Having the ability to see the weight and to make adjustments right at the scale is critical for many different types of operations. This visibility is important in all types of batching and blending operations as well as for fill, packaging and weight rate monitoring.
One of the most common components for this type of requirement is the use of a digital weight indicator. The overall style and design of the indicator will vary based on the manufacturer, with the most practical units designed to be streamlined and provide clear readout and control options.
Data Display and Transmission
When choosing a digital weight indicator, the exact display needs to be carefully selected based on the lighting conditions in the area. In both bright as well as low light conditions an LED display with up to six digits for highly precise weighing within the respective weight range for the scale.
The update rate for the weight indicator should be fast enough to match the needs of the line or production area. Most industrial and processing applications will benefit from a refresh or update rate at 20 times per second. Even small adjustments to the material on the scale can be quickly captured and displayed.
In addition to just the immediate display, consider how the data transmits to databases or system control programs. It may be important to have Analog transmission of data or other options such as Profibus, Allen-Bradley Remote I/O or BCD communication capability to integrate with the current system.
Controls
The best digital weight indicator will have the necessary control features on the indicator for easy adjustments. Having the ability to lock out specific control features also needs to be a consideration in many application.
This feature ensures particular controls cannot be altered by accident. They can be locked or unlocked by those with administrative privileges, protecting data and keeping the system correctly configured.
