ABCT 3631 Metrology and Calibration

(21 Sep 2022)

Balance Calibration
 Electronic balance

– same resolution for the whole range, e.g. capacity 200g with 0.01 mg
resolution

– two different ranges of resolution, decreasing resolution at heavier

mass range, e.g. capacity and

– with more than 2 ranges of resolution

• readings will over time due to different factors –
temperature, fluctuation in voltage, pressure difference etc.
• external or internal mass calibration to
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 Types of balances

Ordinary balance name Resolution

Ultra – Micro Balances 0.1 μg

Micro Balances 1 μg

Semi-micro Balances 0.01 mg

Analytical Balances 0.1 mg

Precision Balances 100 – 1 mg

Technical Balances 1 g – 0.1 g

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 Electronic balance
(operating principles & features)
Electromagnetic Type
• high accuracy
• ultra-precision balances: such as
analytical balances
• others: microbalances; top-
loading precision balances
Load Cell Type
(electrical resistance wire method)
• simple structure; accuracy limited
• small & large low cost balances;
height & weight scales
© Shimadzu Corporation
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Environment for using electronic balance
• keep instrument away from
• keep away from
• controlled fluctuation
• protected from (convection)
• low
• robust
the balance by checking the horizontal level
indicator
for 15 to 30 min before measurement
• keep peripheral

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• applying (standard weights) to the
instrument under specified conditions
the or
, and
the
to be attributed to the results

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Different for balance

• scale value (or sensitivity)

• repeatability
• linearity (error of indication)
• eccentricity
• hysteresis

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• calibration using the
• the tolerance (uncertainty) of the weight used SHOULD
NOT exceed ( ) to ( ) of the
of the balance
• calibration should be performed in a way similar to the

• calibration in similar environment to the normal

operation environment
– e. g. temperature coefficient for sensitivity: 2 ppm/°C
before temperature change: 200.00 0 g
after : 200.0020 g or 199.9980 g ( )

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 Sensitivity (Scale value)
between the value measured by the balance
and the correct value near the
(sensitivity error)
(commonly sensitivity set to 1)
for balance with internal
calibration mass
for balance with external
calibration mass
• for detail operation, refer to the manufacturer’s manual
• if the sensitivity is adjusted before calibration, note this
fact in the calibration results as a condition of calibration

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• measurement precision under a set of repeatability
conditions of measurement
• the purpose of repeatability test is to determine the
to generate for

• it is done by repeating application of a weight on a

balance to see if the readings fluctuate
• for low-capacity balance normally would require
to check for the repeatability
• repeatability example
Nominal Load (g) Standard Deviation (g)
100 0.000 04
200 0.000 06
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 Linearity (Error of Indication)
of agreement between the average of an infinite number
of replicate measured quantity values and a reference quantity
value (synonym: accuracy)
• to investigate the response of the balance at
throughout the
• key part of the balance calibration
• divide the range into at 7 - 10 equally spaced steps
• the masses corresponding to base mass (m), 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m ….
until approximately the maximum capacity of balance

Measurement Measurement
(g) error (g) (g) error (g)
= Balance reading
–

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 © Shimadzu Corporation

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 • the (or corner load test) is carried
out to find the in the displayed weighing as
the object is moved to various positions on the
weighing pan
• use weight with of around 50%
at extreme positions to compare with centre
2 5 2 Center 0.01 g
Left
5 1 3 1 Rear
Right
4 3 Front
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Reading entre ight ront eft ack
sequence

C>R>F>L>B 0.86 g 0.81 g 0.83 g 0.87 g 0.82 g

B>L>F>R>C 0.85 g 0.87 g 0.80 g 0.86 g 0.83 g

Mean reading 0.855 g 0.84 g 0.815 g 0.865 g 0.825 g

Reading relative to centre

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• The hysteresis measurements are performed to determine the
of the same load
• Performed by using a with 50% to place
in the center of the weighing pan
• After taking the first reading, the weight is lifted for a short
period of time and place back to take a second reading
• The hysteresis is the

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MPE for 200 g Class E2 weight
= ± 0.3 mg

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 EU Guideline on
(electronic – digital)
General recommendations

(room, bench, …) and (temp, RH,

barometric pressure, electrostatic & magnetic properties,
airflow, vibrations, dust, direct sunlight, …..)
qualification shall be performed under
which represent the
(normal conditions of use)
– before use / calibration of the balance
– visual inspection, warming-up, adjustments with external
or built-in weights

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 Qualification of balances (electronic – digital)
General recommendations
(test loads) for qualification of
balances
– The class of reference weights used in the procedure for
calibration of balances shall be chosen depending on the
( ) of the balance

MPE: the maximum difference, positive or negative, allowed by

regulation between the indication of an instrument and the
corresponding true value, as determined by reference standard masses
or standard weights, with the instrument being at zero at no-load, in
the reference positon

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 Qualification of balances (electronic – digital)
General recommendations
(test loads) for qualification of
balances (cont’d)
– MPE of the balance is defined by the laboratory
• on the basis of the and
• according to the uncertainty of by the
laboratory
– the MPE of the standard weights used for calibration SHALL
BE compatible with the of the balance

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Qualification of balances (electronic – digital)
– If selection of the weights for calibration of the balance is
based on of the mass of the
used for calibration, then the of the weight
SHALL NOT be greater than the MPE of the balance divided
by 3:
MPE Weight ≤ ⅓ MPE balance
Nominal value Class E₁ Class E₂ Class F₁ Class F₂
500 g 0.25 0.8 2.5 8.0
0.10 1.0 3.0
100 g 0.05 0.5 1.6
Maximum permissible errors for weights (±δm in mg)

• for example, if standard weight(s) are used for the

balance calibration, of the balance would be at least
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 Level III Periodic and motivated instrument
checks for balances
• Qualification of balances encompasses

• Level III qualification SHALL BE performed

by using
• must be carried out for fulfilling ISO 17025
requirement
of periodic calibration can be defined on
the basis of

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 Level III Periodic and motivated instrument
checks for balances
• Typical requirements for qualification of balances
(periodic and motivated instrument checks)
– requirements and corresponding typical acceptance
criteria for Level III qualification of balances

Parameter to be checked Acceptance criteria

Error of indication │Ei│≤ MPE balance
Repeatability Er ≤ MPE balance
Eccentricity │Ee│≤ MPE balance

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Level III Periodic and motivated instrument
checks for balances

SHALL comprise testing of

error of indication, repeatability and eccentricity

– the difference between the nominal or the conventional

value of the weight and the reading values
𝐸𝐸𝑖𝑖 = 𝐼𝐼 − 𝑚𝑚𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
where I is measured value (Indication)
𝑚𝑚𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 is the reference value of the mass of the weight
used (nominal value or conventional value)

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Level III Periodic and motivated instrument
checks for balances

– assessed by
(a) determination of repeatability error, i.e. difference between
the minimum and maximum values obtained from the values
of repeated weighing of A WEIGHT 6 times in a range between
50% - 100% of maximum capacity of the balance; or
(b) standard deviation 𝑠𝑠 , calculated from the above 6 repeated
measurements
𝑛𝑛

𝑠𝑠 = 1
𝑛𝑛 −1
�(𝐼𝐼𝑖𝑖 − 𝐼𝐼)̅ 2
𝑖𝑖=1

where n is number of readings;

𝐼𝐼𝑖𝑖 is measured value (Indication) and
𝐼𝐼 ̅ is average value
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Level III Periodic and motivated instrument
checks for balances

– performed by reading the values of weighing of the

weight at of the balance
– eccentricity error is calculated from
• the largest deviation between an off-centre and the centre
readings ∆𝐼𝐼𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 or
• the largest deviation between the nominal value of the weight
and the reading values at different positons

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Level III Periodic and motivated instrument
checks for balances

• includes of results from

calibration of the balance to a given specification

• the difference between the results of several weighings of the

same load SHALL NOT be greater than the
of the balance for that load

• the repeatability error SHALL NOT exceed the of the balance

• the eccentricity error SHALL NOT exceed the of the balance

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 Level III Periodic and motivated instrument
checks for balances

Reporting results of qualification

• The results of qualification shall be reported
according to the requirements given in ISO
17025:2017.

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 HOKLAS Calibration Requirements
Type of equipment Recommended Recommended
calibration Interval calibration method
and every The Calibration of
Weights and Balances
by NMIA

*
* using
a known mass

Items marked * are (those minimum) tests that are to be carried out by
laboratory staff if
• it is suitably equipped with calibrated reference equipment, and
• a suitably controlled environment, and
• staff are confirmed competent to perform the calibrations
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 HOKLAS Calibration Requirements
Type of equipment Recommended Recommended
calibration calibration
Interval method
Weights
of initial; ASTME617
, (i.e. consist of a OIML R111
single piece of material), subsequent
or alloy
Working weights, # ASTME617
or alloy OIML R111
Working weights, stainless # ASTME617
steel or nickel chromium alloy OIML R111

#Weights used for routine calibration of balance are considered as

working weights
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 Level III Periodic and motivated instrument
checks for balances
PRECISA
TEST CERTIFICATE REPRODUCIBILITY CHECK
Model XB 220A series of 10 measurements
S/N 0503560 limit: 0.000 1 g
max weight 220g nominal value 200g
d: 0.000 1 g standard deviation:
e: 0.001 g LINEARITY CHECK
single range check value
CALIBRATION EXECUTED WITH limit ±0.000 2 g
WEIGHT SET OF 0g 0.000 0 g
calibration weight class E2 (MPE ±0.03 mg) 40 g 0.000 0 g
serial number 2017D11-20-1040680001 80 g -0.000 1 g
approved until 2048-02 120 g -0.000 1 g
CORNER LOAD CHECK 160 g -
nominal value = 80 g 200 g 0.000 0 g
limit: ±0.000 2 g

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Thank you

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