Calibrate 10 kg balance with several sample weights (5+2+2+1)kg

GCollat · May 3, 2024

Do you know if it is a common practice when calibrating a balance using sample weights to do the following arrangement:

"The weight limit value is 10kg and to check this weight I use several sample weights 5kg + 2kg +2kg +1kg instead of the 10kg sample weight. "

Is the calibration effective? Is it something accepted in quality certification audits? I would use an M1 sample class.

P.S: Do you think having M1 sample weights is a good thing to calibrate process ranging from 1g to 10kg in the automotive industry?

Jen Kirley · May 12, 2024

Hello GCollat, I am sorry for the delay in this response.

I see no reason why you cannot use this combination of calibrated test weights for your scale. Indeed, it makes sense because scales should be calibrated throughout their range, not just the maximum.

What is this scale weighing? What is your tolerance? Has it been set up properly? There is guidance available for subjects like this one.

I am not affiliated with Beamex.

Scanton · May 13, 2024

I calibrate my 24kg balances with a set of 1x 1kg, 2 x 2kg, 2 x 5 kg and 1 x 10kg calibrated weights allowing me to check weights and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,10, 15, 20 & 24 kg, by using a combination of the weights.

I have never run into any issues when these calibrations have been audited.

dwperron · May 13, 2024

GCollat said:
Do you know if it is a common practice when calibrating a balance using sample weights to do the following arrangement:

"The weight limit value is 10kg and to check this weight I use several sample weights 5kg + 2kg +2kg +1kg instead of the 10kg sample weight. "

Is the calibration effective? Is it something accepted in quality certification audits? I would use an M1 sample class.

P.S: Do you think having M1 sample weights is a good thing to calibrate process ranging from 1g to 10kg in the automotive industry?

It is going to depend on the accuracy of your balance. Class M1 weights are not real high accuracy ones, 10 kg of them have an accuracy of ±500 mg. Obviously, you would need to use the actual calibration values of the weights for this.
It also will depend on the type of calibration you are doing. If you are checking repeatability, cross pan balance, or null then it will get tricky to try to do these with 4 weights instead of one.

Jen Kirley · May 13, 2024

dwperron's answer is better than mine. <3

Johnnymo62 · May 14, 2024

+/-0.005% is not high accuracy? What am I missing?

dwperron · May 15, 2024

Johnnymo62 said:
+/-0.005% is not high accuracy? What am I missing?

It depends on what you are measuring. You can get a precision balance these days that has a 6 kg capacity and 100 mg resolution for about $500, and the class M1 weights aren't as accurate as that scale. 10 kg of Class M1 weights have an accuracy of ± 500 mg, while Class 1 weights have an accuracy of ±25 mg, Class E2 are ±16 mg, and Class F1 are ±50 mg, and weights get a whole lot more accurate than these are.

Calibrate 10 kg balance with several sample weights (5+2+2+1)kg

GCollat

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Jen Kirley

Quality and Auditing Expert

Scanton

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dwperron

Jen Kirley

Quality and Auditing Expert

Johnnymo62

Haste Makes Waste

dwperron

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