
Calibration is one of the primary processes used to maintain the instrument’s level of accuracy. It is in simple terms defined as a comparison between a standard measurement and the measurement that your instrument is using. Ordinarily, the level of accuracy of the standard is supposed to be at least ten times the level of accuracy of the measuring device that is being evaluated. Nevertheless, a 3:1 accuracy ratio is also plausible.
Although the procedure may vary depending on the type of instrument that is being calibrated, it pretty much involves using the device to test sample calibrates. The results of these tests are then used to determine the relationship between the measurement technique that is used by the instrument and the calibrators. The beauty of this process is that it in a way causes the instrument to produce more accurate results that those that would occur ordinarily.
Objectives of Calibration
There are two main objectives that calibration seeks to achieve. It helps check the level of accuracy of the measuring device and determines whether the measurement is traceable. If you were to look at it from a practice perspective, it also encompasses repairing the device if it happens to be out of calibration.
When Does it Become Necessary for you to Calibrate your Measuring Device?
There are certain factors that make it necessary for you to calibrate your measuring device. These include:
- A recommendation by the manufacturer.
- After the device has suffered any mechanical or electronic shock.
- Periodic requirement whether annually, quarterly or monthly.
It is vital for you to remember that non-calibration of your measuring device can end up bringing a whole lot of hidden costs and risks that supersede the cost of calibrating the measuring device in the first place. As such, it is crucial to get your device calibrated regularly by a reputable company so as to ensure that errors associated with measurements are minimal and within a range that is plausible.
Factors that Affect Calibration
There are certain factors that need to be carefully addressed as they would adversely affect the results of calibration both during and after calibration. These factors include:
Using the wrong calibrator values
It is very important to follow all the instructions as closely as you possibly can during the calibration process because any wrong move or even the selection of wrong values may teach the instrument incorrectly and cause a significant production of errors over the entire operating range. Despite the fact that many instruments happen to have software diagnostics that make a point of alerting the operator in case the calibrators are tested in the wrong order, it is quite possible that the instrument may accept one or more calibrators of the wrong value without discovering that there is an operator error.
Calibration formulation tolerance
One of the other things that you need to ensure is that the calibrators being used are formulated to taut tolerance specifications. This is vital because there is a tolerance level that is associated with formulating a calibrator and this tolerance affects the mean value that is obtained when using the calibrator.
Importance of Calibration
It is no secret at all that over time the level of accuracy of our measuring devices tends to degrade due to various reasons including normal wear and tear, electric or mechanical shock or in the event that it comes into contact with a hazardous manufacturing environment for example oils and metal chips.
- Calibration helps make the construction of instruments that have the ability to measure with precision and with fewer margins of error.
- It is ideal when it comes to minimizing the margin of error because it uses scientific methods to determine whether there are any imminent miscalculations while doing something to correct any errors found.
- It helps measure the level of accuracy of measuring devices.
- It helps determine just how traceable the measuring device is.
If you want to ensure that your measuring device produces efficient values every single time, then it is vital for you to ensure that you get it calibrated regularly by a reputable company.