Importance of test equipment calibrationand preventive maintenance of equipment

What is the testequipment calibration? What is preventive maintenance? Why is test equipment calibrationnecessary?

Test equipment calibration is the set of operations that establish, under certain specific conditions, the correspondence between the values ​​in an instrument, equipment or measuring system , or values ​​represented by a material measure or reference material, and corresponding known values ​​of a dimension or pattern , ensuring traceability of measurements to the corresponding basic units and proceeding to its setting or expressing this correspondence by correction tables or curves .

To calibrate an instrument or pattern is necessary to have a higher accuracy to provide the conventional true value that is to be used for comparison with the indication of the instrument under calibration.

Why is it important the test equipment calibration?

Aging of components, temperature changes and mechanical stress gradually deteriorate its functions. When this happens , the tests and measures begin to lose confidence and is reflected in the design and product quality . Such situations can be avoided through the calibration process.

The proper calibration of equipment provides the assurance that the products or services offered meet the required specifications. More and more numerous the reasons leading manufacturers to calibrate their measuring equipment , in order to :

·        Maintain and verify proper operation of the equipment

·        Meeting the requirements of the quality standards

·        Ensuring the traceability and reliability of measures

What is preventive maintenance?

On the other hand , is known as planned preventative maintenance (PPM ) to schedule inspections in performance, safety , adjustment, repair , testing, cleaning, lubrication , calibration, to be carried out periodically on the basis of an established plan and not by an operator.

The fundamental purpose of preventive maintenance is to inspect the whole equipment and detect any possible faults at an early stage , correcting them in a timely manner.

Benefits of Preventive Maintenance

·        Reliability ,instruments operate in better security , since their status is known , and its operating conditions.

·        Decreased downtime, downtime of equipment / machines.

·        Longer life equipment and facilities.

·        Decrease in inventories in stock and therefore their costs , since the parts are adjusted higher and get a lower consumption.

·        Uniformity in workload for maintenance of personnel due to a program of activities.

Why finalizing the calibration and preventive maintenance by a single supplier ?

When within a company is a provider of preventive maintenance and one for calibration and adjustment of equipment and instruments, often they occur incompatibility problems in procedures applied to computers , in addition to the maintenance service guarantees that are lost when the instrument is reviewed by another supplier .

This is one of the most important reasons for both services are given by the same company, since the warranty is still retained , and you have clearly identified the contact who will perform the service , saving search time for two suppliers , thus achieves savings of money, which pay off in higher earnings.

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Electrical test equipmentCalibration

 The Electrical test equipment Calibrationis a factor in any system of quality in the field of electrical sectors , electronic , maintenance or industrial installations. The electrical equipment are measuring instruments that allow the measurement of different electrical parameters and allow various tests and tests for compliance with the quality requirements , regulatory or specific to the Low Voltage Regulation .

When to start the Electrical test equipment calibrations ?

We recommend calibrating the equipment before first use . The easiest way is to apply for accredited calibration the time you purchase a new instrument. Thus, start of the measurement history , which may be required at any time by the customer or quality procedures .

How often to execute them?

The frequency with which companies gauge their instrument is a balance between risk and cost. The shorter the period between Electrical test equipmentcalibrations, the less risk that their actions are questionable . We therefore recommend calibratingyour measuring instruments every year. The equipment used should have a daily calibration cycle shorter than , for example, those used once a month . However, to establish an adequate period between calibrations it should be considered :

Cost:

The cost of measurements necessary for the correction - when you discover that the measuring instrument has not been well for a long period of time.*

Instrument:

·        Measurement uncertainty is required

·        The scope and the intensity of its use

Environmental, transport and handling Terms:

·        Climatic conditions , vibrations, ionizing radiation , etc. .

·        Transport agreements

* Because of the age of the components, temperature changes and mechanical stress , the accuracy of the equipment decreases with time . This is called "drift”, and when it occurs, the measurement results lose reliability. The drift cannot be eliminated , but it can be detected and taken into account during the calibration process .

è  The calibration of electrical equipment represents an investment in the quality of the product and/ service in which they are involved. Instruments such as fluke multimeters, pliers, meters of land, insulation testers, installation testers , network analyzers are instruments ... very present in the world of electrical measurement and good control on the same, will permit ensure desired quality levels .

Normally Electrical test equipment calibration is motivated by the implementation of a quality system so that electrical equipment must be calibrated in a planned and the results should be verified in accordance with a criterion of acceptance / rejection preset. Various electric Laboratories ensure traceability in their measurements and have competitive scope to calibrate electrical equipment.

Product of electrical equipment calibration laboratory calibration issues a certificate of electrical equipment which reproduces the results of experimental measurements together with a calibration sticker that adheres to equipment visible calibration status.

Calibrate electrical equipment is to compare the extent of a reference standard traceable measurement of the measurand.

When calibrating electrical equipment are usually provided levels of reliability and safety in processes where the resulting measurement instrument use occurs.