Course · 4 of 5 lessons available
Gauge calibration and management
Five lessons on keeping shop-floor instruments fit for use: choosing a caliper by its specifications, daily care and the zero check, calibrating calipers and micrometers with gauge blocks, reading a calibration certificate, and running calibration intervals, registers and status labels.
For metrology technicians, gauge custodians, team leaders and inspectors who look after measuring instruments. Take the caliper course first, and the micrometer course before the calibration lesson.
Lessons
Lesson 1
Choosing a caliper
Compare calipers by their specifications and pick one for the job.
You will be able to
- Tell resolution from maximum permissible error.
- Pick a range and jaw length that cover the parts.
- Check a digital caliper’s protection rating and whether a calibration certificate comes with the caliper.
Learn this lesson in the lab → Read the guide: How to choose a caliper
Watch the demonstration · 0:28Practise in the lab
Lesson 2
Daily care and the zero check
Check a caliper before use and store it so it stays accurate.
You will be able to
- Clean the faces and check that the jaw slides smoothly, with no play and no sticking.
- Look for light between the closed jaws and check zero.
- Store and handle the caliper without damaging it.
Learn this lesson in the lab → Read the guide: Caliper care and calibration
Watch the demonstration · 0:44Practise in the lab
Lesson 3 · Coming soon
Calibrating with gauge blocks
Check a caliper or micrometer against gauge blocks at several points.
You will be able to
- Choose check points spread over the range.
- Record the error at each point.
- Compare each error with the maximum permissible error, and know that this pass/fail step is verification, not calibration.
Lesson 4
Reading a calibration certificate
Find the results, their uncertainty and the traceability on a certificate.
You will be able to
- Find the errors or corrections and their uncertainty.
- Check that the certificate covers your instrument, its range and the date.
- Tell a calibration result from a verification decision.
Learn this lesson in the lab → Read the guide: How to read a calibration certificate
Practise in the lab
Lesson 5
Intervals, registers and status labels
Keep every instrument registered, calibrated on time and visibly labelled.
You will be able to
- Record each instrument in a register with its calibration interval.
- Show the ID, the due date and the status on a label.
- Know what to do when a gauge is found out of tolerance.
Learn this lesson in the lab → Read the guide: Gauge management and calibration records
Practise in the lab
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