transcat and fluke calibration webinar: automating pressure calibration

Automating Pressure

Calibration

Presenter: Tim Francis

©2017 Fluke Calibration

Agenda

• Advantages of Automation

• When to automate, when not to

• Levels of Automation

• Physical Equipment Limitations

and Capabilities

• Collecting the Data

• Summary and Questions


Advantages of Automation

• Eliminate User dependency

• Improve throughput

• Add more value to your customers


User Dependency

• Calibration processes should be like good science – always

reproducible.

• Manual calibration procedures can result in situations where we get

different results when performed by different technicians

– Speed of pressure increase?

– How much do you overshoot the target by?

– How much time is it allowed to stabilize?

– Typos in manual data collection?

• In an automated process the same thing is done the same way, every

time


Improved Throughput

• The ideal automated process

operates without interacting with an

operator

• Can operate during off hours –

calibration while you sleep

• Operators can also initiate an

automated process and then

perform other functions (non-

automated calibrations) while the

automated process is running


Adding Value to the Calibration Process

• The valuable part of the calibration process

is the collection and analysis of data.

• In choosing the amount of data to collect,

we want to insure that we collect enough

that it represents the true behavior of the

Device Under Test, but that the data

collection isn’t so costly that it becomes

uneconomical.

• Automation changes the formula – we can

collect more data without dramatically

increasing the cost of the calibration.


When should I automate a calibration process?

• Large workload that requires more throughput

• Calibration is performed by different technicians with different

techniques or reliance on technicians with limited training

• When the physical equipment allows for it


What is needed to automate pressure calibration

• Automate the generation or setting of the pressure– Difficult to do with a hand pump

(manual by design)

– Deadweight Testers or Piston Gauges require automated mass loading

– Pressure Controllers can provide stable, precise pressure on command

• Automate the reference standard measurement– Automate the calculation of pressure

with a Deadweight Tester/Piston Gauge

– Pressure Measurement read directly from Pressure Controller or Indicator


What is needed to automate pressure calibration

• Automate the reading of the DUT output

– Dial Gauges – Most difficult, if not

impossible. There are challenges associated

with using a camera

– Transmitters – Need to read the mA output of

the DUT

• Collect, Store, and Report the data

– Often times uses PC based software

– On board Automated Tests provided by

Pressure Calibrators


Example Equipment

• Fluke Calibration 2271A – Benchtop Pressure Controller that covers vacuum to 3000 psi– You provide supply pressure, it can

automatically control test port pressure as requested

– PM200 Pressure Measurement Modules act as reference standards to provide accurate measurement of the test pressure. Multiple ranges available to cover variety of applications.

– Electrical Measurement Module provides supply voltage (24 V dc) to the Device Under Test and reads the output of the device (4 to 20 mA) along with basic HART trimming functionality.

– Built in Test Procedures allow for full automation of the calibration


Example Equipment

• Fluke 729 Automatic Pressure Calibrator –Portable Calibrator available in ranges up to 300 psi

– Built-in pump allows automated pressure generation up to 300 psi

– Internal pressure sensor used to accurately measure the test pressure

– Provides supply voltage to DUT and measurement of the DUT output

– Basic HART communication with analog trimming

– Internal Test Definitions can be used to automate the calibration process


Questions or Comments?

Email Nicole VanWert-Quinzi

[email protected]

Transcat: 800-800-5001

www.Transcat.comFor related product information, go to:

www.Transcat.com/Fluke


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.transcat.com/

http://www.transcat.com/Fluke

transcat and fluke calibration webinar: automating pressure calibration

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