Estimates of Uncertainty of the Calibration of Balances
Chart 1 shows the uncertainty (estimates) of the calibration of representative electronic balances.
Chart 1. Uncertainty of calibration (estimates)
MinimumModelweighing value
0.001 mg
BM-20
GH-2020.01 mg
GH-252
BM-252
GR-120/GH-120
0.1 mgGR-200/GH-200/BM-200
BM-500
GX-200/GF-200
0.001 g
GX-600/GF-600
GX-1000/GF-1000
GX-2000/GF-2000
0.01 g
GX-6100/GF-6100
Note:

1.
2.

3.

Calibration point(No tare)
1g
50 g
100 g
100 g
100 g
200 g
500 g
200 g
500 g
1 kg
2 kg
5 kg

Extended uncertainty(k=2)
0.019 mg
0.17 mg
0.31 mg
0.29 mg
0.4 mg
0.6 mg
1.6 mg0.004 g0.004 g0.005 g0.04 g0.05 g

The uncertainties above are premised on normal operation of the electronicbalance under good conditions.
For the components of calibration uncertainty, the values below are applied as 1.
Calibration weight, 2. Repeatability, 3. Rounding error, 4. Eccentricity and 5.
Temperature characteristics.
Note that while calibration uncertainty usually includes “accuracy” (the deviationof calibration results), the uncertainty estimates above do not take into accountcomponents of “accuracy” because “accuracy” is influenced by the accuracy of thecalibration weight used in sensitivity adjustment. Similarly, aging over time of thecalibration weight, the atmospheric pressure during calibration of the calibration
weight, and pressure changes during balance calibration also depend on themanagement of the calibration weight so they are not included as components ofuncertainty.
Uncertainty is influenced by the condition of the electronic balance and theenvironment during calibration. To be exact, it is necessary to estimate theuncertainty of the actual instrument under the calibration environment.
Therefore, the calibration uncertainties above are examples of calibration
uncertainty estimated using the actual instrument and are not guaranteed values.

1. Uncertainty due to the weight used for calibration
Extended uncertainty (coverage factor k=2) for the calibration weights to be used are listed inthe chart below.
Nominal value Extended uncertainty (k=2)
1g
0.018 mg50 g0.101 mg
100 g
0.15 mg200 g
0.25 mg
500 g
1.0 mg
1 kg
1.5 mg
2 kg
3 mg
5 kg
5 mg
The extended uncertainties for the calibration weights above indicate the measurement
performance when calibrating an OIML Class E2 weight in A&D’s calibrationlaboratory.
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2. Uncertainty due to repeatability
Use the catalog specifications (reproducibility) of each balance.
3. Uncertainty due to rounding error
Calculate from the minimum display value of the relevant balance.
4. Uncertainty due to eccentricity
Calculate from the specifications at the time the relevant balance was manufactured.
5. Uncertainty due to temperature characteristics
Calculate based on the catalog specifications (sensitivity drift) of the relevant balance withthe temperature change during calibration set within Δ2°C.

Example of Calculating the Uncertainty of Balance Calibration
1. Introduction
In this example, the actual “uncertainty of balance calibration” for a GR-200 is calculated.
GR-200 specifications
Capacity:Max
Minimum weighing :dvalue (scale interval)

210 g
0.1 mg

The components of uncertainty during calibration include the following items.
1-1 Uncertainty due to the calibration weight
1-2 Uncertainty due to the calibration work
1. Repeatability
2. Eccentricity
3. Accuracy
1-3 Other causes of uncertainty
1. Temperature characteristics
2. Rounding error
2. Preparation
While referring to the operation manual, set up the balance in an appropriate location, and then warm
up the balance for the specified time. (Leave the power on.)3. Sensitivity adjustment
Adjust the sensitivity before calibration if necessary. If the sensitivity is adjusted, note this fact in thecalibration results as a condition of calibration.
4. Repeatability
As an example, the following procedure shows how to measure repeatability with a test load of 200 g,
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which is equal to or greater than 0.1Max (Capacity × 0.1).
Measurement is performed six times.
1. Reset the balance to zero, and then confirm that the indicator value is zero.
2. Load a weight equivalent to the test load on the center of the pan, and then record the indicatorvalue.
3. Remove the weight.
Repeat steps 1 to 3 six times.
Example measurement results
Measurement order i12345
6200.0000 g 200.0000 g 200.0001 g 200.0000 g 200.0001 g 200.0001 g
Indicator value Ii
200.00005 g
Average value I-0.05 mg

Ii  I-0.05 mg

0.05 mg-0.05 mg

0.05 mg

0.05 mg

From these results, use the following formula to calculate the dispersion (Vr) due to repeatability.

Vr  S 2 1 n
 ( Ii  I ) 2n  1 i1Here, I is the average of theindicator values

 3.0000  10 3 mg 2 … (1)5. Eccentricity

As an example, the following procedure shows how to measure eccentricity of a test load (P) of a 100 g,
which is equal to or greater than 0.3Max.
1. Before measurement, reset the balance to zero, and then confirm that the indicator value is zero.
2. Load a 100 g weight, which is equivalent to the test load, on the center of the pan (position 1), andthen record the indicator value I1.
3. Place the same weight at position 2, and then record the indicator value I2.
4. Place the same weight at positions 3, 4, and 5 in turn, while recording the respective indicator values

I3, I4, and I5.

(3)

(4)

(3)

(1)
(2)

(4)
(1)

(5)

(2)

For a square weighing pan(5)

For a round weighing pan

Positions 2 to 5 are in the centers of the quarters

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Example measurement results
Measurement order i123
45
Measurement position
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Indicator value Ii
100.0000 g 99.9999 g 100.0002 g 100.0001 g 99.9998 g
Difference from center-0.1 mg
0.2 mg
0.1 mg-0.2 mg
From the results, calculate E1 (the eccentricity standardized to a test load of Max/3) from the differenceΔE(the maximum difference for center loading and eccentric loading).
Max
3P

E1=ΔE·If Max (capacity) = 210 g, P (test load) = 100 g, and ΔE = 0.2 mg (from the eccentricity measurementabove) are substituted, the following value results.

E1=0.2 mg × 210 g/300 g=0.14 mg
Ve (the relative dispersion of the eccentricity) is presumed to have a uniform distribution with amaximum of ΔE (±ΔE).

Ve  Ue 2  (13)2  (E1 2 10.14 2)  ()
Max
3 210000 1.4815  10 13 … (2)6. Accuracy
As an example, accuracy is measured using test loads, including those with and without tare loads, ofthe following weights.
Weighttype

Use

Nominalvalue

Conventional
mass

W1
W2
T1
T2
T3

Calibration
Calibration
Tare load
Tare load
Tare load

200 g
50 g
50 g
100 g
150 g

200 g+0.15 mg
50 g-0.06 mg

Extended
uncertainty
U(k=2)
0.25 mg0.101 mg

Dispersion of uncertainty
of calibration weightVs
1.5625×10-2mg22.5503×10-3mg2

Note: It is acceptable for the 150 g for T3 to be comprised of T1 and T2.
Based on coverage factor k=2, calculate Vs (the dispersion of uncertainty of calibration weight)
using the following formula.

Vs = (U/2)2
1. Before measurement, reset the balance to zero. Check that the indicator value is zero, load
calibration weight W1 at the center of the pan, and then record the indicator value I1. Next, remove
the weight.
2. As in step 1, load calibration weight W2, and then record indicator value I2.
3. Load weight T1 as the tare load weight, and then take tare. Check that the indicator value is zero,place calibration weight W2 at the center of the pan, and then record the indicator value I3. Next,
remove the weight.
4. As with Step 3, load calibration weight T2 as the tare load, and then record indicator value I4 for
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calibration weight W2.
5. As with Step 3, load calibration weight T3 as the tare load, and then record indicator value I5 forcalibration weight W2.
Example test loads and measurement results
Measurement order i
1
2
3
4
5
Tare load0g
0g
50 g
100 g
150 g
Weight for tare
T1
T2
T3
Calibration weightW1
W2
W2
W2
W2Calibration weight value 200.00015 g 49.99994 g 49.99994 g 49.99994 g 49.99994 g
Indicator value Ii
200.0000 g 49.9998 g 49.9999 g 50.0000 g 49.9999 g
Deviation-0.15 mg
-0.14 mg
-0.04 mg
0.06 mg-0.04 mg

7. Temperature characteristics
Establish the temperature change (ΔT) during balance calibration as follows. For the temperature range,a uniform distribution with a maximum of1
ΔT is assumed. For the temperature characteristics value
2TK (sensitivity drift), calculate the relative dispersion (Vt) of the temperature characteristics using thefollowing formula based on the specifications of the balance.

ΔT =2°C … Establish the temperature change during balance calibration as 2°C.
TK=2ppm/°C … Balance specification

Vt  Ut 2  (ΔT2 3

 TK ) 2 1( ΔT  TK ) 2
1212ppm 2(2C )  1.3333  10 12 … (3)12C

8. Rounding error
The uncertainty for the resolution (scale interval d) of the display is assumed to be the uniform
distribution with a maximum of d/2. This assumption is based on the following formula using the zeropoint before measurement and the measurement values.

Vd  Ud 2  (d2 3)2  2 1d261
 0.1 mg 2  1.6667  10 3 mg 2 … (4)6

9. Extended uncertainty
Use the following formula to calculate the extended uncertainty U (coverage factor k=2) at eachmeasurement point in “6. Accuracy”.
5/7U  k  [Vr  Vd  Vs  Ve  Wi 2  Vt  Wi 2 ]  k  VThe items to substitute are listed below.

Vr:The repeatability dispersion. Substitute the calculation result (1) of “4. Repeatability”.

Vd:

The rounding error dispersion. Substitute the calculation result (4) of “8. Roundingerror”.

Vs:

The calibration weight uncertainty dispersion. Calculate from the calibration weight
uncertainty used in the measurement of “6. Accuracy”. (See “6. Accuracy.)Ve:

The relative dispersion of the eccentricity. Substitute the calculation result of "5.
Eccentricity".

Vt:

The relative dispersion of the temperature characteristics. Substitute the calculation
results (3) of “7. Temperature characteristics”.

Wi:

Calibration weightk:

Coverage factor (k=2)

Note:

For eccentricity (Ve) and temperature characteristics (Vt), calculate the dispersion witheach uncertainty being proportional to weighing value.

Repeatability
Rounding error
Calibration weight

Vr
VdVs

Eccentricity

Ve×Wi2Temperature characteristics Vt×Wi2
Dispersion total
Extended uncertainty(k=2)
Note:

V

Calibration weightW1(200 g)
W2(50 g)3.0000×10-3 mg2
1.6667×10-3 mg2
1.5625×10-2 mg22.5503×10-3 mg2-132
1.4815×10 ×(200000 mg) 1.4815×10-13×(50000 mg)2=5.9259×10-3 mg2=3.7037×10-4 mg2
1.3333×10-12×(200000 mg)2 1.3333×10-12×(50000 mg)2=5.3333×10-2 mg2=3.3333×10-3 mg2-22
7.9551×10 mg
1.0921×10-2 mg2U0.6 mg

0.3 mgCalculate the extended uncertainty result by rounding up the last digit of the acquiredvalue.

For W1 (200 g)

U  k  V  2  (7.9551  10 2 mg 2 ) =0.56 mg → 0.6 mg
For W2 (50 g)

U  k  V  2  (1.0921  10 2 mg 2 ) =0.21 mg → 0.3 mg

10. Calibration results
Based on the results of “6. Accuracy” and “9. Extended uncertainty”, the balance calibration results areas follows.
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Tare load Nominal value Deviation Extended uncertainty
0g
200 g-0.15 mg
0.6 mg0g
50 g-0.14 mg
0.3 mg50 g
50 g-0.04 mg
0.3 mg
100 g
50 g
0.06 mg
0.3 mg
150 g
50 g-0.04 mg
0.3 mg
For the extended uncertainty, the coverage factor is k=2.
References
JCSS Guide for estimating uncertainty
Scope: Mass
Weighing instrument: Balance(Version 7)
ASG104 Beginner’s guide on uncertainty of measurement

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