FAQ PAGE
(frequently asked questions)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ADVANCE WEIGHT SYSTEMS, INC. designs and manufactures load cells, scales, moment balancing and specialty weighing systems and check weighers for a wide range of industries and businesses. Many times we are asked to explain the ins and outs of product weighing and systems design.

This section of our WEBSITE will be devoted to answering these questions, and any others that you might have. If you have a question not discussed here, please send your question to us by by using the form BELOW

Now to the questions:

ACCURACY STUFF:

•  Accuracy
•  Creep
•  Hysterisis
•  Linearity
•  Precision
•  Tolerance

TERMS:

•  What is the difference between a "Scale" and a "System"?
•  What is the difference between a "Scale" and a "Weigh-Cell?
•  What is the difference between a "Load Cell" and a "Weigh-Cell?
•  What is the "mass balance" weighing method?
•  What is the "TOP WEIGHT" of a bowling ball?

WEIGHT:

•  How many Grams are there in an ounce?
•  What is the smallest product that Advance Weight Systems equipment has weighed

MISCELLANEOUS:

•  Does Advance Weight Systems provide a meter as a standard with its Weigh-Cell?
•  Does Advance Weight Systems, Inc. have a product catalogue?

ASK YOUR UNIQUE QUESTION BELOW:

How many Grams are there in an ounce?

•  There are 28.35 grams in an ounce, and 453.6 grams in a pound. You can see that when we say our scales can measure into the tenths of a gram, and are repeatable to hundredths of a gram - we're talking about a very small measurement window.
•  For a listing of Metric/English weight equivalents, see the table later in this section.
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What is the difference between a "Scale" and a "weigh cell?"

•  Usually a "scale" includes an integrated meter or read-out of some type.
•  A "weigh cell" does not; it is the measuring unit (load cell) without any indicator or meter.
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ACCURACY

•  Accuracy is best explained as a combination of creep, hysteresis, and linearity.

•  Creep

•  is the amount of shift that occurs in a given reading of measurement over a given period of time.

•  Hysteresis

•  is the difference between how a scale measures as a load is being applied as opposed to how it measures when the load is released.

•  Linearity

•  tells us if the scale measures in a straight line. This means, if we have a 5000 gram scale, and we test it at 1000 gram increments, do the measures curve between the top and bottom reading (1000.0 gr., 2000.1 gr., 3000.2 gr., 4000.1 gr., 5000.0 gr.).
•  There is a universally set limit for each of these factors, and when they are combined, the result is the accuracy of the scale. The Advance Weight Systems Weigh-Cell has a guaranteed accuracy of 0.05%. We will not ship a unit if it has an accuracy of less than 1 part in 2000, typically our units average 1 part in 4000 or better.
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PRECISION

•  Precision is defined as how close you are able to read to the marks of measure. Picture a ruler, if it is marked in one-inch increments, you are only as precise as the nearest inch. If, however, that same ruler is marked in hundredths of an inch, your precision has just increased dramatically.
•  This same concept holds true for scales. The Advance Weight Systems Weigh- Cell has a precision of 1 part in 5000, or 0.02%. This means that for a 5000 gram scale, the precision is ± 1 gram. This same concept is sometimes also called the resolution of a scale.
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TOLERANCE

•  The Tolerance of a scale is shown as the precision of the scale. If you have a 5000 gram scale, and your precision is measured in 1 gram increments, your tolerance would be ± 1 gram. Tolerance is NOT defined by the parts being measured (± (X) number of parts).
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Why doesn't Advance Weight Systems provide a meter or read out with each "weigh cell?"

•  We design and manufacture weighing systems. As such, the type of meter/read-out provided depends on the application in which the scale (or weigh cell) will be used. We can provide anything from a simple read-out of the weight on the scale up to a computer that gathers and stores the weighing data and controls part feeding and removal from the scale.
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What is the difference between a "scale" and a "system"?

•  A "system" is the total of all the equipment that is used to weigh a part. This means the scale, the meter or control device, and the equipment that is used to move the part onto and off the scale. Also included in the "system" would be any post-weighing sorting mechanisms. In short, a "system" is a complete Turn-Key approach to the weighing question.
•  A "scale" is a weigh-cell and a read-out device, (meter).
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What is the "mass balance" weighing method?

•  For a discussion of "Mass Balance", click here!
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What is the smallest product that Advance Weight Systems equipment has weighed in a production environment?

•  An automotive parts supplier needed to weigh a part with a nominal weight of 1.75 grams - 2.25 grams, (0.500 grams). Our equipment weighs this part to a variance of 50 milligrams (that is, 0.050 grams) at a rate of 55 ppm.
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TOP WEIGHT EXPLAINED

•  What is it?

•  "Top Weight" is a heavy spot, not at the center of the ball but near the outside edge.

•  Why is important?

•  The heavy spot enables your pro shop to drill the ball for your finger holes, causing the ball then to be balanced, no heavy spot.
•  Also, they can control the location of the heavy spot, and give you a better hook.

•  How does it get there?

•  The manufacturer of the ball will "cast" the ball with a heavy spot on purpose. Enabling them to do many clever things with that heavy spot

•  How do they find that heavy spot?

•  Manufacturers of bowling balls used to "float" the balls in air and the "heavy" spot would drift to the bottom,, but accuracy/repeatability was no better than 3/4 of an inch.
•  Some "floated" the balls in mercury... no better results.
•  Some used hot liquid salts... no better.
•  Some now use our automated scale system. Nothing is more accurate. It repeats to less than 0.100 inch.
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Does Advance Weight Systems have a product catalogue?

•  This Website is the closest we have in a catalogue of products. As systems designers, each product we make is somewhat unique to the application and customer for whom it was designed. We would be happy to provide any further detail needed, but cannot (again because of the unique design for each customer) provide a catalogue or price list of everything we make.
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