Analytical Balance.

PRECISION WEIGHING
Just like any other well-oiled machine, analytical balances require maintenance to ensure they
are operating at peak performance and accuracy. Laboratories rely on equipment to produce
repeatable, accurate and reliable results. As is the case with other lab equipment, analytical
balances need to be kept clean and calibrated regularly at the very least. Preventative
maintenance is highly recommended by expert service technicians but some measures can be
taken on your own. We've seen balances that are 10, 15 and even 20 years old still operating in
our customer's labs. Incredible, right? This is accomplished by taking special care of the balance
thus extending it's life.
Properly maintaining and calibrating your lab balances not only helps to extend the life of the
instrument, it also ensures that they are providing reliable measurements. Not to mention, repairs
that are the result of neglect can be costly and are easily avoidable.
Here is some advice on how to properly maintain your analytical balances.

MOUNTING and LOCATION of the BALANCE

The sensitivity of the balance and the accuracy of its readings demand a thoughtful selection of
location and preparation of the support. Consider the following factors.

1. FIRMNESS OF SUPPORT.

The supporting surface must be extremely rigid. When the beam is released and equilibrium is
obtained, any pressure on the support must not cause any visible movement of the pointer.

The balance should be placed upon a solidly constructed bench or table. The type of construction
of the building in-volved dictates whether the table or bench should be isolated from the wall or
rigidly attached to the wall. If isolated from the wall, the bench or table must rest firmly on the
floor and must be anchored securely.

The level of the support should be permanent. This elimi-nates repeated relevelling of the
balance case and the readjust-ment of the zero point. The major thing to guard against is a lack of
rigidity in the support which might permit tilting during the weighing operation.

2. FREEDOM FROM VIBRATION

The balance support should be free from any vibration that produces a visible effect upon the
operation of the balance itself. Some modern balances have built-in vibration dampers.
Otherwise, satisfactory elimination of vibration at the balance may sometimes be obtained by
mounting on a heavy lead slab, supported on a sponge rubber cushion of medium resistance.

3. PROTECTION FROM AIR CURRENTS, CHANGES OF TEMPERATURE, and

Balances should be mounted in a draft free area so that when the balance door is opened, air
currents will not be set up inside the case. Any perceptible draft in the vicinity of the balance
case interferes with weighings.

A balance should not be located near hot or cold objects, such as cold windows, radiators,
electric ovens, stills, or areas that are at a different temperature than the rest of the room. When
subjected to uneven temperature conditions, convection currents may be set up within the
balance case. Such currents, no matter how minute, can spoil the regularity with which
successive swings of the beam decrease in amplitude. (This is called irregular falling off.) It may
even cause the zero readings of subsequent readings to vary.

For normally adequate illumination, common sense must govern. Thirty to fifty watt lamps may
be used a few feet from the case. This will not harm most analytical work.

In general, temperature must be constant during weighing, as well as for a considerable period
beforehand. The constancy required varies for the weighing of objects of different size and
character, and for different types and styles of balances. A change of a few degrees in 4 or 5
hours is not likely to cause trouble in ordinary analytical work. It should be noted, however, that
falling temperature is much more likely to cause trouble than is a rising temperature.

Humidity in the normal range of 35% to 60% need not be controlled, unless the zero reading of
the balance itself is abnormally affected, or the substance weighed is particularly hygroscopic.

IMPORTANT
In order to avoid the danger of changes in atmospheric conditions, many laboratories have found
it advantageous to install Weighing Rooms, with air conditioning for maintenance of constant
tempera-ture and humidity.

In order to avoid the danger of changes in atmospheric conditions, many laboratories have found
it advantageous to install Weighing Rooms, with air conditioning for maintenance of constant
temperature and humidity.

4. PROTECTION FROM DUST cod FUMES in SURROUNDING ATMOSPHERE.

Dust, or other foreign particles, may cause undue wear on bearings and precision finished parts.
Naturally, metallic dust is more dangerous than non-eroding material, such as lint. Corrosive,
sticky, or condensing fumes, may also have an adverse effect upon the balance.

For any kind of balance, local conditions will determine whether dust covers will suffice, or
whether a separate weighing room is necessary. The seriousness of dust and fume conditions is
often underestimated, and laboratories should take special precautions in this respect. Good
judgment will balance all the elements of cost and time against the danger of appreciable error.

Calibration
Performing regular calibration checks are absolutely necessary to ensure your analytical balance
is measuring properly. Some balances come equipped with an internal calibration feature. A
reference weight along with a motorized mechanism is built into the balance which it uses to
automatically perform calibrations based on preset parameters. Some allow the user to perform
the internal calibrations on demand through prompts in the menu. In either instance, the internal
calibration function is a convenient feature to keep the balance within spec. Although these
balances perform these calibrations internally and in some instances automatically, it is still a
best practice to manually calibrate your balance regularly as additional verification.
Analytical balances without the internal calibration function require all calibrations to be
performed manually. To do this, you'll need the appropriate weighing standard, which are most
often available from the manufacturer of the balance. After preparing the balance for calibration
through the menu, the weight is placed on the weighing pan and the operator visually verifies the
readout is accurate, while also prompting the balance that is it as well.
Cleaning
Keeping your analytical balance clean is not only recommended, but required. Debris that has
built up inside of the weighing chamber can influence weighing results and hinder weighing
accuracy. Most analytical balances utilize glass draft shields and stainless steel weighing
platforms. It is recommended to use a non-abrasive cloth like lint-free microfiber towel to wipe
down the inside of the weighing chamber. Use a mild cleaning agent that is safe for use on
stainless steel. Lightly dampen the towel and carefully wipe down the platform and inside glass.
When cleaning the weighing pan, remove it first and then wipe it down. After you've dried it
completely, simply put it back into place. Be careful not to put too much pressure on the
weighing pan as damage can occur to internal weighing components. Make ABSOLUTELY
SURE not to allow fluid or debris underneath the weighing pan and into the internal weighing
mechanism as this can cause binding or serious damage.
To clean the outside of your analytical balance, also use a mild detergent that is safe for plastics
and display screens. There are plenty of multi-surface mild cleaners that you can pickup right
from your local grocery or hardware store. Keeping the external components of the balance clean
helps prevent buildup that can find it's way inside the balance and also maintains a clean look.
We've seen balances that have been neglected and over time sludge and dirt buildup can wear out
keypads and degrade the housing. Just like anything of value, it's important to keep them clean
both inside and outside.

Proper Use
Above all else, ensuring proper use of an analytical balance will help prolong the life of the
instrument. Damage caused by improper use is one of the most common reasons we see lab
balances on our service bench. Proper training can save a lot of headache down the road. Any
operator using an analytical balance should be trained on proper use, maintenance best practices
and basic troubleshooting. Here are a few common mistakes you can avoid to prevent
unnecessary repair costs:
Exceeding the weight capacity of the balance is a quick way to damage internal weighing
mechanisms. Do not put more weight on the pan than is recommended. Even with overload
protection, you'd be surprised how easy it is to exceed the overload protection limit when dealing
with small capacity analytical balances. Likewise, do not rest objects or press down on the
weighing pan.
Avoid moving the balance as much as possible. Each time you move it, you're increasing the
potential of dropping the instrument which will almost certainly require replacement. If you do
need to move it, use a cart or other transport apparatus to help reduce the changes of a fall.
Do not stab the keypad. Seems simple right? You'd be surprised how often we see damage to the
keypad or display caused by operators poking at them with pens, utensils or even knives in food
labs. We get it. These things happen. But try to avoid it as much as possible.
Keep analytical balances out of extremely dirty or dusty areas whenever possible. Buildup of
dust can cause binding and other issues with sensitive internal components. If you absolutely
must use your balance in a dirty environment, be sure to clean it often and protect it as much as
possible using covers and draft shields.

Storage
Even when you're not using your analytical balance, there are steps you can take to maintain
reliability and accuracy. Simple dust covers are a great way to keep the balance clean and free
from debris. They are usually very cheap and worth every penny. If you plan to store the balance
for a long period of time, it is a good idea to unplug them and tuck them away somewhere they
won't be disturbed. Equipment closets or storage rooms are ideal when applicable. Otherwise,
simply placing them inside of a cabinet or well out of the way of busy production areas will help
prevent unwanted bumps, falls and spills. We'd also suggest powering up the unit and
performing a calibration on them from time to time to ensure they are in tip-top shape should you
need to use them in an emergency.
To sum it all up, maintaining your analytical balance takes just a little bit of planning, training
and elbow grease. It's well worth it to keep the instrument accurate and reliable. And heck. It
sure doesn't hurt the old pocket book either.

Although no error is introduced by dust that remains on the pan during weighing, dust may cause
other inaccuracies in the operation of the balance. Pans should be dusted with a camel hair brush.
The floor of the balance case should also be kept perfectly clean. After weighing is completed,
weights should be placed in the weight box and placed in the balance drawer. Do not leave
weights on the floor of the balance case when the balance is used only occasionally.

Balances should never be overloaded. Any reputable balance will carry considerably more than
its rated capacity without any obvious effect. Yet, overloading is detrimental to the precision
operation of a balance, and the possible damage is in direct relation to the amount of the
overload.