There are many uses for scales in a laboratory setting. Depending on the research being conducted, the items to be weighed might range from very small to very large. Therefore, a variety of weighing equipment might be necessary. The types of scales that are used in laboratory settings need to be precise, dependable, and affordable.
Although some operations conducted in a laboratory setting might not be as important as others, the fact remains that laboratory procedures generally require very accurate measurements. The scales that are designed to be used in these laboratory procedures need to be precise. This should include the capability to calibrate the scale when needed. However, the process of constantly having to calibrate a scale can waste a lot of time that would be better spent doing other things.
So, while the scale should have the ability for calibration, it should also be precise enough to only require annual calibration. Laboratory scales should carry measurements out to very precise decimal places. Many laboratory procedures will require measurements that are very precise. This is due in no small part to the tasks these scales will get put to.
Weighing Scale Uses in Laboratory
Some types of experiments call for certain measures of a material to be added to a substrate in order to measure a reaction. In these cases, exact amounts are necessary so that researchers can note how even the smallest changes have an impact on the overall reaction.
In other cases, researchers might use scales to keep track of small components. Semiconductor manufacturers and hardware vendors have put this technique to work for years, and thus parts counting scales are now making inroads into academic scientific research as well.
You’ll find that these uses remain true whether you rely on your scales for engineering purposes or those related to chemical processing
Scientific Scales and Chemical Scales
Chemical engineers often rely on specialty weighing tools that you wouldn’t normally see outside of a laboratory. The scales themselves, however, are only one part of the equation. In order to have a truly accurate measurement, laboratory workers will need to also have access to precise indicators.
Scientific scales have traditionally had analog displays of some sort, which were eventually replaced with digital ones as the cost of LCD screens went down in price. That’s made extremely accurate digital displays like the Arlyn UpScale possible.
Chemical engineers are often hard-pressed to get incredibly exact readings. All research of any kind has to be kept within certain specific tolerances. This is true of any academic discipline.
However, what makes chemical engineering so different is the fact that the tolerances are almost spot-on exact.
Scientists need to make sure that there’s almost no variation from the recipe they’re working with when it comes to adding chemicals to an existing solution. Using this kind of display will make things much easier since it has such an excellent resolution. The fact that it transfers data so readily is a big plus as well.
Research is only ever as good as the data collected from it. Scientists need to test this data many times before they can sign off on it. Since these units are able to transfer information online as well as via USB, research associates should find that they have no difficulty at all sharing projected results with their colleagues.
This is especially important for those who need to have their numbers published in a table inside of a peer-review journal. Researchers who share their measurements with the widest number of people will generally find that they have the best chance of getting published.
One of the most important qualities needed in a laboratory scale is dependability. Some of the procedures that are carried out in a lab environment are time-sensitive. An entire experiment could be ruined if a researcher needed to wait for a new scale because the one in the lab was inoperable.
Laboratory scales should be made of durable and high-quality materials. The craftsmanship used in the construction of these scales should be of the highest quality. A researcher needs to feel confident in every scale s/he uses. If they pick it up to use for an experiment, it should work. Dependability is an important quality for laboratory scales.
Another important quality is affordability. It is true that many laboratories will receive large amounts of funding. It is also true that many experiments will dictate that no expense be spared because of the sensitive nature of the experiments.
However, it is senseless for researchers to have to spend more money on equipment than what it is worth. The more money they spend on equipment, the less money they have available for other things. So, a laboratory-scale should be affordable. It should be readily available for those who conduct laboratory work, without having to spend a fortune to get it. Still, the most important consideration is generally the precision and resolution of the scale as well as its display readout.
High Precision Lab Scales by Arlyn Scales
Load cell technology has been developed over a period of time, so you can trust that it will hold up in an overwhelming majority of use cases. However, what if you need to work with ultra-precision scales that apply radical new technologies to ensure that every single measurement is completely within certain specifications?
That’s where SAW technology and other more esoteric options come into play. While some engineers might cringe at the idea of using something different than a standard option, consider for a moment that Arlyn Scales needs to take precise measurements on a regular basis as well.
Our own technicians sort of designed many of these solutions for their own usage in a way. That means they made them adhere to the same standards that they would expect from any tool they deployed from another manufacturer.
When you invest in these sorts of tools, you’ll be getting the same equipment our own crews use. However, there’s a chance that your use case will be highly specialized. This often happens in academic laboratories and special research organizations, which might have to deal with material that’s currently in unusual states of matter.
Should this at all sound familiar, you can ask about custom scale design. Our engineers can put scales together from scratch or compile equipment from a variety of various off-the-shelf components, such as our digital scale indicators to get you what you need. Of course, not all devices need to be planned with such exacting conditions in mind. Nevertheless, we’ll make sure that any piece you’re shipped does everything you need it to and more.
Some laboratory scales may be used for very mundane procedures. Others may be used to conduct life-saving experiments in the most reputable labs in the world. No matter what they are being used for, laboratory scales need to be precise, reliable, and affordable. At Arlyn Scales, you can find laboratory scales that meet those needs.
Visit Arlyn Scales online to contact us today and talk with one of our helpful representatives. They’ll be able to get you the kind of precise scale technology you need!
