A&D FC-20Ki ACAI, RS-232, Remote Scale & Calibration Guide

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A&D FC-20Ki ACAI setup is the heart of accurate production counting because the scale must translate a measured sample into a trustworthy average piece weight. A&D specifies 20 kg capacity, 2 g direct readability, 0.4 g minimum unit weight in normal mode and 0.02 g in fine mode. The direct weighing division and counting minimum are different specifications and should never be treated as interchangeable.

How ACAI improves a count

ACAI means Automatic Counting Accuracy Improvement. The operator begins with a known sample. The scale calculates an initial average piece weight, then improves that average as more pieces are added under suitable conditions. This reduces the effect of a small initial sample and normal manufacturing variation. It does not correct mixed parts or extreme piece-to-piece mass differences, so the best results still start with representative parts and a stable sample.

Normal mode versus fine mode

For FC-20Ki, A&D’s current specification gives 0.4 g minimum unit weight in normal mode and 0.02 g in fine mode. Fine mode can evaluate much lighter unit weights than the 2 g direct display increment because the internal counting system uses higher internal resolution than the normal weight display. That capability is useful for small hardware, but real-world accuracy still depends on sample size, repeatability, vibration, drafts, container motion and how consistent the parts are.

RS-232C and interface options

One RS-232C channel is standard. FC-03i adds two more RS-232C channels. FC-04i adds one RS-232C channel and comparator relay output. A&D states FC-03i and FC-04i cannot be installed together. This matters when planning a workstation that must simultaneously feed a PC, printer and automation input. Decide the data destinations first, then choose the option board; otherwise the station can end up with incompatible hardware choices.

Remote scale and two-scale counting

FC-05i is the remote-scale interface. A two-scale workflow can be powerful when one platform is used to establish accurate sample weight and another carries large bulk containers. The remote platform must be selected and calibrated for its own capacity and resolution. If the remote platform has coarse divisions, that becomes part of the counting uncertainty for bulk work even though the FC-20Ki controller can store precise unit weights.

Calibration and verification

MNM lists 20 kg as the model’s calibration weight. Before calibration, place the scale on a rigid level surface, remove material from the pan, allow the instrument to settle at room conditions, and make sure no cable or container is touching the platform. After calibration, verify at several points rather than only at full capacity. Then perform a counting verification with a known physical quantity. A useful maintenance log records date, test weights, observed error, operator and any corrective action.

Battery and portable use

The FC-02i Ni-MH battery pack is optional. A&D lists about ten hours of typical operation and about fifteen hours of charging for the FC pack. Portable use is convenient for aisle cycle counts and receiving, but a mobile counting station should still have a rigid cart, a repeatable leveling procedure and protection from vibration while the reading is stabilizing.

Product page: A&D FC-20Ki at MNM Scales