Ohaus' weigh-in as battle of the balances commences

Weighing is one of the most frequent operations in the drug discovery landscape and modern micro, semimicro and analytical balances (readability 0.1 pg to 0.1 mg) have been perfected to offer improved sensitivity and control in a process that demands absolute accuracy.

The Discovery series claims to offer performance specifications that are two times better than most other balances in its class.

Central to the product's sensitivity is the availability of 4 analytical models in the Ohaus Discovery with a FineRange model featuring semi-micro readability.

Discovery's repeatability and linearity performance is twice as advanced as most 10 micro gram balances in its class.

For added balance stability and accuracy, the Discovery's glass and steel construction resists the effects of static. Its corrosion resistance helps extend the product's life to provide years of reliable service.

The Ohaus Discovery offers features that include its multiple application modes - statistics, density determination, pipette calibration, per cent weighing, dynamic weighing, check weighing, high point, parts counting, totalisation and gross/net/tare weighing.

The inclusion of environmental settings means users can select filter settings to compensate for vibrations and other disturbances.

Despite the technological progress observed in many of the current semi-micro and analytical balance electronics, this progress is associated with the danger that too little attention is paid to disturbing influences of the surroundings.

These mostly concern physical effects that are measurable for micro, semi micro and analytical balances and can not be suppressed by them since actual weight changes are involved (e.g. slow evaporation, moisture gain), or forces that act on the weighing sample and the weighing pan (e.g. magnetism, electrostatic charge) and are also recognised by the balance as weight changes.

Ohaus have done their best to minimise these factors by the inclusion of the AutoCal automatic internal calibration.

All Discovery models have this feature included, which helps to ensure accurate weighing by automatically calibrating the balance when it senses a temperature change significant enough to affect the weighing accuracy.

To minimise weighing errors, AutoCal utilises two internal calibration weights to perform a linear calibration. Furthermore, AutoCal helps to keep Discovery accurate without the need for external weights.

Additional features include the up front level indicator feature ensures that the balance is level with a quick view of the up front level indicator eliminating the need to look behind the balance during the levelling process.