Editing Weighing scale (section)

===Electronic devices===
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====Microbalance====
{{main|Microbalance}}
A [[microbalance]] (also called an ultramicrobalance, or nanobalance) is an instrument capable of making precise measurements of the mass of objects of relatively small mass: on the order of a million parts of a gram and below.

====Analytical balance====
{{main|Analytical balance}}
[[File:Balance-NaCl-1mol.jpg|thumb|upright|Analytical balance]]
An '''analytical balance''' is a class of balance designed to measure small [[mass]] in the sub-milligram range. The measuring pan of an analytical balance (0.1 [[milligram|mg]] or better)  is inside a transparent enclosure with doors so that [[dust]] does not collect and so any air currents in the room do not affect the balance's operation. This enclosure is often called a draft shield. The use of a mechanically [[vented balance safety enclosure]], which has uniquely designed acrylic airfoils, allows a smooth turbulence-free airflow that prevents balance fluctuation and the measure of mass down to 1&nbsp;μg without fluctuations or loss of product. Also, the sample must be at [[room temperature]] to prevent natural [[convection]] from forming air currents inside the enclosure from causing an error in reading.  Single-pan mechanical substitution balances maintain consistent response throughout the useful capacity, which is achieved by maintaining a constant load on the balance beam and thus the fulcrum by subtracting mass on the same side of the beam to which the sample is added.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}

Electronic analytical scales measure the force needed to counter the mass being measured rather than using actual masses. As such they must have calibration adjustments made to compensate for gravitational differences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aandd.jp/support/materials/product_training1_balances.pdf |title=A&D training material|publisher=Sandd.jp |access-date=2014-02-26}}</ref> They use an electromagnet to generate a force to counter the sample being measured and output the result by measuring the force needed to achieve balance. Such a measurement device is called an electromagnetic force restoration sensor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.sensorsmag.com/articles/0602/27/main.shtml |title=Sensors Mag |publisher=Archives.sensorsmag.com |access-date=2014-02-26 |archive-date=2014-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106053450/http://archives.sensorsmag.com/articles/0602/27/main.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Pendulum balance scales====
Pendulum type scales do not use springs. These designs use pendulums and operate as a balance that is unaffected by differences in gravity. An example of application of this design are scales made by the Toledo Scale Company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utoledo.edu/library/canaday/findingaids1/MSS-153.pdf |title=Finding Aid : The Toledo Scale Collection |publisher=Utoledo.edu |access-date=2014-02-26}}</ref>

====Programmable scales====
A programmable scale has a [[programmable logic controller]] in it, allowing it to be programmed for various applications such as batching, labeling, filling (with check weight function), [[truck scale]]s, and more.

Another important function is counting, e. g. used to count small parts in larger quantities during the annual stock taking. Counting scales (which can also do just weighing) can range from mg to tonnes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-04 |title=Industrial rental scales - Counting scales from 0,006 g to 6 t |url=https://mietwaagen.shop/industrial-scale-rental-hire/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |language=de-DE}}</ref>