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This guide details information related to making sure a scale/scanner combo or a standalone scale is compatible with the POS system.

Communication Parameters

The standard default for communication with serial devices is 9600-8-N-1. This is what we happen to support asweel.

Baudrate: 9600. Baudrate means speed.

Databits: 8

Parity: N (none)

Stopbits: 1

Physical Connections

RS232 - RS232 is a standard serial connection.  It comes in 9 d-sub nine pin configuration (male and female connectors) and connects directly from the POS to the scale, almost always without the need for drivers.

USB - USB is a standard male-to-male connector cable that requires driver installation to connect the scale to the POS because it needs to create a virtual connection. The drivers can be obtained and installed from the manufacturers website.

Operating Modes

Stable Mode - Stable mode works when an object is placed on the scale and the scale "settles" and then sends the weight to the POS system without any further interaction from a user. Most if not all scales support this mode.

Get Weight Mode - Get weight Mode works by placing an object on the scale and the user pressing a button on the POS to tell the scale to send the weight info back to the POS. This is done using the Request Displayed Weight command (SHIFT key + w key + Enter key). This is a standard followed by many scale manufacturers but not all scales support this mode instead they use Stable Mode.

Setup

Setup is usually done on the display accessory which has physical buttons, but it can also be done through software directly on the computer.

Combinations

Single

In a single configuration the scale might come with it's own external display which will be show weight values and can be used for configuration and it will have it's own serial connection.

Dual

Although there are many standalone scales, there are some scale/scanner combinations. These contain both a scale and a 3d scanner in one device, but they use separate connections (the scanner will use a USB connection and the scale will use a RS232). Here setup is usually done through scanning preconfigured barcodes. It may also come with it's own display as in a single configuration.

More detailed information is available in the attached scalestandards document.