Tecweigh Technical Tips Episode 1: Basic Tecweigh Scale Functions

Welcome to the first episode of Tecweigh Tips, with Larry!
Have you ever wondered how your conveyor scale measures the material on it, and come up with the rate and total on the display?
Today's topic is a basic intro to load cells, which are one of the devices used on Tecweigh Scales to sense the material on a conveyor belt.

[@johnfitbyfaithnet]

Thank you for sharing this important information watching from Brownwood Texas, we use a WP20

[@terisitamagallanes1592]

❤

[@johnfitbyfaithnet]

Does the belt need to be tightened?

[@TecweighTecneticsIndustries]

Belt Tension is important. Basically, we want enough belt tension so the belt tracks properly and there is no slippage of the drive pulley, and no more. Too much belt tension affects how the scale can sense the material on the belt. This is one reason why on longer belts, especially belt at an inclination, we prefer to have the scale on the first 1/3 of the conveyor. As the belt gets fully loaded with material, there is more and more tension on the belt the closer you get to the drive pulley. It is also vital that belt tension remains as consistent as possible. Changes in tension affect how the scale can sense the material on the belt and can therefore affect the scale accuracy. The best systems use a weighted take-up that when working properly the weight maintains a constant belt tension.
Think of it this way, when you put a scale on a conveyor, you effectively turn the entire conveyor into an instrument. With the same scale, you are not going to have the same results with a flimsy rickety old conveyor with degraded idler roller cans; compared to a sturdy well aligned, properly shimmed with all the roller cans in good shape. Everything on the conveyor affects the scale performance. The quality of the installation and shimming and idler spacing, how much the structure flexes from the belt empty to the belt fully loaded with material, condition of the roller cans, and of course the belt tension consistency. Thanks for the great question.

[@paulbrockhus1134]

Hey Larry, I see you part your hair differently than you did 10 years ago.