Useful tips on fine scales

Scales are an indispensable technical tool in many areas. But as different as the areas in which balances are used, so are the models used. While the body scale in the bathroom or a kitchen scaleonly limited accuracy and a measurement error of a few 100 grams is usually not very tragic. However, there are areas where precision is important and even fractions of a gram play a huge role. While this is especially important in the job, for example in scientific institutions or in gemstone sanders and goldsmiths, where each carat can have a tremendously high value, however, a corresponding hobby can make similarly high demands on the technology. For such areas, there are special fine scales, which can accurately display the weight in the gram range to several decimal places.

Who needs a fine balance?

As already mentioned, fine scales are mainly used in science and, in the broadest sense, in the jewelery industry, but also in gastronomy. In science, it is particularly important when weighing chemicals for small-scale experiments on an enormous precision, so that they can be carried out successfully. Some substances are more expensive than platinum due to the elaborate extraction and require a correspondingly careful handling. But especially gems, especially red diamonds, surpass nearly everything in their value with $ 1 million for a carat or 0.2 grams. A measurement error of only 0.000002 grams still accounts for a price difference of just under 10 euros – and requires an extremely precise fine scale! However, such fine scales are offered specifically under the name analytical balance. Even more affordable luxury makes precision scales indispensable. For example, they are used to weigh expensive foods such as caviar or truffles. In the private sector, another field of application is added, namely gardening. Some plants occasionally require special attention. Precise solutions of fertilizer concentrates or pesticides for the treatment of individual crops are necessary for this and make the use of a microbalance indispensable.

How precise must one microbalance be?

This question is difficult to generalize. Here, what matters most is what should be weighed, in what quantities and how large the measurement error may be, which is still tolerable. The problem with precision scales is that the more accurate the weight, the lower the allowed maximum weight. For gastronomy and to weigh precious metals in most cases, a scale that is accurate to 0.01 grams is completely sufficient. For gemstones and scientific applications, more precise devices are needed. How exactly they have to be depends here, however, particularly strongly on the planned application and should be decided individually by each user. Here, however, the cost-benefit factor counts and probably plays a significant role in the decision. Fine scales are available as a pocket version for less than 20 euros, while extremely accurate precision scales with up to six decimal places can be priced quite in the range of 2000 euros. However, not only the number of decimal places counts, but also the measurement error. Ultimately, each scale is only as good as the specified measurement inaccuracy. A microbalance which, for example, displays four decimal places, but whose datasheet gives an accuracy of +/- 0.1 grams, is only accurate to the nearest 0.1 grams.

Which microbalance is the right one?

The selection should be based on the information given in the data sheet. A microbalance , which has such a high inaccuracy in relation to the indicated points, is definitely inferior. In general, a good workmanship counts and with particularly precise models, the weighing pan is provided with a cover to avoid errors due to the movement of air. Another quality feature is an optional display in different weight units. Due to the variety of models, construction methods of the pocket scaleup to heavy equipment and the wide range of measurement accuracy, general purchase recommendations are impossible to make.