By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-08-12 19:27:49 | Word Count: 664
The high capacity hanging scale is used in industrial settings, often within the manufacturing industries. However, they may also be found in shipping, agriculture, or aerospace industries. For high-capacity jobs, these scales are also sometimes referred to as "crane scales." With a welded steel shackle ring and J-hook to hold the load, crane scales or hanging scales are common for warehouse, scientific, educational or commercial applications. Rather than the mechanical dial and face of the familiar butchers scale used in supermarkets, high-capacity hanging scales might have a large LED or LCD display, making them easy to read from a distance. They might also have completely wireless remote control for operating all weighing functions. Many come equipped with a J-hook that can pivot and revolve, and a heavy-duty safety catch across the opening of the hook itself. And as with many modern industrial scales, some hanging scales have a USB interface to input information directly to a computer (sometimes with their own software and with a printer interface as well).
High capacity hanging scales are safety tested to handle weight at least 1.3 times the maximum of their safe weighing range . Like with any precision weighing scale, it is important to remember that the scale itself can never be more accurate than the test weights used for calibration purposes. Remember that for extremely precise calibration, you will need to handle the test weights very carefully. Scratches and nicks in the calibration weight will affect their accuracy. Even corrosion and built up dirt must be avoided. For scales that are in regular use, calibration should be done on a regular basis as a preventive-maintenance priority.
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Calibration is often set using test weights and a custom calibration program. Electronic high capacity hanging scales have a data hold function as well; press a button and the weight result is "frozen" so it can be recorded. One of the advantages of a high capacity hanging scale is that by the fact that the load is suspended in the air, they are much less susceptible to interference from vibration or oscillation. The weight results from a hanging scale are unusually stable and accurate for most applications.
Things to look for in a high capacity hanging scale might include:
• aircraft grade aluminum housing
• stainless steel load sensor
• digital indicator
• pushbutton tare
• accuracy to 0.1% of scales full capacity
• corrosion resistant
• water resistant
• temperature stable
• overload and shock tolerance
• rigidity
• capacity from 2500 to 10,000 lbs
A good quality, high-capacity hanging scale is a versatile instrument that is good for many different lifting, weighing and force measurement applications, and should provide years of trouble-free service with the right maintenance and calibration.
