A precision balance is an accurate, robust weighing instrument with capacities from 120 g to 64 kg, and readabilities from 1 g to 0.1 mg. Lower readability models have a draft shield to ensure the best performance, while high-capacity models have a large weighing pan to accommodate heavy loads. Precision balances are used in a variety of applications in the lab and in manufacturing environments, including sample and standard preparation, formulation, statistical quality control, and counting.
A precision balance is a weighing instrument with a readability between 1 g and 0.1 mg (0.0001 g), corresponding to 0-4 decimal places, and capacities of up to 64 kg. With this range, precision balances are used in both laboratory and production environments. Precision balances are used in a wide variety of industries and applications, including preparation of samples, statistical quality control and formulation, to weigh from just a few grams up to many kilograms.
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Precision balances and precision lab scales produce steady readings in a wider range of environmental conditions than analytical balances. This is because the weighing cell of a precision scale or balance is less sensitive to temperature fluctuations and air currents.
While a draft shield is not usually necessary when using a precision balance with 1 or 2 decimal place readability under standard precision weighing conditions, it can help when working in a fume hood because it protects the precision weighing cell from the internal air flow. 1 mg and 0.1 mg precision balances have a highly sensitive weighing cell and are thus more susceptible to air drafts. A draft shield helps to maintain performance. In fact, many 1 mg and 0.1 mg readability precision balances are fitted with a draft shield as standard.
However, METTLER TOLEDO's Excellence level precision balances and precision scales have the innovative SmartPan weighing pan. The SmartPan weighing pan has been cleverly designed to minimize the effects of air currents on the precision weighing cell. This has improved repeatability by up to 86% and also enables you to use 1 mg precision balances without a draft shield under standard weighing conditions. When working in a fume hood or safety cabinet, 5 mg and 10 mg precision balances with the SmartPan weighing pan deliver results up to twice as fast as models without SmartPan.
Read more in our white paper: Outstanding Weighing Performance – Even Under Harsh Conditions.
A precision balance typically has a higher capacity than other balances. This allows to accurately weigh samples up to 64 kg, which is why precision balances are used for multiple applications in the laboratory and in production. The combination of high capacity and rugged construction makes precision balances ideal for harsh environments.
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Precision balances and precision lab scales are widely used in the laboratory and in production for many daily tasks where precision weighing is required including:
Precision balances are used in general laboratories, research and development, and quality control in a wide range of industries, including chemical, pharmaceutical, food, textiles, metals, plastics, and academia. High-capacity precision balances and precision scales with capacities of 10 kg or more are available with a large weighing platform to accommodate larger loads. These high-capacity top loading balances are often used in aggregate, pharmaceutical, chemical, and adhesive formulation applications.
Watch our video to see how METTLER TOLEDO precision balances can simplify your formulation tasks: Formulation Development and Producing Accurate Formulations.