And someone’s got to count all those parts. A person counting parts by hand will, over time, become prone to making count errors. This can lead to a variety of unpleasant problems down the line. One of the easiest and least time consuming methods of parts counting involves the use of a parts counting scale. The user selects a certain number of identical parts and places them in a container on the scale. The resulting weight is then divided by the number of parts in the sample; the resulting number is the “average piece weight.”

This number can then be used as a benchmark by the scale for the counting of the part in large numbers. The accuracy of the sample will be greater as the number of identical parts contained it increases. A sample with fifty parts will provide a more accurate idea of the real average piece weight than a sample with only two. When choosing to purchase a parts counting scale, there are several important factors which should guide your choice. The most important of these is the sensitivity of the scale. If you are counting very small parts, then a scale with readability of .001g, such as the Torbal AG500, would be your best choice. For counting larger parts, the capacity of the scale would rise in importance relative to the scale’s sensitivity.

The Torbal 1000 has a maximum capacity of 1000g at .01g. It is important, however, not to choose a scale with greater capacity than you are ever likely to use. Another important feature of a good parts counting scale is the ability to store average piece weights in a database and assign names and other information to it. This feature enables the user to simply select the relevant parts’ APW, tare the scale and count the parts. The Torbal PRO Series balances all shares this feature and the results are made visible on an easy to read backlit LCD display. This is just an overview of the modern parts counting scale.