Digital scale anti-vibration

[6Creed73]

I decided to upgrade my scale from a strain gauge to an electromagnetic force scale and damn is this thing sensitive.

The first video is me dropping a single kernal of RL-16. The second video is where I need a little advise. In the video I lightly put my elbow on my work bench, lift it off, then rest my elbow on the bench again. You can see that when I rest my elbow on the bench the scale picks it up. I've tried anti-vibration feet meant for turntables, but doesn't help. This is a very sturdy bench with 2 inch thick butcher block and a steel frame and legs.

Does anyone know of a good anti-vibration mat or something that might prevent this?

Single kernal

Leaning on bench

 

[Straightshooter1]

I decided to upgrade my scale from a strain gauge to an electromagnetic force scale and damn is this thing sensitive.

The first video is me dropping a single kernal of RL-16. The second video is where I need a little advise. In the video I lightly put my elbow on my work bench, lift it off, then rest my elbow on the bench again. You can see that when I rest my elbow on the bench the scale picks it up. I've tried anti-vibration feet meant for turntables, but doesn't help. This is a very sturdy bench with 2 inch thick butcher block and a steel frame and legs.

Does anyone know of a good anti-vibration mat or something that might prevent this?

Single kernal

Leaning on bench

Yeah, wood bench or desk tops have a lot of flex. I've got a desk with a very thick top, but my FX-120i reacts likewise.

You might try a piece of very thick granite with a footprint a few inches larger than your scale?

 

[6Creed73]

Yeah, wood bench or deck tops have a lot of flex. I've got a desk with a very thick top, but my FX-120i reacts likewise.

You might try a piece of very thick granite with a footprint a few inches larger than your scale?

I might see if I can get a piece of granite from Lowe's and give that a try. I might also build a shelf that mounts on the brick wall behind the bench.

 

[Mauser06]

I put a decent slab of granite or marble under my scale and it helped a ton. It's in my basement on a pretty sturdy bench ontop of the concrete floor. Just outting the stone on the bench top helped.

 

[6Creed73]

I put a decent slab of granite or marble under my scale and it helped a ton. It's in my basement on a pretty sturdy bench ontop of the concrete floor. Just outting the stone on the bench top helped.

I'm going to try to find some granite tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[JFrank]

I'm going to try to find some granite tomorrow. Thanks!

Loose the wood between the counter top and the scale.

 

[6Creed73]

Loose the wood between the counter top and the scale.

I didn't start that way, I added it with anti-shock feet under it when I was troubleshooting. I've since removed it, but the scale still picks up slight movement on the bench.

 

[Hoot]

Many granite countertop companies have left over stubs. Check your area and maybe score one of them for free. a 6-pack of beer really helps.

Hoot

 

[JimSC]

Many granite countertop companies have left over stubs. Check your area and maybe score one of them for free. a 6-pack of beer really helps.

Hoot

that's how I got mine, of course with inflation the granite may be cheaper than the six pack lol


also a simple 1 1/2 inch block/slab covered with tile or painted is a cost effective solution you can get creative

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

you can get granite slabs cheap from grizzly. just put some rubber feet underneath to further enhance dampening. i have no issues at all.

 

[WyleWD]

When I worked in a QC Lab we had several very sensitive scales too. We ended up filling a thick plastic bag with sand to where the sandbag was only about 3/8-1/2" thick when laid flat and put a piece of granite countertop on top of the sandbag and placed the scale on it. After we got the air out of the sand bag and got it all leveled, the scale would settle down pretty quickly then. JME. WD

 

[dcali]

This is going to sound snarky, but it's actually the right anwser. Don't put your elbow on the bench while the scale is doing its thing.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I have both a force balance ER-182A and a strain gauge scale EJ-54D2 in my reloading area.
Both will react to a change in load on the bench and vibration but settle back when I don't move.
Mounting a scale to a bench that you do other operations can induce both vibration and positional changes.
A small granite plate on a 30 inch tall bench might dampen vibration but not tilt caused by changing loads on the bench. Swaying, like a whip antenna, can cause temporary problems with a reading.

Test your installation;
Set up level, calibrate, and put a non zero load on the scale (your 10 gram check weight?).
Let it stabilize and verify you don't have drift.
Then place a weight on the bench near the scale. 10 to 20 pounds should be enough.
You will likely see vibration or swaying under a load change in the scale reading for a few seconds, but if the reading changes and stays stable your bench is sagging under load.

My bench, and elevated wood floor shift with load. My press causes scale readings to fluctuate.
I drop a charge from a Lyman Gen 5, transfer the charge to the scale, pinch up or down a few granules (fine ball powder), funnel into a case, and seat a bullet in the press. Seating causes the scale reading to shift, but returns after a few seconds. A sturdier bench setup would be best but I'm space limited and put up with people moving around while reloading. Pause if needed.

The lab I worked in, a building within a building, would vibrate when vehicles went nearby.
The sand box, slab worked for some sensitive instruments, but it required blocking the "road" outside the lab when making CMM microinch measurements in the optics/dimensional lab.
Optic calibrations, seconds of arc, were performed on a 24" thick 12X15 foot, slab on air bags with oil dampers.

 

[6Creed73]

you can get granite slabs cheap from grizzly. just put some rubber feet underneath to further enhance dampening. i have no issues at all.

This is exactly what I needed! Just ordered a slab from grizzly. Thanks for the info.

 

[JMayo]

This is going to sound snarky, but it's actually the right anwser. Don't put your elbow on the bench while the scale is doing its thing.

Nothing touches my bench but the pan being placed.

 

[6Creed73]

This is going to sound snarky, but it's actually the right anwser. Don't put your elbow on the bench while the scale is doing its thing.

My elbow on the bench was just an example, and not the point. Yes, I can avoid putting my elbow on the table, but the scale is sensitive to pretty much any movement, even someone opening the door to the room. My point is I want the scale as stable as possible regardless if my elbows are on the bench or not.

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

This is exactly what I needed! Just ordered a slab from grizzly. Thanks for the info.

i shopped around for a while when researching my reloading room. it was by far the best deal I found!! they are perfect for these scales. glad i could help!

 

[powderbrake]

On all my benches, reloading and workbenches that I have built, I always lag the rear 2X4 or 2X6 that supports the top Into the wall. The basement benches are particularly sturdy as they are lagged into concrete. The tops are securely screwed to the "bones" of the bench. I make the tops from two layers of 3/4 plywood, and cover them with Formica. The bench does not move when I touch it, and also does not move when using my presses, so the scales do not go out of level.

Lagging to the wall also prevents workbench movement when using the vise at the corner to bend metal, or when hacksawing metal.

 

[SKWERLZ]

This is going to sound snarky, but it's actually the right anwser. Don't put your elbow on the bench while the scale is doing its thing.

Yep
I just hold still when when trickler starts slowing down.
It’s also great ninja skilz practice!

 

[CharlieNC]

Cut a slit in a tennis ball and partially fill with sand, put one under each table leg. The point is to have the leg resting on top of sand, so adjust the components to fit this principle.This will dampen vibration from the floor to the table.