1. What is NTEP (National Type Evaluation Program)?
NTEP for National Standards - Industry and government metrology professionals alike recognize the essential role that uniform standards play in maintaining equity in the marketplace. As new commercial weighing and measuring devices come to market, how can manufacturers comply with these standards without incurring costs of multiple redesigns or marketing delays? How can the various weights and measures jurisdictions have confidence that these newly designed devices are capable of meeting the applicable weight and measures standards? Where can both industry and weights and measure officials go to discuss solutions to certification of new devices and new technology?
The answer to these and many other related questions is NTEP – The National Type Evaluation Program.
Early Consensus Means Savings – For Manufacturers and Consumers: NTEP, purchase a program of cooperation between the National Conference on Weights and Measures, find the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the states, and the private sector was created for just this purpose. Through twelve participating laboratories, NTEP evaluates the performance, operating characteristics, features and options of weighing and measuring devices against the applicable standards. Essentially, it provides a one-stop evaluation process that satisfies the initial requirements for introduction of weighing and measuring devices in the U.S. Ultimately, the savings that result from the efficiency of this process are passed along to consumers, making early type evaluation an integral link in the U.S. production chain.
NCWM Certificate: An official NTEP Certificate of Conformance is issued by NCWM following successful completion of the evaluation and testing of a device. This Certificate indicates that the device meets applicable requirements for commercial weighing and measuring equipment in the U.S.
NTEP Technical Committees: These technical Committees are made up of members from both the public and the private sectors. They meet to discuss and reach consensus on new or improved requirements for evaluation of new devices and new technologies.
Even a Broader Impact: Under the U.S./Canada Mutual Recognition Arrangement, examination and test results on certain devices from one country may be recognized by the other.
2. Why a scale needs calibration?
The preventive maintenance requires scales calibrated every 3 months to ensure accuracy and linearity. If you don’t use your scale a lot, we’d recommend that you check the scale accuracy every 3 months and do the calibration if the scale is off tolerance.
All the scales need such preventive calibration maintenance. Why a scale will be off after certain usage? Let’s take a look at how the scale works:
Most of industrial scales are using load cells to convert analog forces to digital readouts. Load cells measure force by its sensor called “strain gauge”. A strain gauge is a long length of conductor arranged in a zigzag pattern on a membrane. When it is stretched, its resistance increases:
Strain gauges are mounted in the same direction as the strain and often in fours to form a full ‘Wheatstone Bridge’.
A downward bend stretches the gauges on the top and compresses those on the bottom. A load cell may contain several similar strain gauges elements.
The strain gauges are mounted on the side of the alloy base. When one end of the base gets force (load), the whole base will be de-shaped thus the strain gauges are stretched. The more force the base gets, the more the strain gauges are stretched. Then the resistance change will be sent to the indicator and the indicator will convert such resistance change into digital readouts. When the force is out (unload), the alloy base returns to its original shape. However, after certain usage, the base may be out of shape permanently, which affects the discrepancy of accuracy and linearity. So we need to recalibrate the scale to reset the zero and full capacity resistance on the indicator.
You can calibrate the DIGIWEIGH scales by searching on DIGIWEIGH channel of youtube.com. DIGIWEIGH always provide cost-effective solution for our products.
3. What is the warranty policy of DIGIWEIGH products?
The scales are warranted to be free from defects in PARTS for one (1) year from the date of purchase. Warranty covers United States ONLY. EITHER LABOR OR SHIPPING CHARGE IS NOT COVERED IN THIS WARRANTY.
During this period if this product is found to be defective in material, the manufacturers or one of their authorized service facilities will repair or replace defective parts, subject to the following conditions, limitations and exclusions:
1. This warranty extends to the original consumer purchaser only and is not assignable or transferable.
2. This warranty shall not apply to any product which has been subjected to misuse, abuse, abnormal use, negligence, alteration or accident.
3. This warranty does not apply to any defects or damage directly or indirectly caused by or resulting from the use of unauthorized replacement parts and/or service performed by unauthorized personnel.
4. This warranty does not apply to the batteries, cable, power adapter, software and accessories of the products.
THIS WARRANTY IS MADE EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ALL OTHER OBLIGATIONS ON THE PART OF DIGIWEIGH PROVIDED. HOWEVER, THAT IF THE DISCLAIMER OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES IS INEFFECTIVE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, THE DURATION OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARISING BY OPERATION OF LAW SHALL BE LIMITED TO ONE (1) YEAR FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE OR SUCH LONGER PERIOD AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
WE HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL AND INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY OR ANY OTHER CLAIM WITH RESPECT TO THIS PRODUCT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIMS OF NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY IN TORT OR BREACH OF CONTRACT.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW (A) LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AND IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS OR (B) THE EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.