Calibration of Metal Rulers

[LesPiles]

Hello!


We have a rule in our calibration program that accompanies all our other equipment (scopes, multimeters, etc..).

What is the relevance to "calibrate" (or check) a metal ruler? It cannot be adjusted ! Is it only for an assessment of the measurement error?

Thanks to all in advance !


LesPiles

 

[Marc]

See is this answers your question. If not, come back to this thread and let us know.

---> Calibrating or Verifying Metal or Steel Tape Measures

Calibration of steel rulers - Why do I need to calibrate it again?

Also see this search for more discussions here on the topic:

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partne...#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=ruler calibration&gsc.page=1

 

[PaulJSmith]

Metal rulers can be bent and flexed, which can stretch the metal. The ends can be damaged, making it longer or shorter. Both of these can throw off the measurements made with that device. Markings can eventually become questionable or even unreadable. Calibration ensures that the ruler is still accurate enough for its purpose.

 

[AndyN]

We have a rule in our calibration program that accompanies all our other equipment (scopes, multimeters, etc..).

What is the relevance to "calibrate" (or check) a metal ruler? It cannot be adjusted ! Is it only for an assessment of the measurement error?

Firstly, "calibration" doesn't have any relevance to adjustment - although people have often confused this. Calibration is only the comparison of a measurement, made by a device, compared to a (known) standard and consideration of those factors which affect the given measurement (uncertainty).

Typically, steel rules aren't calibrated. What is done is that they are "verified" against something (to see if they are physically changed - like stretching, wear of the end (zero end) and the scale.

 

[somashekar]

What ever is done with the metal ruler is to decide if you want to use it or discard. It is the person who measures finally and not the ruler. It just sits wherever and however you place it. Here you have to calibrate the user of the metal ruler in terms of parallax

 

[Ajit Basrur]

Refer NIST - http://www.nist.gov/pml/div683/grp01/cst-precisionmetalrulers.cfm

 

[somashekar]

Thanks Ajit. But is that for a metal ruler manufacturer, or the user of metal ruler ?

 

[Ajit Basrur]

Thanks for pointing it out, somashekhar

 

[harry]

To make the water muddier, see: Who says you can't calibrate a steel rule!

 

[Hershal]

AndyN is correct. Yes, a steel ruler can be calibrated and - depending on the intended use - maybe should be.

The real question here is not can it be, but what is the intended use? That will determine the answer.