Best Practices for Improving Load Cell Accuracy in Industrial Weighing Applications?

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1

Hi everyone,

I’m working on several industrial weighing projects using strain gauge load cells and would like to hear how others improve measurement accuracy in real-world environments.

Some of the challenges I’ve encountered include:

  • Zero drift after long operating periods
  • Temperature-related measurement variations
  • Electrical noise affecting low-level signals
  • Mechanical misalignment during installation
  • Calibration consistency over time

I’m curious about the approaches experienced engineers use.

A few questions:

  • Do you prefer the HX711, NAU7802, or another ADC for higher accuracy?
  • What shielding and grounding techniques have worked best?
  • How often do you recalibrate load cells in industrial applications?
  • What mechanical mounting practices help reduce errors?
  • Have you found any effective filtering methods for noisy environments?

I’d appreciate hearing about your experiences, recommended design practices, or common mistakes to avoid. Real-world examples would be especially helpful.

Thanks in advance!

2

What’s the capacity and resolution and overall shape & size of the instruments under discussion? A 200 x 0.0001 gram lab balance (magnetic, not a strain gauge) is a lot different from a deli price computing scale (single load cell, 30 x 0.01 pounds) is a lot different from tank & hopper weighing (say three load cells totaling 30000 x 5 kg). The scale for balancing racecars won’t work for construction cranes’ hooks or the pizza restaurant portioning dough balls.

Are you trying to improve existing equipment or is this something new? Do you want a project to research and design someday or a solution to buy and install now? Of course, commercial weighing products will have a lot of your design concerns already addressed and incorporated; it’s a very mature industry with dizzying variety.

This manufacturer has a nice compilation of docs: