What to Consider When Sourcing Lab Scales
Laboratory scales are expected to offer the most reliable readings possible compared to any other industry. Drugs, experiments and production processes rely on this pure accuracy for the manufacture of products. As such, scales require more care when sourcing compared to other types of weighing scales. Here's what you need to look out for when looking to buy one.
Contamination by environment
Items being weighed under lab scales need protection from external elements found in the surroundings. Air, moisture, dust and other elements can contaminate the products being tested and thereby lead to poisoning or inaccurate processing of compounds.
In light of this, the ideal lab scale should have a casing to prevent this external interference and preserve the integrity of the process. Clear cases made of PVC or glass are preferable so as to avoid spillage or the items being measured which can lead to wrong readings being recorded.
Scale range and weights variances
Scales are designed to measure weights in different load categories. In fact every scale has a maximum weight capacity beyond which the scale cannot interpret. When choosing a lab scale, ensure that it has a range that covers the products intended for weighing. This information can be obtained under the description of every scale or from the manufacturer.
For very small load applications, micro scales are ideal. These can accurately read weights that fall under grams and milligrams. Larger scales on the other hand can be measured in desk scales or platform scales if measuring bulky items.
Precision and readability range
As mentioned earlier, precision is of great importance when choosing lab scales. In manufacturing and processing, inaccurate data can lead to production of goods that are not fit for use, leading to losses or bodily harm. In the pharmaceutical industry, weighing of drugs is a delicate process that can cause poisoning if drugs are not measured as they should.
To avoid this, look for a scale that has a wide readability range. Range refers to the degree of load sensitivity. Scales with high readability ranges can detect weights that are off even by a fraction of a milligram. This encourages high precision when weighing and testing products, and thereby making quality assurance possible at the expected industry standards.
If you have unique needs for your laboratory scales, you can make a request to a manufacturer such as Nuweigh Australia requesting custom units produced to meet your needs either in terms of weight range, readability scale, materials, size or branding.