, hanging scales simply display the weight of the load, but additional features make them more versatile. Aspects to look for are .1% accuracy of full capacity, pushbutton tare, zero, and optional swivel handle and hooks.
For some heavy-duty industry operations, you may need a hanging scale that can safely bear up to 2,000 lbs or more. Ultimately, you need a guarantee that your scale is going to work effectively and accurately and last for the duration of your business.
Durability
If your business requires the use of a scale to weigh either your products or aid in the fabrication of your product, consider a hanging or crane scale capable of bearing heavy loads.
The best scales use stainless steel load sensors for strength and reliability, instead of aluminum or nickel plated steel.
The load sensor in these scales is generally encased in aircraft-grade aluminum housing.
LCD Display
The size of the display is directly related to the ease of reading the weight results. Anyone ready to purchase an industrial grade hanging scale should look for features such as a large and easy-to-read digital screen, with graphic numbers that are visible from a distance.
At Arlyn Scales, for example, the standard indicator features 1” high graphics digits. Their UpScale color touchscreen indicator provides easily legible, backlit, 2” digits, and the option to expand them to 3” in height in scoreboard mode.
Both indicators provide a choice of weighing units.
They include a tare button, allowing the weight of any pans, slings, or other holding devices to be automatically subtracted from the results. The net/gross button gives the user a method of toggling between those modes.
There are situations where it can be important to record the weight of each load. The optional data-logging function can record thousands of results in a thumb drive, which can later be offloaded into a computer spreadsheet or database.
Battery Operation
Power is not always easily accessible to a scale of this type. Batteries must often be used as an alternative power source.
Optimal design empowers the unit to operate for many hours before the battery pack is fully depleted. For the best user experience, rechargeable batteries are an excellent choice.
A spare pack enables almost non-stop usage.
High-quality rechargeable packs have virtually the same operating life as disposable batteries.
The best rechargeable cells will retain their charge for a number of years, with a minimum level of self-discharge.
To provide maintenance-free operation for many years, they also can be recharged for hundreds of cycles.
Exceptional Precision
The purpose of using any scale is to achieve precise weight readings. Some applications are particularly sensitive to high accuracy, as is often the case in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Standard industrial scales use strain gauge load cells, a decades-old technology that provides tried-and-true results. High-quality manufacturers utilize heat-treated stainless steel for the load cells to provide years of abuse-resistant performance.
The accuracy level of these load cells is often suitable for the required use. Moderate precision is quite adequate for weighing commodities or dispensing ingredients.
But there are situations that demand much higher precision.
This can be the case in the biopharmaceutical, chemical, and electronic industries. The allowed error in measuring may be much smaller than can be achieved by standard scales.
Ultra-precision scales, designed and manufactured by Arlyn Scales, provide ten to twenty times enhanced accuracy when compared to strain gauge scales.
A unique semiconductor-based sensor technology operates completely in the digital domain. Weight capacities up to 500 kg can be achieved with a weight resolution of 5 g.
Portability
Hanging scales may be used in different locations of a typical manufacturing facility. It may not be feasible to equip each of these locations with a separate scale.
The ability to quickly and easily move the scale to the required location is important. Some parameters which help achieve the desired level of portability include a rechargeable battery pack, a large readout, and lightweight.
Versatile load-receiving devices are also useful. A carrying handle can also be helpful.
Weight Ranges for Hanging Scale Installations
Hanging scales are generally designed to support weights from 20 to 20,000 pounds, depending on their construction.
The scale resolution is typically proportional to the capacity.
Achieve The Results That You Need With Arlyn Scales
Accurate measurements can make a huge difference in pricing, and product quality control in fabrication. Crane scales may be intimidating, but despite their size, they’re much more accurate than their bulk would lead you to believe.
Investing in a high-quality hanging scale could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run. When a scale is needed to provide precise measurements, call upon the expertise of Arlyn Scales.
Our team has been manufacturing unparalleled metrology equipment for many decades. To find the perfect hanging weight scale for your operations, reach out to our team today.
