A&D FX-3000i 3200 g × 0.01 g Precision Balance Guide
- pete8781
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
Need more details or help choosing the correct item? Call MNM Scales at (832) 290-3120 or email mnmscales@yahoo.com.
The A&D FX-3000i precision balance is a 3200 g × 0.01 g external-calibration top-loader built around A&D's Compact Super Hybrid Sensor. It is designed for fast laboratory and production weighing, formulation, QC samples, parts, percent weighing, counting and statistical work. The exact trade-status story requires more than a generic yes/no: MNM explicitly sells the FX-3000i SKU on this product page as non-NTEP and directs legal-for-trade buyers to FX-3000iN. At the type-evaluation level, however, NTEP CoC 08-045A2 lists both FX-3000i and FX-3000iN at 3200 g with e=0.1 g and d=0.01 g and states that the N/WPN suffixes are marketing identifiers with no metrological significance. For purchasing, the practical rule is to buy the configuration that MNM/A&D sells, marks and seals for trade use—FX-3000iN—not to assume an ordinary FX-3000i stock unit is transaction-ready merely because the base model appears on the type certificate.
Core FX-3000i specifications
Capacity is 3200 g and readability is 0.01 g. A&D lists 0.01 g repeatability, ±0.02 g linearity, approximately one-second stabilization when set to FAST in a good environment, sensitivity drift of about ±2 ppm/°C from 10 to 30 °C, a 150 mm diameter stainless pan and a compact body about 193 × 262.5 × 85.5 mm. Standard FX-i net weight is about 2.5 kg. The current manufacturer table gives a typical USP Chapter 41 minimum weight of 14 g for the 0.01 g FX/FZ models; that is manufacturer performance information, not a substitute for a laboratory's own SOP, uncertainty study or validation.
MNM FX-3000i versus FX-3000iN: the exact legal-for-trade answer
MNM's product description states plainly: the FX-3000i sold on this page is non-NTEP, and the NTEP model is FX-3000iN. A&D's current U.S. product matrix follows the same commercial convention by listing FX-3000i as the standard external-calibration model and FX-3000iN as the NTEP product. Therefore a buyer who needs legal-for-trade use from MNM should order FX-3000iN or another explicitly sold LFT configuration. The ordinary FX-3000i listing should be treated as a process/laboratory purchase, even though the underlying type certificate history includes the unsuffixed designation.
Why NTEP CoC 08-045A2 appears to include both names
CoC 08-045A2 is a Class II certificate for the FX Series. Its model table lists FX-3000i and FX-3000iN at 3200 g, nmax 32,000, e=0.1 g, d=0.01 g and 150 mm pan diameter. The certificate further explains that suffixes N and WPN were added as marketing identifiers and have no metrological significance. It also specifies sealing that prevents access to calibration and states that the counting feature is not legal for trade. In other words, type eligibility, sold configuration, markings, sealing and permitted functions all matter. A certificate entry alone does not mean every retail box with a similar model label is ready to be used for commercial transactions.
External calibration: FX versus FZ
FX-3000i uses external calibration. FZ-3000i is the internal-calibration sibling on the same 3200 g × 0.01 g platform. This difference matters more than the letter change suggests. FX is attractive when a lab already owns appropriate calibration weights and follows a scheduled external calibration/verification process. FZ is better when operators benefit from an internal calibration mass and more convenient routine adjustment. Do not tell an FX-3000i owner to run an FZ internal-cal procedure—the hardware is different.
Calibration masses and a practical verification routine
A&D documentation for the 3200 g FX model uses 3000 g as the primary external calibration mass and also documents lower accepted values such as 2000 g and 1000 g in the FX-i manual. For best span calibration, use the recommended mass closest to the working capacity that your procedure supports, allow the balance to warm and acclimate, level it, remove drafts and vibration, and use a suitable certified or traceable weight when required. After calibration, verify at one or more independent points—especially near the weights your process actually uses. Calibration changes the balance; verification measures whether it is performing acceptably.
Environment matters at 0.01 g readability
A 0.01 g balance can respond to bench vibration, HVAC airflow, static electricity, temperature gradients and unstable containers. Place FX-3000i on a rigid, level surface away from doors and fans. Let cold or hot samples approach room conditions when the procedure allows. Use a breeze break when drafts cause instability and an ionizer/static eliminator when plastics, powders or dry environments create electrostatic forces. A faster response setting is not always the best response setting; A&D provides adjustable response characteristics so the operator can trade speed for stability in difficult environments.
RS-232C is standard; USB, Ethernet and battery are options
FX-3000i includes RS-232C as the standard data interface. A&D offers FXi-02 Quick USB, FXi-08 Ethernet and FXi-09 rechargeable battery options, plus external adapters and converters in the broader accessory ecosystem. A critical configuration detail from A&D is that FXi-02, FXi-08 and FXi-09 are mutually exclusive internal options; do not plan a purchase assuming all three can be installed at once. Choose the interface architecture before ordering when automated data collection is part of the project.
Counting, percent, statistics and comparator functions
ACAI counting improves the calculated average piece weight as more pieces are added, helping reduce error from small sample sets. A&D lists 0.01 g minimum unit mass for counting on the 0.01 g models with selectable sample sizes of 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 pieces. Percent mode supports formulation and deviation checks, while the statistical calculation function can summarize repeated measurements. Comparator output supports pass/fail style decisions. These are process functions; on a legal-for-trade configuration, follow the certificate's function restrictions—especially the explicit statement that counting is not legal for trade.
Underhook and animal-weighing accessories
FX-3000i supports underhook weighing for suspended-density or special geometry applications, and A&D lists the FXi-12 animal weighing pan for the 1200/2000/3000-size models. Underhook work changes the mechanical setup and may expose the balance to drafts or pendulum motion, so verify performance in the actual configuration. For animal or moving-load applications, use the dedicated weighing mode and appropriate pan rather than trying to read a rapidly changing raw display.
Troubleshooting unstable readings, drift and communication problems
If readings wander, check level, pan contact, drafts, vibration, static and temperature before recalibrating. If a known weight is consistently high or low, verify with another weight and then run external calibration if justified. If results are slow but stable, review the response filter rather than assuming sensor failure. If RS-232 data does not reach a PC, confirm baud/parity/data settings, cable pinout and whether the host expects continuous, command or print-key output. USB/Ethernet option problems should be isolated from weighing problems so an interface configuration issue does not trigger unnecessary balance adjustment.
Who should buy FX-3000i?
Strong matches include laboratories needing 3.2 kg capacity with 0.01 g readability, formulation rooms, QC sampling, manufacturing work cells, small-parts operations, batch verification, education and R&D. Choose FX-3000iN instead when the actual purchased unit must be sold/configured as NTEP legal for trade. Choose FZ-3000i when internal calibration is operationally important. Choose FX-5000i when 3.2 kg capacity is insufficient, and choose a 0.001 g model when the process genuinely needs ten-times finer displayed resolution.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MNM FX-3000i listing NTEP? MNM sells this SKU as non-NTEP and directs LFT buyers to FX-3000iN. Does the NTEP certificate list FX-3000i anyway? Yes. CoC 08-045A2 lists both names and says the N suffix has no metrological significance; commercial configuration, markings and sealing still matter. What is the NTEP interval for the type? e=0.1 g with d=0.01 g at 3200 g capacity. Is counting legal for trade? The certificate says the counting feature is not legal for trade. Is calibration internal? No, FX-3000i is external calibration; FZ-3000i is internal calibration. What is repeatability/linearity? 0.01 g repeatability and ±0.02 g linearity. Does it have RS-232C? Yes, standard. Can USB, Ethernet and the internal battery all be installed together? No; the FXi-02, FXi-08 and FXi-09 internal options are mutually exclusive.
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