Scale Leveling Question

[Richard Jones]

Forgive my stupidity . . . but if you adjust your "zero" using check weights, what difference does perfect horizontality make?

As long as the weighed object is placed in the center of the platform, probably none, within reason.

I think what I'll do is level the load cell platform under the removeable metal one. That should give me the least error.

A beam scale counterbalances weight onto two pivot points. I have no idea how a digital scale with its load cells works, so I don't know if perfectly horizontal is important or not. Hence, the question.......

If I had an FX-120i would all the components, platform, platform cover, and frame, coindicate with each other?

This is accurateshooter.com. Everything makes a difference........

 

[jerseyjoe]

Sorry, I was unfamiliar with your scale and that it had a built in granite plate.

When we got a new 4ft x 6ft surface plate at work (I'm a tool & die maker), it was set on a dedicated table and leveled using shim stock on the underside corners of the plate.

If you have a place on your loading bench you can leave the scale permanently and level the plate, that might eliminate one variable.

Does the scale have adjustable feet to level it?

 

[Richard Jones]

Sorry, I was unfamiliar with your scale and that it had a built in granite plate.

Does the scale have adjustable feet to level it?

Not built in, scale is sitting on it.

4 adjustable feet, yes. But there's still the question of what to level.

I think I'll do some tests to see if there's any difference. Was just curious if anyone else had run into this. Not really sure I want to go down this rabbit hole, but there it is........

 

['Freak]

Level every which way the granite plate and then do same to the scales sitting on that plate.

 

[Medic505]

I look at it like this. If the engineer who designed the scale didn't think level would make any difference, there wouldn't be a bubble level on it. Now I'm off to look Bald Eagle scales up.

 

[SheepDog]

The scale itself has to be leveled, whether or not the surface you set it on is. Leveling with the scales bubble level is the important part. Leveling the plate it sits on is not critical as long as you can level the scale itself.

 

['Freak]

If the surface underneath the scales is every which way level and dead flat as a granite surface plate, and once the scales placed on that level dead flat surface have also been leveled every which way, then those scales can be moved or turned any which way on a dead flat level surface, all having absolutely no affect on the ‘levelness’ of the scales.

 

[rardoin]

If the surface underneath the scales is every which way level and dead flat as a granite surface plate, and once the scales placed on that level dead flat surface have also been leveled every which way, then those scales can be moved or turned any which way on a dead flat level surface, all having absolutely no affect on the ‘levelness’ of the scales.

Hmmmm....sounds correct...but Freak...how do we know YOU are on the level???

 

[fguffey]

Hmmmm....sounds correct...but Freak...how do we know YOU are on the level???

I do not know how he makes that determination but as for me if he chews and is not 'on the level' or not level headed he will have spit running off of one side of his jaw or the other.

F. Guffey

 

[bloc]

As long as the weighed object is placed in the center of the platform, probably none, within reason.

I think what I'll do is level the load cell platform under the removeable metal one. That should give me the least error.

A beam scale counterbalances weight onto two pivot points. I have no idea how a digital scale with its load cells works, so I don't know if perfectly horizontal is important or not. Hence, the question.......

If I had an FX-120i would all the components, platform, platform cover, and frame, coindicate with each other?

This is accurateshooter.com. Everything makes a difference........

Interesting. Have you tested your scale using check weights at different points on its periphery and compared those values to each other and to the scale's center? If so, what might the magnitude of the differences be?

Asked purely out of curiosity since I myself use a balance beam scale (a Lyman M5, tuned by Scott Parker).

 

[Matt in Virginia]

I have two Starrett 12" machinist levels, I level the bench/table and then the scale. The machinist level measures .001" per foot, when leveling I use a note pad, I just turn the page, that reminds me of an old Bob Seeger song.

F. Guffey

Yeah, I read the original post, and generally not having enough to do, or in hindsight being very bright, I broke out my two Starrett 199Zs(main vial of 10 second accuracy with one division equaling .0005" of an inch per foot) and set to make all level in the world for my Sartorius. Little did I really think that the smooth granite pad that I was given by a friend, was a sample for the park dedicated to the Battle of Great Bridge(War of British Aggression Number 1) as opposed to even a Grizzly Surface Plate. In short it was intended to be one of the stones, that were ultimately used, to build a walkway... Not a surface plate. After an hour of trying to level with sheets of paper atop the RESILIENT vibration isolators(hint) and a Etalon Micrometer , and trying to avoid breaking out the Pappy Van Winkle, I stepped down a few notches(maybe more than a few) of precision to a Starrett Pocket Level. Still need the Van Winkle, however, I learned the beauty of less precision and resolution...;-). Granted the bullseye level on the scale took 50 seconds to level. Wanted to thank Rich for planting this idea in my very small but oh so precise mind...(laughing ONLY in hindsight)

Regards, Matt.

 

[olddav]

The instructions that come with the scale says to adjust the feet on the scale to level it. I'm guessing it not built with a precision base, I am also guessing that the level on the scale is important.

 

[Bugs]

Back in the day, when true analytical balances were mechanical devices, being level mattered anywhere past a milligram. Today, with magnetic force restoration balances, it probably matters a bit at 6 or 7 decimal places. When weighing to a hundredth of a grain of powder, it is pretty inconsequential. I have had seasoned Mettler representatives state categorically that bubble levels were put on balances simply because customers just "didn't feel right" without them. In short, if you feel better when your balance is truly level, by all means go for it.

 

[Matt in Virginia]

Back in the day, when true analytical balances were mechanical devices, being level mattered anywhere past a milligram. Today, with magnetic force restoration balances, it probably matters a bit at 6 or 7 decimal places. When weighing to a hundredth of a grain of powder, it is pretty inconsequential. I have had seasoned Mettler representatives state categorically that bubble levels were put on balances simply because customers just "didn't feel right" without them. In short, if you feel better when your balance is truly level, by all means go for it.

Follow you on mechanical versus magnetic force restoration balances. Any difference weighing to the thousandth of a grain of powder versus a hundredth? More technically every .002 thousandths of a grain of powder or four place behind the decimal place in gram setting .0001 grams... Curious as to your take.

Regards, Matt.

 

[Bugs]

Follow you on mechanical versus magnetic force restoration balances. Any difference weighing to the thousandth of a grain of powder versus a hundredth? More technically every .002 thousandths of a grain of powder or four place behind the decimal place in gram setting .0001 grams... Curious as to your take.

Regards, Matt.

I'm no engineer but did sell balances into the industrial and lab markets for over 30 years and many of those applications make loading long range ammo look like a walk in the park. Personally, (JMHO), I think that, at a tenth of a milligram or .002 grains, being perfectly level doesn't matter that much. I use a Denver Si124 and, in the grain mode, it reads to .001 but I actually only trust it to .01 which is fine. I also use it to weigh primers and usually segregate them into lots of about a half milligram. Trying to cut it any finer than that is probably not necessary, again, IMHO.

 

[Joe Salt]

The instructions that come with the scale says to adjust the feet on the scale to level it. I'm guessing it not built with a precision base, I am also guessing that the level on the scale is important.

Just try it both ways and see what works best! Got to be smarter than the scale!

Joe Salt

 

[jds holler]

I'd like to create accurate reloads as much as the next guy; but for the love of God, I'm not gonna ruin the relaxing pleasure of my hobby by worrying about my scale being a thousandth out of level. Matter of fact, I think that my rifle accuracy is waaayy more dependent upon me drinking less coffee, and not sweating the small stuff. jd

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Cranking up the trigonometry shows that if the scale platform is tilted 1 degree, 100 grains would show 99.98 grains. That is, assuming you didn't calibrate the scale in its current position.

Now, if all the charges are weighed without changing the position of the scale, the only thing that would be a problem is between your ears.

 

[dkhunt14]

I'd like to create accurate reloads as much as the next guy; but for the love of God, I'm not gonna ruin the relaxing pleasure of my hobby by worrying about my scale being a thousandth out of level. Matter of fact, I think that my rifle accuracy is waaayy more dependent upon me drinking less coffee, and not sweating the small stuff. jd

OR how much aiming fluid you have. Matt