All Weights Great and Small: Why Calibration is Important
Posted on: 22 July 2015
Calibration services are important for the consistent, accurate running of weighing scales, especially when industrial machinery is concerned. Running a profitable business that uses equipment such as this means that there is a responsibility to upkeep this equipment. When equipment is in good working order, including being calibrated, it can lead to high levels of productivity and profit e.g. calibrating weighing equipment will ensure the machinery is performing to the highest level of accuracy possible which will reduce wastage and provide a better investment return in the long run. Contract with a company like PCS Measurement if scale calibration is of particular importance. However, weighing scales are also often used in smaller facilities such as restaurant kitchens, and in these environments a short term calibration solution can be achieved with a few simple steps.
Start with a flat surface
When you begin it is important to place your scale on the flattest surface that you have available. If you have a hard floor then this would be a good place; however, if you have carpet or a rug then it would be best to place the scale on a table. The reason for this is that an uneven surface can greatly alter the readings, giving inaccurate results and ultimately rendering the calibration useless.
Get Prepared
Don't just start fiddling about the scales; it's important you know what you are doing before you begin, so try to familiarize yourself with the user manual. Once you have done this you need to set your scale to zero, also known as 'zeroing' the scale.
Start Weighing
You need to be able to determine whether the weight your scale displays is correct, so pick an item that you already know the definite weight of, e.g. a barbell or dumbbell. If you don't have either of these things on hand then you could use a full bag of sugar or something similar that comes in standardized weights. Note down the weight of the item, and repeat the procedure at least three more times. Once you have done this, work out the average of all the results you have collected.
Final Step
The final step in calibrating your scale is to work out the percentage of error if your scale has provided conflicting results to what the weight of the item is. Although you may not be able to change this on the scales themselves, you can use this percentage as a guide and factor it into all weighing in the future. This should ensure that waste is minimized until your scales can be mechanically recalibrated by a calibration services provider.
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