Have you ever tried to weigh something that simply won’t sit still? Whether that’s a panicked animal or a lively liquid, getting some things to settle down long enough to produce an accurate measurement can be an incredibly frustrating experience.

Fortunately, there’s a much better way—dynamic weighing!

WHAT IS DYNAMIC WEIGHING?

Dynamic weighing, also known as animal weighing, is a unique application that determines the weight of an object even while it’s still in motion or the environmental conditions aren't ideal.

Unlike static scales that require an object to be completely still, dynamic weighing scales have built-in filtering software that automatically removes any extreme weight fluctuations generated by movement. They then calculate the average weight of the object over a short period of time to produce a precise and repeatable measurement.

5 SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE A DYNAMIC WEIGHING SCALE

These incredible scales are great for more than just measuring animals, however. Here are five unique uses for dynamic weighing scales.

1. WEIGHING ANIMALS

There are many professions where weighing animals is an everyday necessity, from veterinarians and zookeepers to ranchers and wildlife researchers. Unfortunately for them, many animals can be especially wary about hopping on a scale, and even more skittish when they do.

It doesn’t matter if you’re weighing a single baby kitten or a whole herd of cattle, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that the animal(s) will move at some point during the weighing process, which would normally throw off the results.

Of course, forcefully restraining the animals can cause undue stress, and tranquilizing them should only be done when absolutely necessary, so professionals are left with only one good option: dynamic weighing. Now, no matter how much the animal squirms, kicks, or scuttles, the scale is able to take an accurate reading.

2. WEIGHING LIQUIDS

If you manufacture or ship a high volume of liquids such as water, oils, gasoline, paint, or cleaning solutions, you’d know how difficult it can be to get a quick reading of the weight. Even in the most well-designed systems, liquids can continue to move long after their containers are stabilized.

On a traditional static scale, this would make the weighing process a very timely endeavor. With a dynamic scale, however, your operation can continue uninterrupted, no matter how much your liquids slosh and swirl around on the scale.

3. WEIGHING FREE-FLOWING INGREDIENTS

Since free-flowing substances behave in a similar manner to liquids, it stands to reason that they too would benefit from a scale capable of dynamic weighing. In particular, many granular feed ingredients such as grain, corn, and beans are dispensed and measured from a large nozzle or tube. This falling and settling material would normally throw off a scale, making dynamic weighing models the preferred option for the food sourcing industry.

4. WEIGHING VOLATILE CHEMICALS

Many materials undergo an array of chemical reactions that can affect their density and weight—even when the material and environment are perfectly still. When two or more chemicals are combined, a reaction may occur that can ever-so-slightly fluctuate its weight. Even in cases where a reaction does not occur, the liquid chemical may evaporate or settle to the bottom rapidly enough to throw off a scale’s readings—that is, if it doesn’t have a dynamic weighing function.

5. WEIGHING IN AN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT

In some cases, it’s not the material that’s moving, but rather the environment! Whether you’re weighing packages on a moving freight train or cargo ship, or measuring samples on a mobile research vessel, you certainly don’t want to have to stop the vehicle every time measurements need to be taken. With a dynamic weighing scale, you won’t have to.

Keep in mind that even though dynamic weighing is incredibly useful for measuring objects in motion, you should still make every effort to ensure you are taking your readings in the best conditions possible. Always check that your scale is level, stable, and calibrated before use.

SHOP THE LARGEST SELECTION OF DYNAMIC WEIGHING SCALES TODAY

Scales Plus has a huge selection of digital scales capable of advanced dynamic weighing. We carry hundreds of different models that are perfect for nearly any industry, application, and budget. If you’re looking for a dynamic weighing system quote or have a specific question you’d like answered, please give us a call at 616-622-2100 or send us an email and we’ll be happy to help.