Wooden weighing scale (laser cut)

Weighting things is usually interesting and often practical. Since I don't have an electronic scale, I had to guess weights by comparing. So I decided to build a low-tech scale! I came up with this idea, which is an adaptation of old concepts to today's DIY technology.

The laser cutter I usually use is not available for now, so I had to assemble my project virtually, hence the renderings instead of photos. As an open source project, contribution is welcome and perhaps an interested volunteer with a spare plywood board will test physically and validate my design. ;)

The slots of this design are adapted to a 4 mm (almost 3/16'') thick plywood but can be easily adapted to any size and material, using the plans provided.

If you don't have standardized weights, I made plans for them too. Knowing the density of a material, you can calculate (explained in the last step) the volume needed to obtain grams or ounces, and then cut it with the laser.

Step 1: Materials

• 4 mm plywood board (or plastic) : 37 cm x 44 cm (15'' x 18'')
• 3 small nails (for the pivots)
• glue
   

Extra:

• material for the weights (plastic or wood)

Comments

[klawndyke]

That was a fun project... Mine turned out great
Thanks Great work

[woz.artur]

Nice!! I'd be curious to see photos someday. Have a creative year!

[klawndyke]

Here ya go

[Wi11]

That's a cool project, but I imagine laser cutting would make it kind of boring for me. It just seems like a cookie cutter type method for wood. Good job though!

[woz.artur]

Haha, I understand. This project's goal was only to make a wooden design adapted to the laser technology, so tools can be made by anyone with little efforts.

However, it doesn't exclude the inverse and the pieces can be scaled, printed on paper and cut with a band saw!

[Wi11]

http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=not+bad+meme&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1920&bih=1103&tbm=isch&tbnid=Ax1JDSh3Gxx4eM:&imgrefurl=http://weknowmemes.com/2011/09/obama-not-bad-face/&docid=14CyAHGZBxQSDM&imgurl=http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/obama-not-bad-face-288x250.jpg&w=288&h=250&ei=M5OgT-KJIJH4gAeFqJ2fDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=294&vpy=135&dur=51&hovh=200&hovw=230&tx=83&ty=128&sig=110089390517637511155&page=1&tbnh=112&tbnw=129&start=0&ndsp=65&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:70

[lemonie]

It's actually a "pan-balance" as there is no scale, and it works by mass-balance rather than weight (force due to gravity).
Nice piece(s)

L

[scoochmaroo]

This is awesome! You should enter this in the Make it Real Challenge!

[woz.artur]

Thank you! :)
Actually, it already is in the Make it Real Challenge, but for some reason only the Wood Challenge banner appears...

[hasson]

This is pretty cool...

[Samuel Bernier]

Badass Artur. Badass