Learn more about the Michelli Weighing & Measurement ISO 17025 accredited calibration laboratory, with a look inside our Harahan cal lab.
What to Know About a Calibration Laboratory
There are certain rules inside a calibration laboratory. The rules help ensure that the environment doesn’t interfere with calibration, as some equipment is highly sensitive to factors like temperature, moisture, and even oil produced by the human body. For example, a calibration laboratory is kept at a predesignated temperature, it’s kept clean, and most equipment is kept covered to avoid being contaminated by dust or other environmental factors. From temperature specifications to “look, don’t touch” areas, it’s important to understand the rules of the lab to ensure you don’t accidentally affect the environment or compromise the standards used to calibrate equipment.
The Michelli Weighing & Measurement Calibration Laboratory
The largest & busiest Michelli Weighing & Measurement calibration lab is located at our corporate office in Harahan, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans on the Mississippi River.
The cal lab is divided into work spaces based on measurement disciplines. There are labels at the top of each station announcing which measurement disciplines are calibrated in that area. For example, in the “Weighing” station, scales are calibrated. In the “Torque” station, torque wrenches are calibrated.
What Equipment is Located in Each Calibration Work Station?
There are “standards” in each work station. These standards are sent out for calibration regularly. This helps to ensure that the standard is accurate, and to ensure the validity of all equipment calibrated using the standard. During a calibration, the equipment being calibrated is compared to the standard, then adjusted until the 2 match when prompted with the same input.
Calibrating equipment is sort of like tuning a guitar. The measurement equipment that requires calibration is like the guitar that is out of tune. The standard is like the guitar that has been certified to be in tune. Our calibration technicians bring the measurement equipment back into “tolerance”, just as a musician might bring a guitar back “in tune”.
Temperature Calibration Work Station
In the Michelli Weighing & Measurement temperature calibration work station, we service the following types of equipment:
Contact Thermometers
• Thermocouple Probes
• Thermistor Probes
• Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD)
• Bi-Metal Thermo-Wells
• Liquid–in–Glass (LIG)
• Surface Thermometers
• Tank Thermometers
Temperature Calibrators
- Thermocouple Calibrators
- RTD Calibrators
- Dry Well Calibrators (Dry Block)
- Liquid Baths
Non-Contact Thermometers
- Infrared Thermometers
- Psychrometers
- Weather Stations
- Heat Stress Monitors
Temperature measurement instruments are important across many industries. An inaccurate thermometer or heat stress monitor could affect worker safety in a hazardous work environment, or even consumer safety in the food & beverage industry.
Pressure Calibration Work Station
In the Michelli Weighing & Measurement pressure calibration work station, we service the following types of equipment:
- -30 to 100 PSIG with accuracy up to +/-0.025%
- 0 to 1000 PSIG with accuracy up to +/-0.025%
- 0 to 5000 PSIG with accuracy up to +/-0.05%
- 5000 to 40000 PSIG with accuracy up to +/-0.1%
- Pressure Gauges
- Pressure Transmitters
- Pressure Switches
- Pressure Valves
Pressure measurement equipment is extremely important in many industries. For example, a pressure gauge used in the petrochemical industry could indicate to the crew that they have entered into a dangerous situation, allowing them time to change course & correct the issue.
Physical/Dimensional Calibration Work Station
In the Michelli Weighing & Measurement physical/dimensional calibration work station, we service the following types of equipment:
Micrometers
• Outside micrometers
• Inside micrometers
• Depth micrometers
• Analog or Digital
• Up to 80 inches
Indicators & Other
- Travel indicators
- Test indicators
- Starrett Last Word indicators
- Height Gauges
- Calipers
- Dial or digital indicators
- Snap gauges
- Length standards
Granite Surface Plates
Dimensional measurement equipment is used in almost every industry at some point. Calibration of this equipment is crucial to ensuring that the tools can be used to meet exact specifications.
Torque & Bolting Tool Calibration Work Station
In the Michelli Weighing & Measurement torque calibration work station, we service the following types of equipment:
- Mechanical “click” and dial type torque wrenches
- Cam-over drivers and wrenches
- Digital-pulse torque tools
- Pneumatic bolting tools
- Hydraulic bolting tools (up to 25,000 ft-lbs in-house)
- Hydraulic power pump services
- Pneumatic nut runners
Torque & bolting tools are used in many applications. For more information on proper torque wrench care, please see our earlier blog post Torque Wrench Care Tips here.
Electronic Calibration Work Station
In the Michelli Weighing & Measurement electronic calibration work station, we service the following types of equipment:
Electrical Testing
• Digital Multimeters
• Process Meters
• Ammeter/Clamp Meters
• MegOhmMeters
• MicroOhmMeter (DLRO)
• Phase Meters
• Volt/Ohm/Milliamp Meter
• R/L/C Meters
• High Voltage Dielectric Test Sets (Hipot) up to 100 kV
Process Instruments
• Power Quality Analyzers
• Signal Analyzers
• Frequency Analyzers
• Loop Calibrators
• T/C & RTD Calibrators
• Multifunction Process Calibrators
Time & Frequency
- Oscilloscopes
- Timers
- Stopwatches
- Frequency Counters
- Arbitrary Waveform Generators
Lab Balance & Scale Calibration Work Station
In the Michelli Weighing & Measurement lab balance & scale calibration work stations, we service the following types of equipment:
- Top loading & analytical laboratory balances
- Bench scales
- Floor scales
- Drum-filler systems
- High-speed grading systems
- Tank/hopper scales
- Truck scales
- Rail scales
- Counting scales
- Checkweighers
- In-Motion scales
Mass Calibration Work Station
In the Michelli Weighing & Measurement mass calibration work station, we service the following types of equipment:
- NIST Class F test weights up to 50lbs or 30kg*
- NIST Class F analytical mass, 1 milligram to 1 kilogram
Force Measurement Calibration Work Station
In the Michelli Weighing & Measurement force calibration work station, we service the following types of equipment:
- Dynamometers (electronic and mechanical)
- Load cells (tension & compression)
- Crane scales
- Force gauges (electronic and mechanical)
- Force sand fixtures
- Multi-load cell telemetry systems
- Custom proof-load testing
Calibration is Important
At Michelli Weighing & Measurement, we take calibration seriously. Michelli calibration technicians are trained in multiple disciplines, and reference calibration manuals produced by the U.S. military, the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), as well as manufacturer specifications & product manuals. Our calibration team fully understands how each piece of weighing & measurement technology works, what issues to watch out for, and what factors cause equipment issues.
As you can see, our capabilities extend far beyond scale calibration. Are you using multiple vendors for your weighing & measurement equipment calibration? Let the experts at Michelli handle all of your weighing & measurement related needs. From sales & rentals to service & calibration, we can help. Request a quote online today.
Let us take care of your calibration
We’re here to help with all of your weighing & measurement equipment calibration needs. Contact your nearest Michelli office today to request a quote or speak with an expert.
