What Is A Balance Scale And What Is It Used For?

What are balance scales?

When you think balance scales, chances are you picture those old-timey, antique arm balances. You know, the ones with two plates sitting at either end of a beam, requiring the user to place weights at either end as if a miniature seesaw.

Weighing solutions and, in particular, balance scales have come a long way since those days. They’re no longer as cumbersome or unwieldy. Far from it, in fact. Nowadays, precision balance scales harness the latest and greatest in digital, electronic, and load cell technology to deliver a streamlined weighing experience.

What are they used for?

With the proper calibration, precision balance scales are able to deliver consistently accurate, precise measurements accurate results from 0.0001g (0.1mg) to 0.1g. This is an absolute must when it comes to pill counting, compounding, and just about any other application where the margin for error is small and accurate results are a must.

Balance scales are also able to measure the densities of various liquids, have built in interference reduction to minimise fluctuations, and can calculate percentage weight in real time. This is something the balance scales of old just weren't able to achieve. Trade approved options are also available, depending on the application.

Where are they commonly found?

These days you’ll find precision balance scales in laboratories, pharmacies, and most any other environment where high precision, analytical weighing is required.