Apollo Multi-Functional Precision Balance with Impact Shock Detection GX-A/GF-A Series - 10200g by 0.1g

Recently, balances are increasingly used in unfavorable environments such as inside a fume hood or enclosure where airflow is generated. Under such circumstances, it is essential to correctly evaluate the performance of the balance at the actual location of installation, which requires calculating repeatability using a weight. However, in many fields, use of weights is a cumbersome and time-consuming operation. Solution: Load/unload the balance without using a weight by electronically controlling and altering its internal settings. In this application note, this method for evaluating the performance (repeatability) of a balance, called Electronically Controlled Loaded or ECL, is proposed and tested.

ECL, which stands for Electronically Controlled Load, is A&D's unique technology (patent pending) of generating a minute load (0.3 to 3% of the balance capacity) by purposely altering the equilibrium state of the electromagnetic force restoration sensor. A balance with this technology, such as the GX-A/GF-A series, allows the user to test its repeatability performance without using an external weight by automatically calculating the standard deviation from 10 repeated measurements with the said artificially generated load. Further, based on the result of this repeatability test, the balance indicates the minimum weight
in accordance with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standard. Currently, ECL can complete a repeatability test and minimum weight calculation in about a minute and a half.

Balances are often used for measuring flow rates. For example, they are found in production lines where they are used to improve the accuracy and stability of transfer pumps or constant supply devices. They are also used in laboratories to control the flow rates of solutions added to culture media for cell cultures.

Impact Shock Detection (ISD) visually indicates the magnitudes of impact shocks that the sensor receives at four different levels. Often balances can be damaged or errors can occur due to sharp impacts from automated machine loading or operators dropping material onto the pan. The Apollo series educates, prevents and documents such scenarios. ISD visually indicates the magnitudes of impact shocks that a weigh sensor receives at four different levels. It audibly beeps once at Level 3 and twice at Level 4 delivered through the feature of Impact-Alert. ISD ensures the investment of the balance is protected, helps to extend the life of balance, reduce repair and replacement cost and ensure productivity can be maintained by reducing downtime.

Many operators use a stopwatch or PC to determine a flow rate. Flow Rate Display (FRD) helps to streamline and improve both by offering a synced solution that improves accuracy and precision in filling or dosing applications. For example, the internal clocks of external devices are never in complete sync with precision balances. Therefore there is a time-clock disparity that is most noticeable when measuring and recording flow rates of pumps, feeders and other devices at short intervals. Command speed and refresh rate will cause the PC to intermittently produce irregular values or spikes even if the actual flow rate is constant. The Apollo series through an FR-Cal function calculates, displays, & outputs (WinCT-FRD) the mass flow rate, or the volume flow rate by entering the density of the material. Up to 10 densities can be saved to the device. Both the display refresh rate and interval (set between 1 second and 1 hour) are regulated by the same internal clock of the balance, making measurements free from the irregularity that rise from time clock disparity problem.

The operator simply holds the mode key to first perform a self-diagnostic check and proceed to ECL where internally a repeatability test is performed without use of an external weight. This critically checks the stability of analog-to-digital conversion before applying a controlled load inside the balance (between 0.3% to 3% of the weighing capacity). It does this by altering the equilibrium state of the weigh sensor and takes 10 repeated measurements. The entire process takes only 1.5 minutes versus traditional repeatability procedures which can take up to 10 minutes, ultimately giving greater convenience and time savings to customers. The ECL technology provides valuable information which Auto Precision Assessment (APA) smartly processes into meaningful, beneficial outcomes such as Dia-Check, Standard Deviation, Quick Min-S, and Min-S-Alert.