Instrument Calibration refers to the process of determining the relation between the output (or response) of a measuring instrument and the value of the input quantity or attribute, a measurement standard. In non-specialized use, calibration is often regarded as including the process of adjusting the output or indication on a measurement instrument to agree with value of the applied standard, within a specified accuracy. For example, a thermometer could be calibrated so the error of indication or the correction is determined, and adjusted (e.g. via calibration constants) so that it shows the true temperature in Celsius at specific points on the scale.
In the United States, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a part of the federal government, maintains standards and is considered the arbiter and ultimate (in the U.S.) authority for values of SI units and industrial standards. NIST also provides traceability to its standards by calibration, by which an instrument's accuracy is established by comparing, in an unbroken chain, to higher level standards, e.g. the standards maintained by NIST.
In the United States, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a part of the federal government, maintains standards and is considered the arbiter and ultimate (in the U.S.) authority for values of SI units and industrial standards. NIST also provides traceability to its standards by calibration, by which an instrument's accuracy is established by comparing, in an unbroken chain, to higher level standards, e.g. the standards maintained by NIST.
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Last Updated: Sep 2009
Last Updated: Sep 2009
What is Instrument Calibration?
Instrument calibration service providers calibrate various instruments including many types of process monitoring devices and analytical equipment including, flow instruments such as flow meters and sensors, gauges, totalizers or valve position indicators; pressure and vacuum instruments such as pressure sensors or gauges, meters, transducers or vacuum pumps; force, weight or mass instruments including strain gauges, load cells, scales or torque monitors; temperature instruments including thermocouple, RTD or thermistor type devices; humidity instruments including absolute or relative humidity, moisture content or dew point measuring devices; multimeter or electrical meters, either analog or digital; physical or dimensional instruments such as calipers, and micrometers, fiber optic or lightwave instruments including multiplexers, analyzers, isolators etc; rf or microwave instruments such as transmitters, receivers, antennas etc; generators; power supplies including any AC or DC power supply or conditioners; oscilloscopes or scopes or chart recorders; and signal or function analyzers.
Specific services offered by providers of instrument calibration services include, rapid turnaround, on-site calibration, pick up and delivery, calibration documentation, in-house contract lab services, and online documentation. Rapid turnaround means the supplier offers quick turnaround on instrument calibration services, typically in a few days. A supplier offering on-site calibration has personnel and/or equipment for on-site calibration work, eliminating the added expense of taking the instrument off line and shipping it. The supplier offers pick-up and delivery services to minimize cost and time associated with using in-house personnel. Documentation or test reports show calibration information such as "as found" and "as left" data, next scheduled calibration, etc with calibration documentation. A supplier that offers in-house contract lab services has capabilities and resources for setting up an in-house contract lab for supplier - minimizing any downtime or lag in getting instruments quickly calibrated. Supplier has online documentation system to access history, calibration certifications and recalibration notifications.
Specific services offered by providers of instrument calibration services include, rapid turnaround, on-site calibration, pick up and delivery, calibration documentation, in-house contract lab services, and online documentation. Rapid turnaround means the supplier offers quick turnaround on instrument calibration services, typically in a few days. A supplier offering on-site calibration has personnel and/or equipment for on-site calibration work, eliminating the added expense of taking the instrument off line and shipping it. The supplier offers pick-up and delivery services to minimize cost and time associated with using in-house personnel. Documentation or test reports show calibration information such as "as found" and "as left" data, next scheduled calibration, etc with calibration documentation. A supplier that offers in-house contract lab services has capabilities and resources for setting up an in-house contract lab for supplier - minimizing any downtime or lag in getting instruments quickly calibrated. Supplier has online documentation system to access history, calibration certifications and recalibration notifications.
