Fluke Calibration Blog
Calibration Equipment & Standards and Calibration Software
Oct 30, 2018
Thermocouples are common in industry because they are inexpensive and cover a wide temperature range. They should be tested during commissioning and again when removed from a process to verity that the tolerances were met. You’ll also want to test thermocouples at regular calibration intervals and if you suspect them of failing to meet performance specifications.
Because of their unique characteristics it’s best to calibrate thermocouples in situ (in place) by comparison to a temperature...
Oct 22, 2018
To establish pressures using a deadweight tester (DWT) or piston gauge, you meed to account for the acceleration of gravity where the instrument is operated. Gravity varies around the world. With a range of approximately 0.5 %, the local gravity correction is typically the largest environmental influence acting on the deadweight tester.
The most accurate method to determine the acceleration of gravity at the site where the deadweight tester will be used is to perform a site survey. Various...
Sep 05, 2018
From a high level view, all pressure calibration systems perform these actions:
Generate and control a pressure.
Measure the pressure.
Observe and record the output of the device under test (DUT).
In a traditional pressure calibration system, one device performs more than one of these functions. In a modular system, each function is performed by a separate module.
Why might you prefer a modular solution?
You have a wide workload to calibrate. Pressure calibrators come in a variety of...
Sep 05, 2018
For nearly 30 years, Fluke MET/CAL® Calibration Management Software has played a significant role in automating the calibration process. Our asset management databases, MET/TRACK® (now discontinued) and the newer MET/TEAM® software help customers maintain, manage and report calibration and repair history and other asset data. All of that puts us in a unique position to propose the creation of a standard format for recording and sharing calibration data and building calibration software...
Sep 04, 2018
Pressure calibration involves applying the same pressure to a reference device (standard), and the device you wish to calibrate (device under test or DUT). The pressure is transmitted to the two devices across some medium, perhaps nitrogen gas or oil. This seems simple enough, but what happens if the two devices don’t operate in the same medium, or if contamination is transferred through the medium? This can cause problems such as damaged devices, bad calibrations, and contaminated...
Aug 27, 2018
A pressure comparator is a convenient instrument for bench pressure calibration. You would perform a bench calibration to maintain reference conditions and to get the lowest possible uncertainties. The bench is also a convenient place to inspect, adjust, and repair the devices under test.
To perform a test on a pressure gauge using a pressure comparator and a reference gauge, follow these steps:
Mount the pressure gauge in the same orientation (vertical or horizontal) as it is...
Jul 24, 2018
Here’s how to do a simple comparison calibration of a probe-style RTD at one temperature point using temperature sensor calibration equipment, a dry-block calibrator in this case. Fully insert the probe RTD into one of the dry-block insert holes and connect the cable to an RTD temperature readout. Ramp the dry block to 100 ºC (212 ºF). When the dry-block display shows a stable 100 ºC, record the value of the RTD temperature readout. You now have one data point to compare...
Jul 24, 2018
Dry-block calibrators are stable temperature sources for calibrating sensors such as dial thermometers, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) and thermocouples.These sensors are used for process manufacturing in many industries.They need to be checked or calibrated periodically. Watch the How to Calibrate a Digital Thermometer with a Dry Block video for an example.
Since dry blocks are portable, fast, and clean (do not use fluids), they are popular for on-site sensor...
Mar 26, 2018
A multi-product electrical calibrator is designed to calibrate multifunction products like handheld digital multimeters, clamp meters, thermocouples and RTDs, and more. They may also offer options to calibrate additional workload items like oscilloscopes or power quality analyzers. Some can be automated with software to increase throughput and reduce errors.
To ensure that digital multimeters and other products continue to test and measure properly and within specification, regular...
Mar 20, 2018
If you’re in the market for an isothermal bath (temperature calibration bath), you may have already noticed that many suppliers provide technical specifications that are confusing or incomplete. You might only be able to find a performance spec for a single temperature point, not for the bath’s whole temperature range. Or they don’t say which bath fluid was used in testing.
An isothermal calibration bath is a significant investment so you need to get enough information – and the right...
