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Making a Balance Scale

C

Cathy Peters

Joined
Jun 22, 2013
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Cleveland, Ohio
Hi! Has anyone ever made a balance scale like the 'scales of justice'? I have the basic design, but not sure of the simplest way to pivot the crossbar. Any suggestions would be appreciated, on the pivot point or any other aspect.

thanks!
Cathy Peters
 
That is known as a double pan balance. In order to be stable, the center pivot point needs to be slightly higher than the two end points that connect to the pans. Instead of using a knife edge as in the case of a triple beam balance, I would suggest that you drill a small hole through the center of the balance beam and then use a brad or small screw through the hole and into the support column. What parts do you plan to turn? Also, does it need to be functional or is it a decorative piece? Getting it to balance will be a major challenge if you turn the pans and/or balance beam from wood.

BTW, welcome to the AAW forums.
 
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A balance "floats" on a sharp point for commercial and business use. What purpose do you have to build one? The more area the beam floats on the more friction and that will create inaccuracy. The beam must balance exactly on a point in the center so that with no load it will be perfectly horizontal. There would be a pointer at 90 degrees to the center of the bar affixed to it. There will be a scale index affixed to the vertical member so that you can see when the bar is balances and the pointer will go equal distances to left and right.
Pans and chains on right and left should be of equal weight to balance. Then to weigh an item you will need weights to apply to one side and balance the item being weighted.
Not sure why you want this, but less headache to go to Harbor Freight and buy a digital balance.
 
Thanks! Yes, I knew this would be complicated. My customer wants to give it to his son, an attorney, as a gift. I don't think accuracy is too critical. I was hoping to turn the support column/base and maybe the balance beam. I'm looking for a source for the pans, I don't want to have to turn them because I know they will not be the same weight. Just in the beginning stage of developing this idea. May work and it may not.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond and thanks for welcoming me to the forum!

Cathy
 
Cathy,

once you have the parts constructed you will probably have to add some weight to the lighter side to make it balanced.

It will be difficult to make all the parts equal weight and it get the balance point exact.

I have been learning a bit of pewter casting. It melts with a torch.
You could cast pewter pans from a wood turning....
It turns easily
Just remember hot metal looks just like cold metal.

Aluminum and brass turn easily too.

Al
 
Now we are talking what is going on. The pans could be turned. In this case it is ornamental so to balance pans use small magnets placed in wood turned "weights" then experiment to get balanced. You could also use dense heaver woods such as ebony, teak or Honduran mahogany.
 
Maybe this would be an opportunity to take up metal spinning. Since this is for a lawyer, the balance doesn't need to actually work as long as it is tilted in his favor. If it were for a judge then it would need to be balanced. 🙄
 
It would be fairly simple to make sliding weights on the arms. Then you would just adjust one or both until you get the balance. I sketched out an idea many years ago for an art piece using scales of justice as the main theme. However mine will have articles placed in the plates so I can simply add or take away items to get the scales to balance. And in this piece they are purposely unbalanced anyway so it shouldn't be a problem for me.
 
The scale is meant to be decorative but I would like it to be somewhat functional. All great suggestions! I'm glad this gentleman is an attorney and not the judge!

Thanks everyone!!
cathy
 
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