Not long ago, most weighing devices had arrow displays and the arrow spun around on a dial when you placed something on the platform of the scales. However, these units are slowly becoming part of the past, as modern digital machines take over. But when it comes to equipment like industrial floor scales, is digital really better? Let’s explore this question to see.
Mechanical
First, let’s check out an old fashion mechanical weighing device. You step onto the platform and stare at a clock type mechanism in front of you (hoping you didn’t gain too much weight over the past week). What happens when you step on the platform?
Underneath the platform is a mechanism attached to a large spring which stretches and turns a pointer in the display. It’s a little more complex than that, but this is the basic idea. These scales can be calibrated by adjusting the tension on the mechanism. High quality units can be fairly accurate.
Digital
Today’s modern industrial floor scales use load cells situation underneath the platform. These cells can be operated in a number of ways, but each method senses the pressure placed upon them by the weight on the platform. As the pressure changes within the cells it is turned into a digital signal. This signal is relayed to the control or monitoring unit.
Depending on the type and quality of the load cells, digital industrial floor scales can be extremely accurate and much more accurate than mechanical scales. But this is only one advantage of digital units. Here are some more:
- Data storage – you can keep track of past weights.
- Mounting – the readout unit can be away from the platform area.
- Adjustments – you can quickly adjust the scale to weigh something inside a container, without removing it from the container or vehicle.
