A&D FC-10Ki ACAI, Minimum Piece Weight & Fine-Mode Counting Guide
- pete8781
- Jul 31
- 4 min read
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The A&D FC-10Ki ACAI and fine-counting functions are designed to estimate piece count from a group of items much more precisely than the main 1 g weighing display might suggest. The exact terms matter: FC-10Ki weighs in 1 g increments, but normal counting mode can accept average unit weights down to 0.2 g and fine mode can calculate unit weights down to 0.01 g. That 0.01 g value is a minimum average piece-weight threshold used by the counting algorithm; it is not a claim that one 0.01 g part can be individually weighed and displayed as 0.01 g.
How a 1 g scale can count 0.01 g pieces
Counting uses the total mass of many pieces to calculate an average unit weight. Ten thousand identical 0.01 g parts would weigh about 100 g, a load the 1 g platform can measure. The counting system divides the measured group mass by the known/sample quantity, then estimates the larger count. Fine mode uses internal processing and a sufficiently large aggregate sample to work with very small average unit weights. It does not create a 0.01 g direct weighing display or make the main platform equivalent to a laboratory balance.
Normal minimum unit weight: 0.2 g
For normal counting, A&D lists 0.2 g as the minimum unit weight for FC-10Ki. Parts at or above this range are easier to count reliably with modest sample sizes because the aggregate sample mass rises quickly above the main scale division. Start with the standard 10-piece sample or a larger quantity when pieces vary, then use ACAI to improve the average as more parts are added.
Fine-mode minimum unit weight: 0.01 g
Fine mode lowers the accepted average unit weight to 0.01 g. For extremely light parts, sample size becomes critical. Five or ten pieces may weigh too little relative to the platform division to establish a robust average. Use a much larger representative sample and let ACAI refine the result. The goal is to make the aggregate sample mass large compared with the scale’s 1 g division so small piece-to-piece variations and one-division quantization have less influence on the calculated average.
ACAI: why adding more pieces can improve the count
Automatic Counting Accuracy Improvement updates the stored average unit weight as additional pieces are added under the proper conditions. That reduces dependence on the first sample and can compensate for small sampling error. ACAI is especially valuable when initial sample quantities are small. It cannot correct a population whose pieces genuinely have large mass variation, so compare the part process itself—not just the scale—when count results disagree with manual checks.
Sample sizes: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and random
FC-i supports a standard 10-piece sample and selectable 5, 25, 50, 100 or random sample sizes. A five-piece sample is convenient for large heavy parts. A 50- or 100-piece sample is more appropriate for small/light parts or lots with noticeable variation. When fine mode is required, prioritize enough total sample mass over speed. A larger sample at the beginning can save much more time than recounting a large bin after a poor unit-weight estimate.
Piece-to-piece variation is often the real accuracy limit
Stampings, molded parts, coated hardware, moisture-sensitive products and machined pieces can vary in mass. If the average unit weight changes across the lot, no counting scale can know exactly how many pieces are present from mass alone. The larger the lot, the more a small unit-weight bias can affect the count. Sample from the same lot, use ACAI, and manually verify a known quantity when inventory value or production risk is high.
One-million-count display does not guarantee one-million-piece accuracy
The display can show up to 1,000,000 pieces, but that is a display/capability limit, not a guarantee that any million-piece lot can be counted with zero error. Real accuracy depends on piece mass, uniformity, sample quality, platform capacity and whether the entire lot can be weighed without exceeding 10 kg. A million very small uniform pieces may be possible; a million heavier parts will exceed capacity long before the display limit matters.
A practical counting-accuracy check
Create the unit weight from a representative sample, then remove it and place a larger known hand-counted quantity such as 50, 100 or 500 pieces on the scale. Compare the displayed count with the known quantity. If it is off, increase sample size, inspect piece variation and allow ACAI to refine unit weight. Do this before using the method to adjust ERP inventory or accept a supplier shipment.
When a true precision balance is better
If the job is to measure the mass of one tiny part, coating or component to 0.01 g, FC-10Ki is not the correct instrument because its weight display is 1 g. Use a 0.01 g or 0.001 g precision balance for individual-mass measurements. FC-10Ki should be selected when the goal is estimating quantity from the total weight of many reasonably uniform pieces.
Frequently asked questions
What is FC-10Ki weighing readability? 1 g / 0.002 lb. What is the normal minimum unit weight? 0.2 g. What is the fine-mode minimum unit weight? 0.01 g. How can it count a 0.01 g part if it weighs in 1 g divisions? It estimates average piece weight from a larger aggregate sample. What sample sizes are available? 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and random. What does ACAI do? It refines the average unit-weight estimate as more pieces are added. Does one-million-count display guarantee perfect counting of one million pieces? No. Is FC-10Ki appropriate for weighing one 0.01 g piece? No; use a precision balance.
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