Weight Calibration
Weight calibration establishes the unit weight of a publication, enabling fast and accurate weight-based inventory counting.
What is Calibration?
Section titled “What is Calibration?”Calibration measures how much a single copy of a publication weighs. Once calibrated, you can:
- Weigh a stack of publications
- PubCounter calculates the quantity automatically
- Count large quantities in seconds
Calibration Requirements
Section titled “Calibration Requirements”To calibrate a publication, you need:
- A digital scale - Must measure in grams with at least 1g precision
- Sample publications - 3-5 copies of the publication in good condition
- Consistent environment - Avoid humid areas that affect paper weight
How to Calibrate
Section titled “How to Calibrate”-
Select the publication
Navigate to the publication you want to calibrate and open the count page.
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Start calibration
Click the “Calibrate” button. This opens the calibration interface.
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Weigh sample publications
Place 3-5 copies of the publication on your scale. More copies = more accurate calibration.
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Enter the weight and quantity
- Enter the total weight shown on your scale (in grams)
- Enter the exact number of publications you weighed
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Review and save
PubCounter calculates and displays the unit weight. Review it for reasonableness, then click “Save Calibration.”
Calibration Tolerance
Section titled “Calibration Tolerance”Different publication types have different tolerance levels:
| Category | Tolerance | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (books, Bibles) | 5% | Consistent manufacturing |
| Lightweight (tracts, other) | 15% | More variation due to thin paper |
The tolerance accounts for:
- Paper weight variations between print runs
- Humidity absorption
- Minor manufacturing differences
Calibration Expiration
Section titled “Calibration Expiration”Calibrations expire after 6 months. This ensures:
- Accuracy despite environmental changes
- Updated weights for new print runs
- Periodic verification of scale accuracy
When calibration expires:
- The publication shows “Calibration Expired”
- You can still manually count
- Re-calibrate to restore weight-based counting
Best Practices
Section titled “Best Practices”During Calibration
Section titled “During Calibration”- Use multiple copies - Weighing 5 copies is more accurate than 1
- Use consistent publications - Same edition, same condition
- Check your scale - Ensure it’s zeroed before weighing
- Stable surface - Place scale on a flat, non-vibrating surface
Maintaining Accuracy
Section titled “Maintaining Accuracy”- Re-calibrate if counts seem off - Trust your instincts
- Check calibration before inventory day - Don’t discover issues mid-count
- Note scale changes - If you change scales, re-calibrate
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”Calculated counts are consistently high/low
Section titled “Calculated counts are consistently high/low”- Re-calibrate with fresh sample publications
- Check if your scale needs calibration
- Verify you’re weighing the complete publication (including covers)
“Unit weight outside expected range”
Section titled ““Unit weight outside expected range””- Double-check you entered the correct weight and quantity
- Ensure publications aren’t wet or damaged
- Try with different sample copies
Calibration won’t save
Section titled “Calibration won’t save”- Verify internet connection
- Check that weight is a positive number
- Ensure quantity is at least 1
Unit Weight Reference
Section titled “Unit Weight Reference”Here are typical unit weights for common publication types (for reference only—always calibrate your specific stock):
| Type | Typical Weight |
|---|---|
| Standard magazine | 80-120g |
| Brochure | 15-40g |
| Book (standard) | 150-300g |
| Tract | 2-8g |
| Bible (study) | 400-600g |
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”- Start counting inventory with your calibrated publications
- Generate reports after counting