Measurement devices of all kinds are used in countless industries. Be that measuring the parts produced on a production line for consistency, the temperature in a pipe, the strength of an electrical charge of the internal specifications of a jet engine. Every one of these tasks requires a specialist piece of equipment designed for measuring that specific application.
How do we know that we can trust the measurement taken?
There are many factors that can have a detrimental effect on the accuracy of a piece of test equipment. Mis-handling, bumps and knocks, and even a build-up of dirt can all reduce the effectiveness of the testing apparatus.
To ensure that testing equipment stays within an acceptable range of accuracy, measurement standards are used.
A measurement standard is the point of reference to which the testing equipment refers. A measuring device will measure the part in question and then compare this to the standard. Without the measurement standard as a reference point, the likelihood of incorrect results greatly increases.
Measurement Standards and Calibration
Whenever a new piece of measurement equipment is manufactured it must first be calibrated to the required standard before it is used. The manufacturer will also set the acceptable degree of tolerance that is permitted when a measurement is taken. As a result, all new measurement equipment should provide highly accurate results.
There is a vast array of measurement equipment available for a multitude of tasks. Some devices may be small, simple, hand-held units whereas certain pieces of precision measurement equipment can be huge to accommodate the parts they are required to measure. Each measurement device will have its standards and tolerances. Many manufacturers will suggest or provide a schedule for serving and calibration.
The frequency of the re-calibration will vary from device to device. However, the basic principle is always the same. The piece of measurement equipment will be checked and re-aligned to the original measurement standard.
Servicing and calibration are vital to main the accuracy of the readings measurement equipment produce. Degradation in performance is inevitable over time, and incorrect readings can have serious effects on production line efficiency or safety.
The product manufacturer should provide guidance regards the optimum intervals for calibration. As a general rule, an annual check is advised although devices required to have a high degree of accuracy may require more regular calibration.
Eley Metrology provides serving and calibration for a range of products including digital height gauges and granite surface tables. A comprehensive service is followed up with a UKAS Certificate of Calibration. For more details please contact our team who will be happy to discuss your requirements.