UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

CALIBRATION OF PLATFORM SCALE BALANCE

Experiment No. 5

Submitted by:
Name: Devillena, Marianne Angel
Student No.: 20190150631
Date: April 11, 2022

Submitted to:
Engr. Edwin S. Bautista
Faculty-In-Charge

Experiment No. 5
TITLE: Calibration of Platform Scale Balance

OBJECTIVES:

1. To learn how to calibrate a platform scale balance.

2. To acquire the principle behind the operation of a weighing scale.

3. To acquire accuracy and sensitivity.

THEORY:

Platform scales are widely used in engineering works particularly in power plant
for measuring weight. It consists of levers, graduated beam, which are arranged so that
when a load is applied on the platform, it can be balanced by weight applied on the end
of graduated beam, or by shifting the weight along the length of the graduated beam. If
the balancing is perfect, the magnitude of applied load can be determined. The weight
applied at the end of the graduated cylinder and the magnitude of applied load on the
platform is known as leverage ratio.

Sensitiveness can be determined by finding the smallest weight that may be added
to detect the balance position of the beam in the following manner:

1. No load

2. 25 kg

3. 50 kg

The quantity of materials can be measured directly by weight or indirectly through

volume. Volume can be calculated or inferred from another attribute, such as pressure or
velocity. Inferential methods are mostly utilized for fluid-quantity measurements.

Weighing is the most common way of measuring forces, and volumetric

instruments are initially calibrated by direct weighing. A million-pound scales have been
built. Pounds or more (testing devices), whereas the chemical balance, at the other end
of the spectrum, will be easily a millionth of a pound. A platform scale is a scale that
weighs objects placed on a flat platform. The platform's function is to convey the object's
weight to the internal measuring equipment and to support the object during weighing. A
variety of devices can be fitted within the platform scale to aid in weight calculation.
Depending on the needs of the client or user, a variety of platform scale designs, sizes,
and weight capacities are available.
 To provide the lowest degree of measurement uncertainty, all weight scale and
balance calibrations are performed in our environmentally controlled facilities (both
temperature and humidity are closely monitored 68°F with relative humidity not to exceed
40%). It is just as crucial to prepare your precision measurement test equipment as it is
to calibrate it. For weight scales and balances, the test apparatus is properly cleaned and
inspected before being left for 24 to 72 hours to stabilize the instrument's temperature
(thermal equilibrium). Location, condition, cleanliness, drafts, temperature, and poor
performance are all common things to look for when preparing your item for calibration.

A balance scale measures weight by comparing the unknown weight on one side
of a lever to a known weight on the other side. The scale at the doctor’s office is a
physician’s balance scale, and a scale commonly found in a high school chemistry lab is
a triple beam balance scale. Both use the principles of balancing a known and an
unknown weight across a lever to determine gravitational mass or weight. Although these
scales are usually calibrated at the factory and are very accurate, moving the scales,
heavy usage and environmental factors such as temperature and humidity may cause
them to go out of calibration, resulting in inaccurate weights. Test and calibrate your
balance scale regularly to maintain accuracy.
Calibration of Platform Scales

A large weight W is placed on the platform to be balanced by a small weight on the beam
B and the poise R. If the weight P alone (with the poise R at zero) balances the weight
W, then it follows, according to the law of moments, for the symbols given for dimensions
in the figure, that

If the scales are constructed so that

Then;
 In order to obtain the leverage ratio by direct measurement, the platform must be
removed. Then measure carefully the distances between the knife edges of the various
levers and also the length occupied by the 50 or 100 divisions on the graduated beam.
One will save considerable time if these measurements are made with a decimal scale.
From these data and the equation given, the leverage ratio can be obtained.

A better method of obtaining the leverage ratio consists of balancing a standard

weight on the poise with a standard weight on the platform. Then from these data
calculate the leverage ratio. An examination of the weights placed on the poise will show
that these weights are marked with their actual weight and the weight they are supposed
to balance on the platform. In case the scales do not balance in making this test, a little
shot can be added to the poise or weight until a balance is obtained.

In calibrating platform scales against known weights, the scales should first be
thrown out of adjustment; that is, the “adjusting” counterpoise (on the threaded rod of the
graduated beam) should be moved from its present setting. To readjust the platform
scales, the “adjusting” counterpoise is moved until a balance is obtained. This should be
done without any weight on the scales. Standard weights now should be placed on the
scale in 5-pound increments and the scales calibrated. The weights should be removed
in a similar manner and the scales calibrated as the weights are removed. It is also well
to calibrate the scales with weights placed at the four corners and compare these values
with those obtained with weights at the center.

The sensitiveness of the scale is determined by finding the smallest added weight
that will affect the balanced position of the beam first with no load and then with a 50 –
pound load upon the scales. This result will not be the same for different observers, as
the result depends on how closely the beam is observed.
APPARATUS:

Platform scale balance and set of weights

PROCEDURE:

In calibrating platform scales, the graduated beam must first be set in a horizontal
position. This can be done by carefully leveling the scale. The poise should be set up to
zero so that the arm shall come to rest mid-way between the stops. Standard weights
should now be placed at the four corners and the center of the platform with one a time.
Take scale readings at each position and perform the same procedure while increasing
the weights using several trials. Take the average of the five readings and compare it with
the standard weights.

DATA:

SCALE READING
TRIAL STANDARD AVERAGE %ERROR
WEIGHT 1 2 C 3 4 𝑺𝒕𝒅−𝑨𝒗𝒆
= x100%
𝑺𝒕𝒅
1 5 kg 5 5 5 5 5 5 0
2 10 9.9 9.8 9.8 9.9 9.8 9.84 1.6
3 15 14.8 14.8 14.8 14.9 14.9 14.84 1.0667
4 20 19.8 19.9 19.7 19.8 19.7 19.78 1.1
5 25 24.8 24.8 24.7 24.6 24.7 24.75 1.12
6 30 29.6 29.7 29.7 29.7 29.6 29.66 1.1333
7 35 34.5 34.5 34.7 34.6 34.7 34.6 1.1429
8 40 39.5 39.6 39.6 39.6 39.5 39.56 1.1
9 45 44.5 44.4 44.6 44.6 44.4 44.5 1.1111
10 50 49.5 49.4 49.6 49.6 49.5 49.52 0.96
11 55 54.3 54.4 54.5 54.5 54.4 54.42 1.0545
12 60 59.3 59.2 59.5 59.4 59.4 59.36 1.0667
 NO LOAD HALF LOAD (25 kg) FULL LOAD (50 kg)

SENSITIVENESS 0.2 0.3 0.5

NAME (optional) WT. in kg

Platform Balance (Top View)

1 3

C
C

2 4
REPORT:

1. Plot the observed weight (average) as abscissa and standard weight as ordinate.
Use appropriate scale.
70

60

50
STANDARD WEIGHT, KG

40

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
OBSERVED WEIGHT (AVERAGE), KG

2. Plot the calibration curve (error curve) between the weight in kg as read from the beam
scale (average) as abscissa and the % error of the scale as ordinate. Positive above and
negative error below the axis.
Note:
𝑠𝑡𝑑. 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 − 𝑎𝑣𝑒. 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
% 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑥100%
𝑠𝑡𝑑. 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
 ERROR CURVE
1.8

1.6

1.4
PERCENTAGE ERROR, %

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
WEIGHT FROM THE BEAM SCALE (AVERAGE), KG

3. Explain in details the working principle of a platform balance. Use diagrams if it

necessary.

A platform balance is any kind of balance that has a platform upon it for placing the object
or objects to be weighed. While some balances require placing the object upon one pan
and the counterbalancing weight on the other, a platform balance only requires that you
place the object on the platform and note the indicated weight reading. This makes for a
greater time savings and less effort on the part of those who have to use the balance.
Platform balances are excellent for high-volume activities.
The beam balance is a general purpose instrument, not intended for high precision
weighing. Normally, it is not employed for weighing chemicals or other materials for use
in preparing experimental media or solutions. Rather, it is frequently used for balancing
unknown weights against standard weights, and for balancing centrifuge bottles or tubes
against each other prior to centrifugation. The beam balance can also be used for "bulk"
weighing jobs, such as determining the weight of a small animal (mouse, frog), or of a
very large amount of a chemical.

4. Why is it necessary to calibrate the platform balance from time to time? Name some
causes of the deterioration of any machine and explain briefly using your own words.

Calibration that belongs to the balance or scale happens to be required that is going to
belong to accurate weighing results. Ignoring this critical service action reduces
measurement to guesswork. To put it another way, it happens to be irresponsible to weigh
using an existing uncalibrated balance or scale. The precision that belongs to balances
as well as scales deteriorates over time. This happens to be due to normal wear as well
as tear that was by daily use, during the same time that well during the same time that
external sources such during the same time that mechanical shocks or dangerous
conditions. This could result inside of an existing rapid deterioration or an existing gradual
deterioration over time. Periodic balance calibration, combined with periodic routine
testing, extends the life that belongs to your balance or scale as well as improves its
weighing accuracy.

Causes of the Deterioration of any Machine

Machine failure, or equipment failure, happens to be any event inside of which an existing
piece that belongs to industrial machinery underperforms, whether entirely or partially, or
stops functioning inside of the way inside of which it happened to be intended to. The
term “machine failure” has the ability encompass differing scenarios as well as levels that
belongs to severity. An existing failure, inside of this context, happens to be not only those
critical show-stopper issues that halt production entirely, with the exception of also
includes any loss that belongs to usefulness within an existing machine. The tolerance
threshold that is going to belong to machine failure is going to vary based on top of
circumstances since every single one system degrade as well as lose effectiveness inside
of some form or another over time. Even perceived minor losses that belongs to
usefulness has the ability lead to huge resource waste at-scale. Any malfunction that
causes an existing piece that belongs to industrial machinery to underperform its duties,
whether entirely or partially, happens to be considered an existing machine failure.
1. Corrosion - Corrosion that belongs to machine parts happens to be quite common,
especially that is going to belong to those with water-contamination issues. Water
not only rusts iron surfaces, with the exception of it has the ability also increase
the oil’s oxidation rate, leading to an existing acidic environment within the
component. Acids has the ability also exist as a formed during the same time that
byproducts that belongs to reactions between certain additives inside of the oil as
well as water. Product contamination through seals has the ability create caustic
environments as well as corrosive wear during the same time that well. Something
during the same time that simple during the same time that having an existing
aggressive extreme-pressure additive inside of contact with an existing yellow
metal (copper, bronze, brass, etc.) has the ability produce corrosive damage.
2. Mechanical Wear - Mechanical wear occurs at the time where material happens to
be lost that was by machine surfaces during the same time that an existing result
that belongs to relative movement as well as contact between them. Inside of other
words, they rub against one another. Abrasive wear occurs at the time where
particle contamination causes the majority that belongs to the wear. Particles such
during the same time that dirt (silica) or wear debris has the ability lead to three-
body abrasion or surface fatigue, which results inside of the surfaces becoming
pitted as well as scored.
3. Adhesion - Adhesive wear involves two surfaces coming inside of direct contact
with each other, transferring material that was by one face to the other. This
appears inside of areas where the lubricant has the ability no longer support the
load or inside of areas that belongs to lubricant starvation.
4. Fatigue - Metal fatigue happens to be similar to what happens at the time where
you try to cut wire without any tools. During the same time that you work the wire
back as well as forth, the metal begins to work harder as well as fatigue. After
enough cycles that belongs to this type that belongs to stress, the metal finally
becomes brittle as well as snaps.
5. Abrasion - The same process occurs inside of machines. That is going to belong
to example, an existing particle has the ability cause an existing stress riser on top
of the inner race that belongs to an existing rolling-element bearing. Over time as
well as with constant flexing, the metal begins to fatigue. This propagates into an
 existing spall that belongs to the material. So, during the same time that machines
have the ability lose their functionality inside of an existing variety that belongs to
methods, it happens to be the surface degradation that belongs to the machine
parts that causes the majority that belongs to these problems. By keeping your
machines properly sealed to restrict the ingress that belongs to particles as well as
making sure the lubricants you use meet the operating demands that belongs to
the components, you have the ability extend machine life as well as see fewer total
failures.

DISCUSSION
In this experiment, we are expected to learn how to calibrate the platform scale balance,
collect exact measurements and weighing findings, calculate the magnitude of applied
load, and estimate the minimum weight that can be added to detect the beam's balancing
position in this experiment. To comprehend the experiment, I must first understand what
a platform scale is and how it is employed.

Platform scales are extensively used in engineering operations, notably in power plants,
to measure weight. It is composed of levers and graduating beams placed in such a way
that when a load is put to the platform, it may be balanced by applying weight to the end
of the graduated beam or shifting the weight along the length of the graduated beam. If
the balancing is perfect, the magnitude of the applied load may be determined. The
leverage ratio is the relationship between the weight applied at the end of the graduated
cylinder and the amount of the platform’s-imposed load.

Throughout the experiment, apply the formula:

𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 − 𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

𝑬𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

to compute the various inaccuracies of the scale reading between the weight. The graded
beam must first be placed horizontally when calibrating platform scales. This is achieved
by meticulously leveling the scale. Set the poise to zero so that the arm sits halfway
between the stops. Standard weights should now be added one at a time in the platform's
four corners and center. Take scale measurements at each position using numerous trials
and repeat the technique while increasing the weights. In relation to the standard weights,
compare the average of the five readings.
CONCLUSION
This experiment focused on the calibration of the platform balance. This
experiment has three objectives which are to be able to learn the principle behind the
operation of a weighing scale, to learn how to calibrate a platform balance, and to
determine the accuracy and sensitivity of a platform scale.

Calibration of any platform scale is very important, is it because an improper or inaccurate

reading can make a big effect on the design of the object that is weigh and these ways of
calibrating the platform balance are important, easy to do, and make sure that the result
that you will get into a calibrated platform scale is accurate.

REFERENCES
https://www.adamequipment.com/how-to-calibrate-a-platform-scale

https://www.mt.com/sg/en/home/library/FAQ/laboratory-weighing/Balance-Scale-
Service-Calibration.html

https://www.mt.com/sg/en/home/library/FAQ/laboratory-weighing/Balance-Scale-
Service-Calibration.html

https://www.activescales.com.au/how-to-calibrate-weighing-scale.html