Friday 8 May 2015

Facts About Calibration

By Carey Bourdier


Calibration is a highly important process for many industries. Calibration ensures that machinery is as perfectly in order as possible, which means that products will be made to exacting standards. While this might not seem important, imagine the construction of a vehicle or a piece of important medical equipment if it isn't built to specification. Imperfections can result in injuries or even death, so calibration services are crucial for all types of production.

Calibration has been important since the Industrial Revolution, which began in the 18th Century, but the actual word did not appear until the 1860s when it was used in conjunction with weaponry during the Civil War. We have all, no doubt, heard the word caliber used describe the diameter of a gun barrel or another type of firearm. At any rate, calibration had its beginnings many years before there was even a word to describe the process itself.

Calibration services will be needed for a variety of reasons. When a new instrument has been built, calibration is necessary to ensure that it is functioning properly. Also, after an instrument has been either altered or repaired, it will need to be recalibrated. Usually after a set period of time has passed or a piece of equipment has been used a set number of hours, it is important to have it calibrated.

Occasionally, a piece of equipment must be modified because a new customer has different specifications from what was already in place, and calibration is needed to make sure that the changes are accurate. Even a natural occurrence, such as an earthquake, can cause changes in an instrument or piece of machinery which will require recalibration services.

The people that provide these calibration services are known as calibration engineers, and some companies have these individuals on their payroll, and other companies or government agencies will outsource this work. If you wish to become a calibration engineer, be prepared to earn a four-year or even a master's degree in college in a subject such as physics, chemistry or mathematics. Your coursework will vary from algebra to trigonometry to metrology.

In addition, calibration engineers must learn how to collect data and use a variety of tools. Some engineers will use electronic items such as an oscilloscope, and others will need to use software designed for calibration. Other helpful information will be garnered from calipers, temperature gauges and other types of gauges.




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