CalibrationWhy Should You Calibrate?In Test and Measurement systems you must be able to make accurate, repeatable measurements. However, if the measurement hardware is not calibrated, then there can be no certainty in the measurements that you make. All of NIs products are calibrated during both the manufacturing process and the repair process. With the increased acceptance of ISO standards, many users now find that they must prove the accuracy of their measurements. During audits they must produce some sort of traceable verification that proves their instruments are measuring correctly and within specification. For military users this has always been the case. However, many commercial users are now faced with this issue. The need to support calibration is a fact that we are all becoming aware of. However, what is it about electronics that forces us to check and adjust their measurements? The answer to this question is drift. Drift in electronic components is a factor of time and environment. That is, as time passes or environmental conditions change, the operation of electronics can be affected. For example, a voltage supply that generates 2.00V at 25 °C may generate 2.01V at 40 °C. In order to compensate for this drift, electronic systems must be adjusted, or calibrated, at set intervals. When an instrument is calibrated, its measurement results are compared to a standard of known accuracy. If the results of the measurement do not fall within the specifications for the instrument, then some adjustment must be made to the instrument's measurement circuitry. In general the act of calibration includes a number of steps:
The concept of Calibration ensures that you, as a user, are confident that any measurements you make meet your specifications.
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