Force gauges measure push and pull forces in manufacturing, quality testing, and material testing applications. Calibration compares the gauge reading to traceable force standards such as deadweight sets or reference load cells. Accurate force measurement is critical for product safety and material characterization.
Inspect the force gauge for damage to the load cell, display, and attachment hardware. Verify the display reads zero when unloaded and the mode selector functions properly for tension and compression.
Mount the force gauge in a calibration fixture that ensures the applied force is axial (aligned with the sensing axis). Side loads and bending moments must be minimized. Verify the fixture is rigid and does not deflect under load.
Apply calibrated forces at a minimum of five points from 10% to 100% of the gauge capacity. At each point, allow the reading to stabilize and record the gauge indication. Test both tension and compression modes if the gauge measures both.
Decrease the applied force at the same five points from 100% back to 10%. Record readings at each point to determine hysteresis.
Apply a single force near 50% of capacity three times and record the readings. Calculate the spread to assess repeatability.
Record all as-found data, calculate errors and hysteresis at each point, and determine the measurement uncertainty. Issue the calibration certificate and apply the calibration label.
Per ASTM E74, the calibration error at each test point must not exceed ±0.5% of reading for Class A instruments, or ±1.0% for Class AA instruments. Repeatability must be within the stated specification.
12 months
A force gauge is a self-contained instrument with a built-in display that directly reads force values. A load cell is a transducer that outputs an electrical signal proportional to applied force and requires a separate indicator or data acquisition system. Both are calibrated using the same force standards.
Yes, deadweight calibration using calibrated masses and gravity is a primary method for force calibration. The force equals mass times local gravitational acceleration. The weights must be traceable and the local gravity value must be known.
If the force gauge is used for both tension and compression measurements, both modes must be calibrated. Each mode uses a separate signal conditioning path and may have different error characteristics.
CalibrationOS tracks due dates, stores certificates, and generates audit-ready reports.
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