The Importance of Animal Scale Calibration

Veterinary clinics and Animal hospitals throughout the triangle area of North Carolina count on Central Carolina Scale to check and calibrate their vet scales on a regular basis. Our state certified scale technicians use certified calibration weights which are ideal weights to use when calibrating animal scales. They ensure your scale is properly calibrated and ready for the requirements of weighing in a wide range of animal care settings.

Weights for Animal Scale Calibration

Consumer weights such as barbells or similar items may not provide an accurate weight to calibrate your scale. For example, a 5-pound consumer weight, such as a barbell, may actually weigh between 4.75 and 5.25 pounds. Compare that to our certified calibration weights which have a manufactured and adjusted tolerance of +/-230 milligrams! Our scale tech’s use a certified calibration weight to ensure your scale is calibrated correctly and presents accurate weighments for proper animal care.

equine weighing scale

Our scale technicians use certified calibration weights ensure the scale is properly calibrated and ready to weigh a wide range of animal needs.

Animal patients can be unpredictable, especially if they are nervous or anxious at veterinary clinics. You may want to look for scales that have a low profile so animals aren’t taking large steps on or off the scale. Some scales may have optional mats to increase animal comfort as they step onto the weighing platform. The scales you use should also be durable and easy to clean. Hard, nonporous ABS plastic surfaces provide an easy-to-clean weighing platform that can withstand claws and accidents.

Functions such as weight recall, tare and movement compensation technology allow operators to record and verify accurate weights for every patient. Movement compensation technology in scales recognizes when a patient is moving or shaking on the weighing platform and accounts for that movement in the final weight display. You may want to consider these scale functions as well as automatic shut-off for long battery life as you search for a scale to meet the needs of your specific practice.

Standardizing the units of measure at your clinic and using scales that allow you to lock the units of measure can help you prevent potentially fatal errors. Some animal scales are able to lock units of measure, meaning the scale won’t accidentally be switched from pounds to kilograms, or vice versa. If a scale is unknowingly changed from kilograms to pounds, medication can be given in dangerously high amounts.

Recently we announced the availability of the new Rice Lake RoughDeck® EQ equine scale. Durability and repeatability are additional factors that should be considered when choosing large animal scales. A weighing system may be accurate when initially installed but fall out of tolerance as it is used. After all, horses are not always well-behaved during the weighing process—especially when they are not feeling well.

Selecting a scale that can handle reluctant patients’ antics, including hoof stomps, and still deliver consistent, stable weights is key for long-term use. Hermetically sealed load cells are ideal so the system can be washed down without damage. Regular inspections and calibrations should also be performed by a local, authorized scale service technician.

For more information on our cattle scales and related animal weighing products or scale calibration services, please call us at (919) 776-7737.

Belt Scales for Recycling Centers

The main components of belt scales are weigh frames that have load cells and idlers or rollers to support the conveyor belt. Conveyor belt speed is measured with an encoder or tracking wheel mounted on the return belt. Weight and speed are combined in the weight processor, or integrator, to determine the product flow in kilograms or tons per hour.

belt scale

While weigh frames and sensors have not changed much since the 90’s, weight processors have advanced with more communication options. Weight indicators and scale controllers can communicate with PLCs through Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet and similar systems, while USB, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® allow weight information to be sent to peripheral equipment such as printers and computers.

Material Handling with Belt Scales at Recycling Facilities

The recycling industry is unique and requires specialized equipment. Due to the nature of material in recycling, conveyor belts are built to be enclosed to keep spindle and dust contained to the belt. In this case, it’s necessary to use a belt weigh frame that can be positioned outside of the belt to simplify scale maintenance. Belt scales used in recycling measure and register the main and waste flows separately.

 

Maintenance Needs for Belt Scales

When belt scales are being used in Legal for Trade applications, or anytime materials are sold based on weight, it is critical to ensure the scale is properly calibrated. The belt scale and conveyor must have Legal for Trade approval with routine inspections and calibrations to ensure accuracy.

Choosing the correct weigh frame for your conveyor is the first step to ensuring accuracy with your belt scale. You may want to consult with a belt scale expert to find the option that meets your requirements for precision. Additionally, the conveyor must be maintained and an automatic tension device, such as a ratchet, must be present with the conveyor belt.

Belt scales are calibrated and inspected for accuracy when the system is installed. Typically, this is done by weighing a truck loaded with material on a truck scale and comparing that load with the total from the belt scale.

Expert Scale Support

Central Carolina Scale can offer advice on choosing the right belt scale for your needs as well as offer on-site support during installation and maintenance. Learn more by visiting our RFQ form on our website.