Most often, the types of scales are distinguished by the type of balancing device:
- electronic;
- electromechanical;
- mechanical.
To date, the most actively used types of scales are electronic and electromechanical.
Electronic scales
Electronic scales combine all the advantages of electromechanical, but without the disadvantages of mechanical scales.
Advantages of electronic scales:
- absence of bulky mechanical details in a design and the small overall dimensions (in comparison with mechanical);
- precision;
- reliability;
- long service life due to the immobility of the device parts;
- automation that minimizes possible measurement errors made by the operator;
- availability of additional functions, such as: calibration, determination of the number of identical items, averaging - control and percentage weighing, record keeping through an additional printer or computer, digital averaging (adaptation of scales to external conditions);
- fast measurement process;
- the ability to choose different measurement units - ounces, troy ounces, carats and so on.
Electromechanical scales
Electromechanical scales have the same weighing mechanism as mechanical scales. However, the weighing results are read by an electronic device. Electromechanical scales react negatively to radio waves, power outages, shocks and falls, and therefore require careful handling with them in strict compliance with the conditions of their operation.