Fluke Calibration Blog
Calibration Equipment & Standards and Calibration Software
Apr 17, 2019
RF and microwave calibration is one of the most complex areas of metrology, with many opportunities for human and measurement errors. Here are the top 5 sources of error:
Mismatch errors. Mismatch errors are one of the most significant contributors to errors and uncertainties in RF and microwave calibration. Mismatch error depends on the source and load match. The quality of the source and load match contributes to the mismatch error. Avoid introducing excessive mismatches by using worn or...
Apr 17, 2019
The best/proper method to clean your infrared calibrator target
The black body paint on the target of your infrared calibrator is very delicate. To remove the dust or debris from the paint, the only thing you can do is use compressed dry air. The dry air must have no oil and no water in the line or hose. Use a filter on an air hose to remove the oil and an air dryer to remove the water. Have the compressed air set to about 100 psi.
Some items like compressed air in a can will contain a...
Apr 17, 2019
What to consider when bringing pressure calibration in house
If you outsource or turn away pressure calibration business, you may be considering adding this capability to your lab. Here are the top three areas of concern when looking to bring pressure calibration in house.
1. Training
Modern pressure standards are more intuitive and many pressure controllers can be automated with software to make calibrations easy and repeatable with modest training.
2. Equipment
There are vast options for...
Apr 16, 2019
How to determine the pressure calibration equipment you need
There are thousands of different pressure measuring devices. How can you decide which instruments to invest in to calibrate them? When you are considering the purchase of pressure calibration equipment, start by taking these two steps:
Compare specifications of the device under test (DUT) and the pressure calibrator. Gauges, transmitters, transducers, and similar pressure measurement devices have specifications that describe...
Apr 16, 2019
If you are calibrating a medium to high accuracy RTD, you will probably use the characterization method of calibration. Characterization is the type of calibration in which the device under test (DUT) resistance is determined at several temperature points and the data are fitted to a mathematical expression.
To calibrate an RTD, perform these steps:
Place the reference probe and the DUTs in the temperature source. Make sure they are all placed as close together as possible, in a radial...
Apr 15, 2019
What knocks a digital instrument “out of calibration?”
Three common causes of calibration problems are:
Component shift. First, the major components of test instruments (for example, voltage references, input dividers, current shunts) can simply shift over time. This shifting is minor and usually harmless if you keep a good calibration schedule; this shifting is typically what calibration finds and corrects.
Drops. Suppose you drop a current clamp — hard. How do you know that clamp will...
Apr 12, 2019
Why Technicians Calibrate at the Bench -
Technicians calibrate at the bench to ensure calibrations are effective and don’t result in degradation of performance. They ensure that all components are in good working order prior to installation, and can evaluate them when component failure is suspected. The bench provides a stable ambient environment for calibration, an opportunity to use the most accurate equipment, and protection from factory conditions during the commissioning, testing,...
Apr 12, 2019
Verify Analog and Digital Process Gauges Regularly -
Both analog and digital process gauges need to be verified to detect errors related to drift, environment, electrical supply, addition of components to the output loop, and other process changes. Pressure gauges may be verified in the field or at the bench.
Field calibration may save time, and allows for troubleshooting in the process environment. Multifunction calibrators make it easier to do this with one tool, and documenting...
Apr 12, 2019
If you calibrate dial gauges, you know it can be challenging to interpret readings on the gauge's display when the pointer is between marks on the gauge face. You can diminish this error source by performing a cardinal point calibration, adjusting the pressure so that the dial gauge pointer is aligned with the cardinal point. The pressure standard now reads a value slightly different than the dial gauge, representing the error in the gauge.
In this example, we explain how to perform a cardinal...
Apr 12, 2019
Complete maintenance of a HART transmitter involves three distinct operations: configuration, calibration, and adjustment. Often configuration tasks can be accomplished only with a communicator, but adjustment and calibration require equipment that can accurately source pressure and measure current. Most communicators do not have the capability to measure or source analog values.
Configuring a HART transmitter consists of communicating with the transmitter and verifying its configuration data...
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