Articles
Jewelry Scales
An often overlooked detail of the retail jewelry business is that the component parts of jewelry need to be weighed accurately. Precious stones are measured in carats, and the precise measurement of these stones determines their market value. Furthermore, the stones themselves are usually set in precious metals such as gold, silver or platinum. Consequently, top-notch weighing equipment is needed to ensure that the jeweler is able to honestly inform the buyer of quality and price.There are two different uses for scales and balances commonly used in the jewelry market.
Software for Measuring Equipment
As Moore’s Law drives computing power to ever greater heights, the benefits to the end user of measuring equipment grow. Software is changing measuring processes across a wide spectrum of industries for the better.
Selling Measurement Equipment on the Web
The rise of the Internet has opened an an interesting window of opportunity for selling measurement equipment. In previous decades, sellers had to rely upon traditional tools like magazine advertising and catalog sales to get their products to the end user. Now, however, companies can sell directly to the end user via the Web, and sometimes pass savings on to the consumer.
The Importance of Calibrating a Laboratory or Analytical Balance
The modern electronic weighing devices are just about as prone to making errors caused by temperature changes, and even more prone to drift errors with time, than were their mechanical predecessors. While the introduction of a microprocessor into the loop has made it possible to compensate for many problems encountered when designing a scale based upon a Roberval suspension and a force motor type of feedback system to balance the load, it has not eliminated all of the problems. If the User requires that the scale operate with something close to or at its specified accuracy then the User must pay careful attention to how and when the scale is calibrated.
The Importance of Leveling a Balance or Scale
It is important that the modern digital electronic scale be properly leveled on whatever is used for the weighing surface (the surface upon which the scale is placed). Quite often analytical scales and balances are placed on what essentially is table top or shelf like work station. It is very important that this surface is vibration and draft free. Many of these surfaces are not truly flat. They may appear to be flat to the naked eye, but a level will show them to have uneven surfaces.
Elements of Moisture Analysis by Loss on Drying
The term “Moisture Analysis” covers a number of different techniques for measuring the amount of moisture in solids, liquids, and gases. This article will concern itself only with the technique commonly known as Loss on Drying or LOD. It will further be restricted to the automatic measurement of moisture content by modern moisture analyzers that incorporate an electronic balance and an oven in a single piece of equipment. Moisture Analyzers of this type can measure moisture content in solids and liquids only, and only by weight change. They are, however, extremely popular in the laboratory and industry for making these measurements.
Purchasing Measuring Equipment on the Internet
A perhaps unintentional side effect of Moore’s Law – the law that computing power doubles every eighteen months or so – has been upon the way equipment is purchased. The advent of the Internet has made it much easier for consumers to purchase products. One merely needs to have a credit card or online payment system, and the need to patronize brick-and-mortar stores drops exponentially. This is good news for companies and laboratories that need to purchase measuring equipment.
Range of Balances and Scales
The primary force that leads to the diversity of scales and balances that are offered to end users is the various needs of the Users. There is a general rule of thumb that is often used in making measurements that has the accuracy of the measuring equipment (in this instance a Balance or Scale) be at least one order of magnitude (10 times) greater than the desired accuracy of the parameter being measured. Thus, if we are measuring the weight of something and we want our stated results to be accurate to +/- 10.mg we should use a precision scale that has an accuracy of +/- 1.mg.
The Future of Digital Scales and Balances
As with any other attempt at prediction, determining the future of digital precision scales and laboratory balances is a risky proposition. What seems like the next big thing could turn out to be a flash in the pan, and the real future sneaks in when you weren’t expecting it. But let’s try anyway, shall we? First of all, let’s take a gander at the two most prominent methods technology of balance calibration precision scale adjustment: the strain gage load cell and magnetic force restoration.