A&D FX-5000i 5200 g × 0.01 g Precision Balance Guide
- pete8781
- Jul 31
- 4 min read
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The A&D FX-5000i precision balance is a 5200 g × 0.01 g external-calibration top-loader for laboratory, formulation, quality-control and production work that needs more capacity than the 3200 g FX-3000i without giving up hundredth-gram readability. Its legal-for-trade status can be stated directly: FX-5000i is not an NTEP model in A&D’s current U.S. lineup. A&D’s 2025 U.S. laboratory catalog lists the standard FX-5000i in the non-NTEP FX-i table and separately identifies the N-suffix NTEP models; there is no FX-5000iN in the current catalog. The FX Series type certificate does not list FX-5000i either. Use FX-5000i for internal/process weighing, not as the commercial transaction scale.
Exact FX-5000i specifications
Capacity is 5200 g and readability is 0.01 g. MNM and A&D list 0.01 g repeatability, ±0.02 g linearity, approximately one-second stabilization in FAST mode under good conditions, sensitivity drift around ±2 ppm/°C from 10 to 30 °C, and a 150 mm diameter stainless weighing pan. The balance body is roughly 193 × 262.5 × 85.5 mm in current manufacturer literature and weighs about 2.5 kg. Display refresh can be selected among 5, 10 and 20 times per second. Standard communication is RS-232C.
Why FX-5000i is definitively non-NTEP
A&D’s current U.S. catalog makes the model distinction explicit. Standard FX-i models include FX-120i, 200i, 300i, 500i, 1200i, 2000i, 3000i and 5000i. The NTEP section lists only FX-120iN, FX-200iN, FX-300iN, FX-1200iN, FX-2000iN and FX-3000iN. There is no FX-5000iN in the current model matrix. Therefore a buyer who needs a certified legal-for-trade balance should not select FX-5000i and hope that sealing or calibration will make it compliant; choose a model explicitly sold and certified for trade use.
External calibration versus the FZ-5000i
FX-5000i uses external calibration. Its FZ-5000i sibling uses an internal calibration mass and automatic/internal calibration functions. That difference matters operationally. FX is a strong fit when a laboratory already controls suitable calibration weights and follows a documented external calibration/verification schedule. FZ is better when operators benefit from internal adjustment convenience. The weighing capacity and 0.01 g readability may be similar, but the calibration hardware is not interchangeable.
Accepted external calibration masses
MNM lists accepted external calibration values of 5000, 4000, 3000, 2000, 1000 and 500 g. For best practice, use an appropriate known mass near the part of the range most important to the method, with a reference uncertainty small enough for the acceptance tolerance. Level and warm the balance before calibration and verify afterwards with an independent known mass. A completed CAL routine is not the same as a multi-point performance check.
Warm-up and environmental control
A&D’s FX/FZ-i manual recommends at least about 30 minutes of powered warm-up before precision use. Put the balance on a rigid, level surface away from HVAC airflow, vibration and rapid temperature change. A large vessel on a 150 mm pan can act like a sail in a draft, and plastic containers or powders can generate static forces larger than one 0.01 g division. Use appropriate breeze/static controls before blaming calibration.
ACAI counting and percent weighing
ACAI parts counting improves the average unit weight as additional pieces are added. MNM lists a 0.01 g minimum unit mass and sample sizes of 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 pieces. Percent mode uses a reference mass and supports 0.1% display increments; MNM lists 1 g as the minimum 100% reference weight. These functions are useful for parts, formulation and comparative checks, but they do not change the model’s non-NTEP status.
Statistics, comparator and underhook
FX-i supports statistical calculation for repeated QC samples, comparator limits for pass/fail work, animal/dynamic weighing functions, and below-balance underhook weighing. The underhook is useful for suspended density or awkward-load work, but the fixture and hanging hardware become part of the measurement system and must not touch the bench or floor. The FXi-12 animal pan accessory is listed for the 1200/2000/3000 models, not FX-5000i, so do not advertise that specific pan as a 5000i accessory.
RS-232C, USB, Ethernet and battery options
RS-232C is standard. FXi-02 Quick USB, FXi-08 Ethernet and FXi-09 internal rechargeable battery are optional, but A&D states those three internal options cannot be installed together. Plan the workstation before ordering: a fixed networked station may favor Ethernet, a local PC may favor Quick USB, and a mobile cart may favor the battery. Standard RS-232C can remain the base interface for many systems regardless of the internal option chosen.
Where FX-5000i fits best
Strong uses include laboratory sample prep, formulation, quality control, production sampling, parts weighing, batch checks and R&D where loads can approach 5 kg but 0.01 g readability is still useful. Choose FZ-5000i when internal calibration is important. Choose a smaller 0.001 g FX model when finer readability matters more than capacity. Choose a certified NTEP model when the displayed weight directly determines a commercial transaction. Choose a larger platform scale when the load does not fit safely on the 150 mm pan or exceeds 5200 g.
Frequently asked questions
Is FX-5000i NTEP? No. A&D’s current U.S. catalog lists no FX-5000iN and does not identify FX-5000i as an NTEP model. What are capacity and readability? 5200 g × 0.01 g. What are repeatability and linearity? 0.01 g and ±0.02 g. Is calibration internal? No, FX-5000i uses external calibration; FZ-5000i is the internal-calibration sibling. What calibration masses can be used? MNM lists 5000, 4000, 3000, 2000, 1000 and 500 g. Does it have RS-232C? Yes. Does it support underhook weighing? Yes. Can Quick USB, Ethernet and the internal battery be installed together? No. Is FXi-12 animal pan listed for FX-5000i? No, A&D lists that pan for 1200/2000/3000-size models.
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