How Your Firm Can Reduce the Need to Calibrate Weighing Equipment
Posted on: 14 May 2015
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Weighing equipment needs to be calibrated (correlate its readings with those of a standard weighing tool) frequently in order to ensure that it is giving accurate measurements. This calibration is costly, especially if it is done by an external entity. Companies take several measures to reduce how frequently they have to calibrate their weighing equipment. This article discusses some of those measures.
Keep the Weights Clean
Companies that provide calibration services advise that weights should be kept meticulously clean. This prevents dirt from building up on the surface of the weighing machine to the extent that it alters its weight. Companies that take this advice very seriously often keep the weighing scales in dust-proof containers.
They also prohibit employees from touching the weighing equipment with bare hands since this can introduce organic substances like sweat that can act as an adhesive for dirt on the weighing equipment. This emphasis on cleanliness makes it unnecessary to calibrate the equipment frequently since nothing has altered its weight to necessitate recalibration.
Prevent Excessive Wear
Companies can also reduce how often their weighing equipment needs to be calibrated by taking several steps to prevent excessive wear of that equipment. For instance, they can ensure that the weighing machine does not get into contact with another metal. Metal-on-metal contact normally leads the weighing equipment to wear out gradually along the points of contact so that wear can affect its readings.
Metal-on-metal contact can be prevented by placing the weighing scale on a soft cloth instead of putting it directly on a metallic table. Such preventive actions keep the weighing scale giving accurate readings since it has not worn out because of contact with other metals.
Avoid Electromagnetic Interference
Weighing scales that measure very small objects (such as pins) can be affected by the electromagnetic waves from the environment. Those waves alter the calibration of the equipment in just the same way a magnet can affect the readings given by a compass in its vicinity. Keen companies ensure that there are no electronics being used close to the rooms in which sensitive weighing equipment is stored or used. This keeps the weighing equipment accurate, thereby reducing the need for frequent calibration.
As you can see, there is no need for you to worry about the accuracy of weighing equipment if you discover that the interval between calibrations is long. It may simply be due to taking steps to preserve the integrity of its weighing equipment.
For more information or assistance, consult resources like PCS Measurement.