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Which Survivor Is Right For You?

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Over the years we have been asked quite often “out of all the different Rice Lake Survivor truck scales, which one is right for my application”? In the next few entries we will take a look at the different versions available.

The 2 most significant aspects influencing the expected lifetime of the truck scale are truck volume and axle loading. Weighing greater than one hundred vehicles a day is heavy traffic, yet many customers weigh two hundred or more vehicles in a day. Whenever the daily quantity surpasses two hundred fifty vehicles each day or roughly a truck every 2 minutes, back-ups, delays and a loss of future business may be expected. Many organizations weighing greater than two hundred fifty vehicles every day will discover they require an additional weight scale. While Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR OTR scales have a CLC rating of 100,000 pounds, understanding the type of truck and its quantity of axles can be essential in selecting the right weighing machine. It only takes a single significantly overloaded 18 wheeler to result in long term damage to a scale improperly suited for the application. Operations involving quarries, mining operations, fly ash, asphalt, construction, landfills, transfer station, steel mills, logging operations among others demand careful evaluation by a professional to specify the proper weighing machine for the application.

SnapStream

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SnapStream is the only legal-for-trade wireless scale system in the marketplace for commercial purposes. It’s entirely proprietary to Cardinal Scale and provides numerous competitive benefits for brand new or pre-existing truck scale operations.

SnapStream is a digitally-controlled weighing and diagnostic system developed using 802.15.4 Zigbee protocol for accurate and reliable weight and data transmitting. SnapStream can be utilized with Cardinal’s model 205, 210, and 225 digital weight indicators.

CONNECT WITHOUT CABLES
SnapStream can be set up utilizing one to sixteen load cells. The SnapStream truck scale junction box accomodates two to four 4-cell analog boards. These junction boxes carry out the analog-to-digital weight conversion process for each load cell and will transmit data wirelessly to Cardinal’s 205, 210, and 225 indicators in which the weight data is actually displayed.

Furthermore, the indicators can send data wirelessly to any remote displays, printers, or local remotes Cardinal can offer. The communications module could also be used to interface wirelessly from the weight indicator to a Personal computer using USB, RS232 serial, or Ethernet connectivity or a printer using RS232 serial or Ethernet.

Load Cell Pocket Makes A Difference

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Load cell openings that are welded or bolted to exterior I-beams make it possible for too much bending and flexing, leading to damage to the weighbridge. Bumper bolts ease and crack. Check rods bind. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR® series truck scales are made with the load cell pocket incorporated into the steel framework of the scale. The pocket is built within the outer I-beam, offering a far more durable, long-lasting load cell pocket. Load cell pockets are made out of heavy-duty steel plates incorporated into the design of the scale. Large wide-flange I-beams encompass the pocket integrating it into the weighbridge structure. This adds extraordinary strength and dependability to a extremely critical section of the weighbridge.

Numerous competitive models implement either bumper bolts or check rods for centering the scale. Check rods will add to the initial price of the scale and bumper bolts require Continue reading →

Sometimes it’s what is below that matters

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Plenty of “comparable” truck scales are designed and built with both a top and underside plate. This closed-bottom style produces a cavity for harsh moisture buildup. This moisture content build-up results in the rusting of inner parts encased in the cavity. That corrosive rust could eventually result in total failure of the scale. Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR steel deck truck scales include a completely open-bottom design and style. The open-bottom layout enables unhindered airflow removing the cavity in which rust-causing moisture can build-up. Plus, a 2-to 4-mills thick high solids urethane paint finish is applied Continue reading →

Truck Scale Readability Notes

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According to Handbook 44 and the laws that apply to a Class III L device, 200,000 lbs is the maximum gross capacity that any truck scale system can have and still maintain 20 lb increments in legal-for-trade-applications (10,000 divisions). For somebody to set up a truck scale with a capacity rating above 200,000 lbs, the minimum increment size jumps to 50 lbs and that is undesirable for obvious reasons.

There are scales with gross capacity ranges that go up to 270,000 pounds or more. Therefore, if you should happen to encounter a set of requirements or bid specifications that require a gross capacity of greater than 200,000 pounds (120 tons or 135 tons seem to appear now and then), that spec can be met, however, the system cannot be used above 200,000 pounds unless the end user is willing to operate with 50 pound increments.

On a related note, the GSE 60 series indicators have NTEP approved multi-ranging capability. For example, at time of calibration, the scale company can setup the indicator to read by 20 lb increments up to and below 200,000 lbs and then switch to 50 lb increments above 200,000 lbs.

OTR Features 100,000 lb. Concentrated Load Capacity

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Have you heard the latest news regarding the Rice Lake OTR truck scale? Now with an even higher 100,000 pound concentrated load capacity (CLC), Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR OTR truck scale has raised the bar yet again. This scale has always been known for its strength, performance and value. The above ground or pit-type SURVIVOR OTR, available in both steel and concrete deck, has long been the industry’s strongest weighbridge design, known for its tightly spaced wide flange i-beams and more steel per square inch. But now, this recent boost in overall capacity cements the OTR’s position in truck scale design.

Rice Lake says, even as traffic climbs as high as 250 fully loaded trucks per day, expect no less than 25 years of solid service from any SURVIVOR OTR.  This celebrated weighbridge design combines convenient top access to load cells, a low profile for easy approaches, and self-setting connectors for quick installation and future expansion.

The SURVIVOR OTR Series truck scale is an outstanding design that incorporates the most advanced engineering and production technology to manufacture the highest quality vehicle weighing system in the marketplace. The OTR Series scales don’t sacrifice quality for price. Both the OTR concrete and steel deck models boast wide flange Continue reading →

Choose Reputable Scale Service Company With Correct Tools

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Most of the time we focus on how to buy scales or what features are ideal for your next truck scale purchase. Today we wanted to briefly discuss truck scale service and repairs since eventually you will have to call to have service and repair done on your truck scale.  And let’s face it, if a repair isn’t done right and efficiently, any money you saved on your truck scale purchase could be lost in a lengthy repair.  Almost every digital scale from a small bench scale to a large truck scale has a digital weight indicator. Most scales have one or more load cells. Quite a few scales have a junction box with summing board. Most electronic truck scales feature these components as well. Most of the time to test and calibrate these bench and floor scales, you just place weights in a few spots, test and calibrate if necessary. However, the testing and calibration that is performed on a truck scale varies from the standard bench and floor scales.

Most truck scales are checked with test weights and a portable test cart filled with certified weight. This allows the scale technician to drive the cart over the scale and test the scale more thoroughly than just placing weights on the end of the scale. Having a test cart with weights should allow you to get a better and more detailed test of your truck scale than if you don’t use a cart. That is one reason it is important to choose a truck scale calibration service company that has a test cart in North Carolina that can test truck scales accurately. Companies that don’t have a test cart can be at a disadvantage when it comes to finding certain hard to find errors that can creep into the picture from time to time.

Portable Axle Scales

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Cardinal’s completely portable, two-module axle load scale gives you the performance you need, where you need it and when you need it.  Available in either steel or aluminum. A real lightweight (only 400 lbs per aluminum platform) that handles the heavyweights (60,000 lbs capacity).  Each Cardinal 760 axle scale platform comes complete with either steel or aluminum ramps, NEMA 4 junction box, environmentally-protected stainless steel load cells, and four access ramps.  Each platform features a 30,000 pound capacity.

 

760 System (Your choice of aluminum or steel platforms)

Two (2) each platforms with 2 ramps each (total of 4 ramps).

Axle capacity for tandem platforms: 60,000 lbs.

Stainless steel, environmentally protected USA-made load cells.

Weighbridge size: 7 ft. L x 30 in. W x 5.5 in. H.

Overall dimenions with ramps: 10 ft. L x 30 in. W x 5.5 in. H.

 

Extend your 760 axle load scale’s weighing capabilities with one of Cardinal Scale’s versatile digital weight indicators like Cardinal 215 digital weight indicator, P150 battery operated printer and calibration for a complete portable weighing solution that is versatile and affordable.