Make your beam scale more accurate

[Captain Kirk]

I posted a comment a while back but I was unable to post pics due to the fact my only camera was used in the process of weighing powder. A few questions came up so I thought I'd expand on the comment.

<span style="font-weight: bold">**Problem**</span>
A beam scale readout accuracy is subject to the angle it is being viewed, we all move our head up and down and say "looks good to me". how do you fix this?

<span style="font-weight: bold">**Solution** </span>
A camera mounted inline of the scale reading window (camera set on macro or super macro) will give you a FIXED viewing angle of the scale reading regardless of viewing angle, image is enlarged as well and can be outputted to any screen size and viewed across the room.

In the below pic, a simple digital camera is installed in a goose neck and placed in front of the scale, the camera video output (mini usb) is fed to the screen. I take a charge dumped from a powder dispenser and place it into the scale pan, trickle up to the desired weight as usual.

Pretty simple process, but you will notice weighing every charge will be easier and more importantly, more accurate with less eye and back fatigue.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Make your beam scale more accurate

You can go even cheaper with a webcam.

 

[Captain Kirk]

Re: Make your beam scale more accurate

Correct, ANY camera that is capable of going macro will do

Kirk R

 

[texasbrian66]

Re: Make your beam scale more accurate

Captain

I like the idea. I want to do the same thing but use a little different setup. I want to use a web cam and my PC, but I have not been able to find a camera with the correct zoom. I also want to fix a needle to the tip of the beam. I got the idea from a YouTube video. YouTube video

Brian

 

[1066]

Re: Make your beam scale more accurate

Here's a video I posted a couple of years ago about tuning up scales.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTElTMWgc3Q

And here's an even simpler idea to give the same results
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/monitor-balance-beam-with-magnified-image-on-smartphone/

And here
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2011/05/forum-member-rigs-video-display-for-balance-beam-scale/

 

[capreppy]

Re: Make your beam scale more accurate

Nice. Definitely something I'd like to try.

 

[eclipse57]

Re: Make your beam scale more accurate

Shameless tag so that I follow up when I get off the road.

Thanks for the information.

 

[Tripwire]

Re: Make your beam scale more accurate

Been using this for years....a simple lighted craft magnifyer.

Picked it up when I used to checker stocks........