Technical FAQs
Can I use Anyload load cells in my weighing system?
Yes, Anyload’s load cells are designed to be compatible with a variety of weighing systems. If your system is equipped with a 4- or 6-wire input terminal that is capable of receiving and processing analog millivolt-per-volt signals, you should be able to easily connect Anyload’s load cells to your system. If you do not have a device in your system that can process analog signals, you may need to use a load cell indicator to provide power to the load cell and to output a digital reading.
If you have any questions or concerns about integrating our load cells and components into your systems, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Why is it better to purchase a higher-quality load cell?
A load cell failure can be costly for several reasons:
Downtime: If a load cell fails, it can cause production to come to a halt, leading to lost productivity and revenue. This can be especially costly if the failure occurs in a critical part of the production process.
Repairs: Repairing a load cell or replacing it with a new one can also be costly. This includes not only the cost of the replacement load cell but also the labor costs associated with installing it.
Quality control: A load cell failure can also have negative impacts on quality control. For example, if a load cell is not accurately measuring the weight of an object, it could lead to incorrect measurements and potentially defective products.
Overall, while it may be tempting to save money by purchasing cheaper load cells, the potential costs associated with a load cell failure can far outweigh the initial cost savings. As a result, it is often more cost-effective to invest in high-quality load cells that are less likely to fail.
Do you offer custom solutions or modifications to your products?
Yes, we have a strong engineering department with seasoned technical sales and customer service support that regularly deals with custom orders with complicated requirements. We have the expertise and resources to take our customers through the entire process, from consultation and engineering to prototyping and production, and we offer aftersales support as well.
We can generally deliver drawings for product modifications and minor custom design revisions within 2 business days, full proposals for complicated projects within 5 business days, and we have no minimum order quantity. If you have specific needs or requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will work with you to find a custom solution that meets your needs.
CLICK HERE to read more about some of our custom solutions capabilities.
Does Anyload have CSA approval?
At Anyload, we hold FM Canada approval for almost all of our standard products, but we do not have CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approval. While FM Canada and CSA approval are both recognized safety standards in Canada, it’s important to check with the users or potential users of a weighing system to confirm that FM Canada approval is accepted according to their specific corporate policy or regulatory obligations. Please note that proper installation and adherence to safety guidelines must still be followed to ensure compliance in intrinsically safe electro-mechanic systems.
How is a higher-quality load cell made differently than a cheaper one?
There are several factors that can affect the quality of a load cell:
Materials: Higher-quality load cells are typically made from higher-grade materials that are more durable and less prone to corrosion. Cheaper load cells may be made from lower quality materials that are more prone to failure especially as improper smelting and machining may introduce stress to the materials, which negatively impacts performance and operating lifespan.
Design: Higher-quality load cells are typically designed with more precise tolerances and greater sensitivity, which makes them more accurate and reliable. Cheaper load cells may have more relaxed tolerances and lower sensitivity, which can impact their accuracy and reliability.
Manufacturing processes: Higher quality load cells are often produced using more precise manufacturing processes, such as laser cutting and computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining, which results in more consistent and accurate parts. Cheaper load cells may be produced using less precise manufacturing processes, which can result in more variations in quality.
Testing and calibration: Higher-quality load cells are typically tested and calibrated more thoroughly to ensure that they meet the required specifications. Cheaper load cells may receive less thorough testing and calibration, which can impact their accuracy and reliability.
Overall, higher-quality load cells are often made from higher-grade materials, designed with greater precision and sensitivity, produced using more precise manufacturing processes, and tested and calibrated more thoroughly. These factors can contribute to the higher cost of higher-quality load cells, but they also make them more accurate and reliable, which can result in cost savings over the long term.
However, proper installation and servicing of load cells are essential for the performance of a weighing system. While we at Anyload guarantee that our products meet specific standards and specifications, it is the responsibility of the engineers and technicians who install the load cells to ensure that the weighing or force measurement setup is properly configured according to defined parameters and best-practice experience. The quality of the installation and servicing of load cells is just as important as the quality of the load cells themselves.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the proper installation and servicing of load cells.
Why is it beneficial to hire a scale dealer to install a weighing system rather than attempting to do it yourself?
There are several reasons why it may be beneficial to hire a scale dealer to install a weighing system rather than attempting to do it yourself:
Expertise: Scale dealers are experts in the field of weighing systems and have the knowledge and experience needed to properly install, calibrate, and service a system. They can help you choose the right system for your needs, ensure that it is properly installed, and provide ongoing training, support, and maintenance.
Safety: Installing a weighing system can be a complex and potentially hazardous task, as it involves working with heavy machinery and electrical components. A scale dealer has the training and expertise to safely install a system and minimize the risk of accidents or injuries.
Quality: A scale dealer can also help to ensure that your system is installed to the highest quality standards. This is essential to having a system that is accurate, reliable, and compliant with any relevant regulations.
Overall, hiring a scale dealer to install a weighing system can provide many benefits, including expertise, safety, and quality. It can also save time and effort, as you can trust that the installation will be done correctly and efficiently.
Here’s a partial list of services that scale dealers can provide:
Evaluation: A scale dealer can work with you to determine your business’s weighing needs and assist you in selecting the best solution.
Installation: Scale dealers can properly install weighing systems of all sizes, from simple counting scales to large production line facilities, to ensure optimal performance.
Calibration: Scale dealers often have the specialized equipment and expertise needed to calibrate weighing systems according to ISO17025 standards or prepare them for legal-for-trade certification. This can help to ensure that the systems are accurate and reliable.
Repair: Scale dealers can provide repair services for weighing systems to help ensure that they are operating accurately and reliably, reducing product overweighing and operational downtime. This may involve repairing faulty components or replacing them with new ones, as well as performing routine maintenance tasks to help prevent future problems. With their knowledge and expertise, scale dealers can help you get your weighing system up and running again as quickly as possible.
Why do I need to get my scale legal for trade certified?
The standardization of weights and measures has been one of the oldest functions of government. Legal-for-trade certifications are required for weighing systems that are used in commercial transactions, such as at grocery stores, truck scales, airport luggage weighing, post offices, food processors, recycling facilities, and many more.
There are several reasons why legal-for-trade certifications are important:
Consumer protection: Legal-for-trade certifications help to protect consumers by ensuring that they are receiving the correct amount of product when they make a purchase based on weight. This helps to prevent overcharging or undercharging, which can be unfair to consumers.
Business protection: Legal-for-trade certifications also help to protect businesses by ensuring that they are accurately measuring the weight of their products. This helps to prevent overweighing, which can result in giving away more products than were paid for, and overweighing, which can result in lost revenue.
Regulatory compliance: In many jurisdictions, it is required by law that weighing systems used in commercial transactions be legal-for-trade certified. This helps to ensure that businesses are operating within the law and complying with relevant regulations.
What is the difference between a scale and a load cell?
A scale is a device used to measure the weight or mass of an object. Scales can be found in a wide range of applications, including food and kitchen scales, bathroom scales, industrial and commercial scales, and scientific and laboratory scales.
A load cell is a type of transducer that is used to convert a force, such as weight or pressure, into an electrical signal. Load cells are commonly used in scales and other weighing and measurement equipment, as well as in a variety of other applications where it is necessary to measure force.
Load cells are designed to be highly accurate and precise, and are used in a variety of industries including manufacturing, transportation, and construction. There are many different types of load cells available, including hydraulic, pneumatic, and strain gauge load cells, each of which is suited to different types of applications.
In general, a scale is a device that uses a load cell or other transducer to measure the weight or mass of an object, while a load cell is a specific type of transducer that converts a force into an electrical signal.
What are the differences between a sensor, transducer, strain gauge, and load cell?
A sensor is a device that detects and measures physical or chemical quantities, such as temperature, pressure, humidity, or light, and converts them into an electrical signal that can be measured and interpreted by a device or system. Sensors are used in a wide range of applications, including scientific and industrial processes, environmental monitoring, and consumer products. A load cell is a weight sensor.
A transducer is a device that converts energy from one form to another. In the context of weighing and measurement, a transducer is a device that converts a physical quantity, such as force or pressure, into an electrical signal that can be measured and interpreted. Load cells using strain gauges are a type of transducer commonly used in weighing and measurement applications.
A strain gauge is a type of transducer that is used to measure strain or the deformation of an object due to applied force. Strain gauges are commonly used in load cells and other weighing and measurement equipment, as well as in structural engineering and other applications where it is necessary to measure strain.
A load cell is a type of transducer that is used to convert a force, such as weight or pressure, into an electrical signal. Load cells are commonly used in scales and other weighing and measurement equipment, as well as in a variety of other applications where it is necessary to measure force. There are many different types of load cells available, including hydraulic, pneumatic, and strain gauge load cells, each of which is suited to different types of applications.
What does it mean when a load cell is interchangeable?
At Anyload, we understand that our customers may have existing equipment or systems that they want to integrate our products into. That’s why we have designed many of our standard products to be interchangeable with the load cells of other manufacturers. Not only are our products readily stocked and cost-effective, but they are also designed to deliver exceptional performance. Our team of experienced engineers consistently works to include internal improvements to enhance performance while maintaining the same dimensional measurements.
In our product datasheets, you will find a table that lists the verified interchangeable models of our load cells with the corresponding part numbers of other suppliers. This can help you to easily determine which of our products are compatible with your existing equipment.
However, it’s important to note that there may be some differences between our products and those of other manufacturers. To help you understand any potential impact these differences may have on installation and performance, we have included asterisks (*) with footnotes in our datasheets to highlight any potential issues you should be aware of.
We strive to provide our customers with the highest level of compatibility and support, and we are always here to help if you have any questions about using our products with your existing equipment.
Here are some load cell brands with whom we share interchangeable models:
- AND
- Vishay
- Rice Lake
- HBM
- Flintec
- Coti Global
- Fairbanks
- Cardinal
- Avery Weigh-Tronix
- Mettler Toledo
- Zemic
And many more listed and possibly not listed in our interchangeable table
There are many other brands that may share an interchangeable product with us that might not appear in our extensive list. If you are looking to swap out load cells made by other suppliers, please contact us and our experienced team can see if we can help out.
What is the difference between gross and net weight?
When using a scale or indicator to weigh an object, the net weight is the weight of the object itself, while the gross weight includes the weight of the object and any packaging or containers. For example, if you place a bag of flour on the scale, the scale will display the gross weight of the bag, which includes the weight of the flour and the weight of the bag itself. If you want to determine the net weight of the flour, you will need to subtract the weight of the bag from the gross weight.
To determine the net weight using a scale or indicator, follow these steps:
- Place the object on the scale or indicator and record the gross weight.
- Remove the packaging or container from the object and place it on the scale or indicator separately. Record the weight of the packaging or container.
- Subtract the weight of the packaging or container from the gross weight to determine the net weight of the object.
For example, if the scale displays a weight of 1.1 kilograms when the bag of flour is placed on it, and the weight of the empty bag is 100 grams, the net weight of the flour is 1 kilogram (1.1 kilograms – 100 grams = 1 kilogram).
It’s important to note that some scales or indicators may have a tare function that allows you to reset the scale to zero after placing an object on it, so you can easily weigh the object without including the weight of any packaging or containers. This can be a convenient way to determine the net weight of an object quickly and accurately.