Book of Standards Volume: 03.01

1. Scope

1.1 The purpose of this practice is to specify procedures for the calibration of force-measuring instruments. Procedures are included for the following types of instruments:

1.1.1 Elastic force-measuring instruments, and

1.1.2 Force-multiplying systems, such as balances and small platform scales.

Note 1ˇŞVerification by deadweight loading is also an acceptable method of verifying the force indication of a testing machine. Tolerances for weights for this purpose are given in Practices E 4; methods for calibration of the weights are given in NIST Technical Note 577, Methods of Calibrating Weights for Piston Gages.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. Other metric and inch-pound values are regarded as equivalent when required.

1.3 This practice is intended for the calibration of static force measuring instruments. It is not applicable for dynamic or high speed force calibrations, nor can the results of calibrations performed in accordance with this practice be assumed valid for dynamic or high speed force measurements.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

Other Force measurement References (by NIST:)

• Force Measurement Services at NIST: Equipment, Procedures and Uncertainties, T. W. Bartel, S. L. Yaniv and R. L. Seifarth, Proc. Natl. Conf. Stand. Lab. and Symp. (1997).,
• Creep and Creep Recovery Response of Load Cells Tested According to U.S. and International Evaluation Procedures, T. W. Bartel and S. L. Yaniv J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. 102, 349-362 (May 1997).,
• ASTM E4-02, Standard Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines, Annual Book of ASTM Standards 3.01 (2002).,
• Automation of Strain-Gauge Load-Cell Force Calibrations, K. W. Yee, Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. NISTIR 4823 (Apr. 1992).,
• ASTM E74-02, Standard Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines, Annual Book of ASTM Standards 3.01 (2002).,
• Summary of the Intercomparison of the Force Standard Machines of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA, and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Germany, S. L. Yaniv, A. Sawla, and M. Peters, J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. 96, 529 (1991).,
• Metrological Regulations for Load Cells, OIML Recommendation No. 60, Intl. Org. for Legal Metrol., Paris 1991 (E).,
• A New Statistical Model for the Calibration of Force Sensors, C. P. Reeve, Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.) Tech. Note 1246 (June 1988).,
• Force Calibration at the National Bureau of Standards, R. A. Mitchell, Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.) Tech. Note 1227 (Aug. 1986).,
• Interlaboratory Comparison of Force Calibrations Using ASTM Method E74-74, R. W. Peterson, L. Jenkins, and R. A. Mitchell, Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 1211 (Apr. 1985).,
• Progress in Force Measurement at NBS, R. A. Mitchell, Proc. 10th Conf. IMEKO TC-3 on Measurement of Force and Mass, Kobe, Japan (Sept. 1984).,
• Inherent Problems in Force Measurements, P. E. Pontius and R. A. Mitchell, Exper. Mech. 22 (3) (Mar. 1982).,
• Force Sensor-Machine Interaction, R. A. Mitchell and P. E. Pontius, Proc. 27th Intl. Instrum. Symp. (ISA), Indianapolis, IN, Instrumentation in the Aerospace Industry 27, 225 (1981).,
• Characterizing the Creep Response of Load Cells, R. A. Mitchell and S. M. Baker, VDI-Berichte 312, 43 (1978).,
• Interlaboratory Comparison of Force Calibrations Using ASTM Method E74-74, Phase I, R. W. Peterson and R. L. Bloss, Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), NBSIR 76-1145 (Aug. 1976).,
• A Study of the National Force Measurement System, D. E. Marlowe, Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), NBSIR 75-929 (June 1975).,
• Universal Testing Machine of 12-Million-lbf Capacity at the National Bureau of Standards, A. F. Kirstein, Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ. 355 (Sept. 1971).,
• Studies of Calibration Procedures for Load Cells and Proving Rings as Weighing Devices, G. B. Anderson and R. C. Raybold, Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 436 (Jan. 1969).,
• Gravity Measurements and the Standards Laboratory, D. R. Tate, Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 491 (Aug. 1969).,
• Uncertainties Associated with Proving Ring Calibration, T. E. Hockersmith and H. H. Ku, Preprint No. 12.3-2-64 ISA Conference, Instr. Soc. of America, Res. Triangle Park, NC (O, ct. 1964).

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