Friday 30 August 2013

The Process & Important Of Calibration

By Carey Bourdier


Many machines and instruments require calibration, and this just means that a calibrator with a known measurement is compared to the measurements of the machine or device that needs calibration. The goal is that the known measurement and the test measurement will match. If they don't match, adjusts are made carefully until the two do match.

The process of calibration has been around since the Industrial Revolution, but obviously these days it is much more precise. Calibration is needed for many different industries. For example, equipment needs to be calibrated in order to ensure that each piece of a product is perfectly crafted and then assembled. This could be any product from a car to a computer to the creation of packaging for food.

Calibration is needed throughout the life of a machine or instrument; obviously, it will need to be calibrated before you use the device the first time. However, most industrial machines require calibration throughout their use, and certification also is required to show that the machines have been calibrated. Any time you adjust the machine for a different job, it needs to be calibrated so that you know the new measurements are precise. Any type of movement also can make a machine fall out of calibration, from a seismic event to just being moved to a new location, and even changes in temperature can be a factor for some pieces of equipment.

Those tasked with calibration tasks use a variety of instruments. These instruments vary depending on the type of calibration that is needed. There are multi-function calibrators that can be used to take several types of measurements, as well as pressure calibrators, block calibrators, black body calibrators, temperature probe calibrators and many more.

In many cases, because calibration is often not needed every day, these calibration services are outsourced to companies that specialize in calibration. The employees are experienced, skilled technicians who not only can take the measurements and comparisons, but also make the adjustments and sometimes repairs that are needed in order to ensure calibration. In addition, these technicians also often are authorized to handle certification of devices and machinery.

These calibrators or experts of calibration are called calibration technicians, and they must attend technical school and then gain five years of calibration experience before they can become Certified Calibration Technicians. Often you will find that the technician has a bachelor's degree in metrology or perhaps mechanical engineering. Metrology is particularly helpful, as it is actually the science of measurement. These technicians spend many months and years understanding measurement and learning to use the variety of devices needed to perform the services. They calibrate all types of devices, including optical equipment, industrial equipment and electrical equipment.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment