Beam scale enhancements

[@robertrios4885]

Wow... lots of great modifications! .... I also have a RCBS #502 beam scale. .....Because of the light weight, I also wanted to fill in the hollow body but, didn't know what to use use for a filler..... Thanks for sharing your ideas!

[@Targetmaster1066]

Thank you Robert - Pleased you found the videos helpful.

[@robertrios4885]

Thanks!.....Here's a tip for someone using a light weight beam scale that doesn't have a very solid work bench,or a light duty table, place beam scale on top of a brick or cement pad. This will help dampen the base for more stability.... More videos please

[@richardjones452]

Don’t know if you still answer comments on here, but are you able to suggest an app that works? I’ve tried about 7/8 of them and they all suffer the same issue of very low frame rate, and freezing frequently. Camera works fine with laptop though! I’m gonna take a guess and assume it’s free apps no longer work! Or the free version is so unusable that you buy the pro version? Hope to here from you

[@rogercrier]

Lots of clever mods! Assuming the needle pulses at the start of the video are because the pan is swinging, could you not put a magnet below the pan so it damps the aluminium pan in the same way that the scale already damps the copper sheet on the beam. I want to use one of these scales to weigh 177 airgun pellets, so let's say 8.xx grains. Is there a scale made just for this kind of weight as I do not need the 500 grain capacity. Any recommendations apart from trying to find an old scale that was made way back when when things were not made down to a price and bean counters were only found in coffee shops?

[@Targetmaster1066]

+Roger Crier ..Hello Roger.You are correct, it's the pan swinging causing the pulsing - however, I really don't mind seeing a little movement on the beam, it shows the beam isn't stuck anywhere. The RCBS scale have floating agate bearings so you often get a little side wobble too - not a problem.You're quite correct, a magnet under the pan would act as a damper. On something like the Lee scale it would work perfectly because everything on the pan end of the scale is non-magnetic, even the little spring that pushes on the brass zeroing adjuster is copper. On most other scales there is magnetic material at the pan end. The knife edges where the pan hangs, the wire pan stirrup, the screw that hold the weight box together etc. Any magnet placed near these scales would lead to a false reading.The 502, 505 scales will quite happily weigh down to 8 grains accurately. They're quite happy weighing 1.6 grains of powder for competition pistol cartridges.The Lee scale, although a bit fiddly to use, is actually very accurate, especially at the lower weights.For weighing pellets, you might think about the small digital scales, they're idea for this type of job but I don't like them for powder.

[@rogercrier]

+thetargetmaster Thanks for the big answer!! What were you going to say about the lee scale? You ran out of space. For my 10 grain or under needs, are there constructional details anywhere to make a bespoke arm? (Silly I know) On DRO measuring systems, have you checked out "touchdro" hardware and it's free android app? You already have the display!!! Cheap as chips. See KZbin. Or google.

[@Targetmaster1066]

+Roger Crier .. I've just had a brief look at the touchdro system - looks very promising. I've not got DRO on my lathe but I have fitted a full system to my milling machine - I really couldn't do without it now..The Lee scale, although a bit fiddly to use, is actually very accurate, especially at the lower weights.For weighing pellets, you might think about the small digital scales, they're idea for this type of job but I don't like them for powder

[@themachinist8927]

That approach to weight assist is awesome. What kind of wire did u use and where did u get the counter weight. I've got a new RCBS M500 beam scale coming and would like to out fit it with that mod. Also have a tablet and cam coming to add that mod very nice scale I like the ideas thanks alot.

[@Targetmaster1066]

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, the approach to weight gizmo works well, especially if using an auto trickler, makes for a really soft, smooth lift of the beam off the bottom stop. All the bits were made by hand, the counter weight came from an electrical connector. You will need to design a different system for the M500. The damper blade on the M500 is a straight line with the beam, the old 502/505 has the damper blade are right angles. Let me know how you get on.

[@raymondcuda5906]

Brilliant!!

[@Targetmaster1066]

Thank you Ray - I hope it gave you some ideas.

[@tianunper]

Hi Allan, what's the brand and model of the tablet? I got a cheap Rockchip 3026 and attached the cam but it doesn't work even with the "web cam apps". Thank you

[@leadfarmer8773]

Very impressed those are really good ideas!

[@Targetmaster1066]

Thank you, I enjoy trying to get the best out of these simple machines.

[@Sanwizard1]

Why not just use your phone camera? I use Camerafi for my bore camera.

[@Targetmaster1066]

I believe I was instrumental in bringing the idea of using a phone to view the scales around 12 years ago. bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/monitor-balance-beam-with-magnified-image-on-smartphone/

[@hannigan40]

Hi, wondering can u help, i hav a rcbs 10-10 scale and when i set it up and zero it i just turn the level screw until the the beam line and fixed line meet and it weights fine, what im stuck on is does the scale actually have to be level or do you just get the lines to meet like ive done and go from ther, thank u

[@Targetmaster1066]

For best performance the scale should be set up on a level bench - Then, with the poises all set to zero, the leveling adjuster is set to line up the zero marks. Ideally this is about mid range on the adjuster screw and the scale about level. I would get a set of the RCBS/Lyman grain check weight to give you confidence and peace of mind.

[@hannigan40]

@@Targetmaster1066 thank you, much appreciated 👍👍

[@ericgreene7730]

Which Camera are you using?

[@Targetmaster1066]

Just a cheap Chinese $5 one from Ebay - It needs to have a manually adjusted lens to get down to a couple of inches.

[@ericgreene7730]

Thank you

[@checkmatearmament2281]

Eric Greene, did you find a camera that worked?

[@Targetmaster1066]

These are the cameras I use: www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Mini-Stylish-USB-2-0-5M-Meter-Retractable-Clip-WebCam-Web-Camera-Laptop-GH-/112184941002?hash=item1a1ebe59ca:g:CiUAAOSw8gVX~Kel If you want to use it with an android tablet you will need a free app: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vaultmicro.camerafi

[@checkmatearmament2281]

thetargetmaster , thank you very much!

[@Aldocello1]

LOL , I simply use a small piece of soft song in the slot and does the same .....

[@Targetmaster1066]

Not quite the same LLL. A soft piece of sponge will certainly cushion the beam but not give a progressive lift as this and the approach to weight systems found on the RCBS 10/10 and 5-10 scales (And the Lee scales)

[@Targetmaster1066]

[@ericjohnson8482]

+thetargetmaster Where did you get the ball bearing adjuster for leveling, I would like to add that to mine.