Investigating Cost-Effective Calibration Methods for Handheld Measurement Devices: A Study on Vernier & Digital Calipers and Micrometers
Lamichhane, Sunil (2024)
Lamichhane, Sunil
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024060420794
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024060420794
Tiivistelmä
To measure physical quantity, the instrument being used should be reliable. Reliability of the instrument is achieved by calibration. Calibration of the instruments may cost a huge amount of financial burden in small and medium companies. This thesis therefore aimed to investigate economical ways to calibrate precision measurement tools such as micrometers, vernier calipers, and digital calipers, in compliance with ISO.
In this study, ISO 3611:2023, ISO 13385-1:2019, ISO/IEC GUIDE 98-3:2008(E), ISO 14978:2019, ISO 14253-5, NPL Good Practice Guides, Mitutoyo Guides and some other online contents were utilized for research methodologies. This research was quantitative. Therefore, a hands-on lab experiment was conducted in the laboratory of Karelia University of Applied Sciences for calibration. Next, these samples were compared with true sizes of blocks, and then accuracies were computed. After that accuracies were further compared with MPEs of the devices. This determined acceptance or rejection. After this, standard deviation and uncertainties were calculated to check the precision of the devices. All these calibration data and time keeping were recorded on Excel templates. To assess these data graphs and normal distribution curves were plotted. This gave insights on the accuracy, precision, and nature of the observed samples. Quotations were then obtained from various companies, and their prices were compared against in-house prices to obtain the most economical way of calibration.
In-house calibration was the most cost-effective calibration way to keep instruments calibrated. The results of this thesis suggest that the developed calibration practice helps to save time and cost as well as assures the measurement reliability of the device. Besides, this study indicates this calibration methodologies may be fruitful for SMEs, quality departments and engineering schools.
In this study, ISO 3611:2023, ISO 13385-1:2019, ISO/IEC GUIDE 98-3:2008(E), ISO 14978:2019, ISO 14253-5, NPL Good Practice Guides, Mitutoyo Guides and some other online contents were utilized for research methodologies. This research was quantitative. Therefore, a hands-on lab experiment was conducted in the laboratory of Karelia University of Applied Sciences for calibration. Next, these samples were compared with true sizes of blocks, and then accuracies were computed. After that accuracies were further compared with MPEs of the devices. This determined acceptance or rejection. After this, standard deviation and uncertainties were calculated to check the precision of the devices. All these calibration data and time keeping were recorded on Excel templates. To assess these data graphs and normal distribution curves were plotted. This gave insights on the accuracy, precision, and nature of the observed samples. Quotations were then obtained from various companies, and their prices were compared against in-house prices to obtain the most economical way of calibration.
In-house calibration was the most cost-effective calibration way to keep instruments calibrated. The results of this thesis suggest that the developed calibration practice helps to save time and cost as well as assures the measurement reliability of the device. Besides, this study indicates this calibration methodologies may be fruitful for SMEs, quality departments and engineering schools.