1. Line weight (also referred to as pipe weight), is the weight of line set before anything is hung from it. This includes the weight of the batten, wire rope, trim chain, and possibly other components that factor into the weight of batten when nothing is suspended on it.
The practical use for line weight is as a reference point. When all items are struck from a counterweight set, the set is to be balanced for "pipe weight" or "line weight" which for facility users is effectively the lowest amount of weight they will ever need on a given counterweight set. The only reason to remove the other weights from the arbor that maintain balance when at line weight is when competent persons are performing maintenance on the rigging systems, but often those same weights will remain in the arbor from the day the systems are installed to the day they are removed or replaced.
Often, counterweights representing line weight will be painted to ensure they are not accidentally removed during a strike.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia.
2. May also refer to the thickness and/or darkness of various components of a drawing. A Light Plot for example, should have at least three distinct line weights (from heaviest to lightest): the drawing border, lighting symbols, dimension lines.
The practical use for line weight is as a reference point. When all items are struck from a counterweight set, the set is to be balanced for "pipe weight" or "line weight" which for facility users is effectively the lowest amount of weight they will ever need on a given counterweight set. The only reason to remove the other weights from the arbor that maintain balance when at line weight is when competent persons are performing maintenance on the rigging systems, but often those same weights will remain in the arbor from the day the systems are installed to the day they are removed or replaced.
Often, counterweights representing line weight will be painted to ensure they are not accidentally removed during a strike.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia.
2. May also refer to the thickness and/or darkness of various components of a drawing. A Light Plot for example, should have at least three distinct line weights (from heaviest to lightest): the drawing border, lighting symbols, dimension lines.