Proficiency Tests
Angle Measurement # 1
The Angle Measurement 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate dimensional angle standards and perform angular measurements on dimensional artifacts. The artifacts consist of shop grade angle blocks of various values , with a measurement uncertainty of 1.9 arc minutes.
Caliper # 1
The caliper # 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate calipers. The artifacts consist of a six-inch analog dial caliper with 0.001-inch resolution and an 8-inch digital caliper with 0.0001-inch resolution.
Capacitance # 1
This program is intended to validate the calibration laboratory's ability to measure capacitance quantities in the low to mid frequency range. The artifacts are two Boonton CS series standard capacitors. One standard capacitor has a nominal value of 100 pF and the other standard capacitor has a nominal value of 300 pF.
Capacitance # 2
The Capacitance 2 test is intended to verify the best measurement capability of the participating laboratory for the parameter of capacitance measuring equipment calibration. The artifact is a commercially available Agilent 4263B LCR meter.
DC Current # 1
The DC Current 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate devices that source and measure industrial loop current (4 to 20 mA). The artifact is a commercially available industrial current loop calibrator.
DC Voltage # 1
This program has been developed to verify the best measurement capability of the participating laboratory for the parameter of DC Voltage. The participant receives their measurement results in several forms in order to evaluate their measurement capability and identify any possible improvements to their measurement system. The artifact is a commercially available Zener reference standard. The artifact has a high and low output for the 10 volt reference and a high and low output for the 1.018 volt reference. The artifact is a Fluke 7001 Zener Reference Standard, s/n 40430.
DC Voltage # 2
The DC Voltage 2 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate devices that measure voltage (0 – 10 V) at an industrial level of accuracy. The artifact is a commercially available industrial voltage calibrator.
Digital Multi Meter # 1
The DMM #1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to source DC Voltage, Resistance, AC Voltage, DC Current, and AC Current. The artifact is a Keithley 2002 digital multimeter, with 81/2 digit resolution, and uncertainty in the parts per million range.
Electrolytic Conductivity # 1
This proficiency test has been developed to verify the measurement capability of the participating laboratory for the parameter of Electrolytic Conductivity measurement and/or dissemination. The artifacts are an YSI 3200 Conductivity Meter with a Thorton 240-214 Conductivity Cell, and a Yokogawa SC72 Conductivity Meter and Cell. The costs for this test have been sponsored by Abbott Laboratories.
Force #1
Force #1 has been developed to verify the best measurement capability of the participating laboratory for the parameter of force calibration (tension). The artifact is an Imada DPS-110R digital force gage, with 0.1-lbf resolution. The artifact has been characterized with class F weights with an accredited calibration. The artifact is characterized before and after each customer to verify artifact stability
Frequency # 1
The Frequency # 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to measure and disseminate frequency. The artifact is an Electronic Research Company model 130 rubidium oscillator. The approximate artifact expanded uncertainty of the proficiency test is 1 x 10-11.
Hardness # 1
The Hardness # 1 test is intended to validate the calibration or test laboratory’s ability to measure metallic hardness on the Rockwell C Scale. The laboratory can also evaluate the effectiveness of the calibration/verification of the Rockwell Hardness tester. The artifacts consist of three Hardness Test Blocks, which cover the High, Mid, and Low range of the Rockwell C Scale.
Hardness # 2
The Hardness # 2 test is intended to validate the calibration or test laboratory’s ability to measure metallic hardness on the Rockwell B Scale. The laboratory can also evaluate the effectiveness of the calibration/verification of the Rockwell Hardness tester. The artifacts consist of three Hardness Test Blocks, which cover the High, Mid, and Low range of the Rockwell B Scale.
Humidity # 1
The Humidity # 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate humidity indicating devices. The artifact is a Veriteq Spectrum Model 2000 Temperature and Humidity Logger.
Inductance # 1
This program is intended to validate the calibration laboratory's ability to measure inductance quantities in the low frequency range. The artifacts are two Genrad 1482 series standard inductors. One standard inductor has a nominal value of 5 H and the other standard inductor has a nominal value of 50 mH.
Micrometer # 1
The Micrometer # 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate outside micrometers. The artifacts consist of three 0 to 1 inch outside micrometers. One micrometer has 0.001” resolution, one micrometer has 0.0001” resolution, and one micrometer is digital with 0.00005” resolution.
Optical Comparator # 1
The Optical Comparator 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate optical comparators. The proficiency test consists of linearity calibration in the X and Y axis of the optical comparator. The artifact is a Starrett HB 400 with Quadracheck 2000, located at our proficiency test headquarters in Columbia City, Indiana. Participants will be required to travel to Columbia City Indiana to participate in this proficiency test, bringing their optical comparator calibration equipment and procedures.
Oscilloscope # 1
The Oscilloscope 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate oscilloscopes and 3 ½ digit multimeters. The artifact is a Tektronix THS730A digital oscilloscope.
Pressure # 1
The Pressure # 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to measure mid range pressure of 0 to 1000 psig for pneumatic measurements. The artifact is a Mensor 2101 precision digital pressure gage. The Mensor 2101 has had a reference value established by the Mensor Corporation with A2LA accredited uncertainties as low as 15 ppm. The Mensor Corporation also serves as a pivot laboratory by measuring the artifact before and after each customer measurement in order to verify artifact stability.
Pressure # 2
The Pressure # 2 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to measure low range pressure of 0 to 15 inches of water1 for pneumatic measurements. The artifact is a Mensor 2101 precision digital pressure gage.
Pressure # 3
The Pressure 3 test is intended to validate an industrial level calibration laboratory’s ability to measure mid range pressure of 0 to 900 psig with a hydraulic pressure medium. The artifact is an Ashcroft model 2804 digital pressure gage.
Resistance # 1
The Resistance # 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to measure resistance. The artifacts used in this program include a Fluke 742A-100, 100 ohm standard resistor and a Fluke 742A-19k, 19 kohm standard resistor.
Resistance # 2
This program has been developed to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to measure resistance. This test has been designed for industrial and process instrument calibration laboratories. The artifact is a commercially available test instrument, an Electronically Controlled Resistance Box, IET Model OS-270.
Scale # 1
The Scale 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate analytical balances. The artifact is an OHAUS Analytical Plus Balance with 200 gram capacity and 10 microgram resolution. The test is performed in our facility in Columbia City, IN.
Scale # 2
The Scale 2 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate commercial scales. The artifact is a Pelouze 4040 with 400 pound capacity and 0.1 pound resolution. The test is performed in our facility in Columbia City, IN.
Steel Rule # 1
The Steel Rule 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate rulers and length scales. The artifact is a commercially available Mitutoyo 182-126 Steel Rule with a 0.01 inch resolution.
Stopwatch # 1
The Stopwatch 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate Stopwatches and Industrial Timers. The approximate artifact expanded uncertainty3 of the proficiency test is 0.13 seconds per day (1.5 ppm per 24 hours).
Surface Plate # 1
The Surface Plate 1 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate Surface Plates. The artifact is a 2 by 3 foot Rahn Granite Surface Plate with a reference value uncertainty of 40 microinches for flatness and 12 microinches for repeatability. The test is performed in our facility in Columbia City, IN.
Surface Roughness # 1
The Surface Roughness 1 test has been developed to verify the best measurement capability of the participating laboratory for the parameter of Average Surface Roughness (Ra). This proficiency test is suitable for both calibration laboratories that perform calibration of surface roughness analyzers and testing laboratories that perform surface roughness measurements.
Tachometer # 1
Tachometer 1 has been developed to verify the laboratory’s ability to calibrate both contact and/or non-contact tachometers. The artifact is a Shimpo model DT-207L Tachometer, with an approximate uncertainty of 1 RPM.
Temperature # 1
This program is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to measure temperature quantities from –20 to 200 degrees Celsius. The artifact is a Hart Scientific 5614 Secondary PRT thermometer.
Temperature # 2
The Temperature # 2 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate temperature controllers. The artifact is a digital temperature controller with a type J thermocouple input.
Temperature # 3
The Temperature # 3 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate temperature indicating devices with a non-accessible temperature probe from –20 to 70 degrees Celsius. The artifact is a Veriteq Spectrum Model 2000 Temperature and Humidity Logger. The participating laboratory will require a chamber of at least 27 cubic inch capacity in order to participate in the proficiency test.
Temperature # 4
The Temperature 4 test is intended to validate the calibration laboratory’s ability to calibrate devices that source and measure electrically simulated thermocouple temperature. The artifact is a commercially available Thermocouple Calibrator with type J and K inputs.
Thread Ring Gage # 1
This Interlaboratory Comparison is an initial study to determine whether calibration laboratory technicians can correctly identify which thread gage that a thread ring gage has been set with. Customers who select this service can validate their ability to set thread ring gages in a manner that is consistent with other calibration service providers. The artifacts are a thread ring gage M10-1.5 6g GO, and three M10-1.5 6g set plug gages. All three gages were specifically manufactured to be within tolerance, but have significant pitch diameters. All gages were manufactured by Atlas Thread Gage Inc.
Torque # 1
The torque #1 test is intended to validate the calibration or test laboratory’s ability to calibrate torque tools. The artifacts consist of three torque wrenches, all manufactured by Sturtevant Richmont. The low range wrench covers 0 – 300 inch pounds and is a dial type wrench. The mid range wrench covers 0 – 900 inch pounds and is a digital wrench. The high range wrench covers 0 – 1200 inch pounds and is a “click” type wrench. All wrenches are 3/8 inch drive.
Torque # 2
The Torque 2 test is intended to validate the calibration or test laboratory’s ability to calibrate torque tools. The artifacts consist of two torque wrenches, manufactured by CDI. Once wrench is a micrometer (click type) adjustable wrench, and the other is a digital electronic wrench. Both wrenches are 1/2” drive and have a 250 ft lbf capacity.