Product category:
Loadcells, Force Sensors and Torque Sensors
News Release from: Applied Measurements
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 19 January 2001
Wider than ever Force Calibration
capabilities
To meet the growing requirement for a fully traceable, yet cost effective calibration service, specialist transducer company Applied Measurements have increased the scope of their offering
Force and load measuring equipment plays an important role across a broad spectrum of industries Manufacturing companies are having increasing demands placed upon them from end customers to provide traceability for their processes and this can involve applications as diverse as the integrity testing of cable connectors, through to the monitoring of large presses or rollers
In parallel with this are the increasing demands to improve overall profitability and competitiveness.
In other areas, safety requirements for equipment such a cranes, lifting gear and towing assemblies dictate that regular calibration is carried out to verify system integrity.
Most force and load measuring apparatus and equipment is based on strain gauge load cells.
These may be part of special test rigs in QA departments or integrated into standard equipment.
Whatever the application, regular certification of such key components is usually part of a company's overall quality audit.
The specific certification requirements for a particular application can depend on a number of factors.
However, pivotal to any calibration certification is ensuring suitable traceability to recognised standards.
For many practical applications the levels of precision maintained by UKAS (UK Accreditation Services) laboratories are above normal working requirements.
(UKAS has now taken the place of NAMAS).
This precision carries an unnecessarily high price tag and, in addition, the longer turnaround times can result in unacceptable equipment downtime.
To meet the growing requirement for a fully traceable, yet cost effective calibration service, specialist transducer company Applied Measurements have increased the scope of their comprehensive calibration service.
Their range of calibration test equipment now offers the capability to provide measuring ranges from 0-1 kg (0-10N) up to 0-120 tonnes (0-1.2MN).
This is based around a 0-500 kg deadweight machine and reference standards of 0-1, 0-10 and 0-120 tonne capacity.
The tests carried out at Applied Measurements are done in strict accordance with ISO 376 and equipment is directly traceable back to UKAS accredited laboratories.
Both increasing and decreasing load tests can be carried out with up to10 measurement points in each direction.( ISO 376 came into force in 1999 and has largely taken the place of BS EN ISO 10002-3 and the older BS1610-2.
Increasing and decreasing load testing is mandatory in BS EN ISO 10002-3 whereas in ISO 376 decreasing load testing need only be carried out if practical or requested.) The key to Applied Measurements' success is in their flexibility and ability to provide swift turnaround times.
As MD Peter Lewis points out: "We pride ourselves in being able to handle a diverse range of transducers.
We have calibrated load cells for applications as diverse as aircraft weighing kits, military lifting gear and tension links for marine and off shore industries.
We even calibrate rigging links for ocean going yachts.
Where necessary we can provide Lloyds Witnessed Tests.
Our normal turnaround time is 10 days but if required this can be decreased to three days where possible.
As an added bonus for customers, our extensive experience in transducers design and manufacture means that if, during calibration, load cells are found to need remedial work, this can be carried out swiftly and effectively in house". Request free introductory details about products from Applied Measurements ...
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