Proficiency Tests Offered

HN Proficiency Testing, Inc. currently offers proficiency tests in the following areas:

Dimensional Calibration
Electrical Calibration (Including RF/Microwave)
Physical Calibration
Dimensional Inspection

Dimensional Calibration

Gage Blocks

This package consists of 11 gage blocks in the range of 0.0625 in to 4 in. The package consists of both inch and metric blocks. 10 blocks are made of steel, the last block is made of ceramics.

Reference values are obtained by mechanical comparison and associated reference uncertainties are typically on the order of (2.5 + 0.8L) µin, where L is the nominal length of the gage block in inches. This program is suitable for participants who measure gage blocks by mechanical comparison, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Long Gage Blocks

This package consists of 3 steel gage blocks in the range of 8 in to 20 in. Two blocks are square, the last one is rectangular.

Reference values are obtained by mechanical comparison and associated reference uncertainties are typically on the order of (3 + 1L) µin, where L is the nominal length of the gage block in inches. This program is suitable for participants who measure long gage blocks by mechanical comparison, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Hand Gages #1

This program involves the measurement of deviations in a 25 – 50 mm Micrometer, a 0 – 6 in Caliper and a 0 – 0.5 in Digital Indicator.

Reference values are obtained by comparison to reference artifacts such as gage blocks and associated reference uncertainties are typically primarily limited by the resolution of the gages. This program is suitable for participants who calibrate such gages, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Hand Gages #2

This program involves the measurement of deviations in a 0-1 in Micrometer with spherical anvils, a 0 – 6 in Dial Caliper and a -30 µm to +30 µm Dial Indicator.

Micrometer Master (Setting) Rods

This package consists of a set of micrometer master (setting) rods in the range of 1 in to 20 in.

Reference values are obtained by mechanical comparison and associated reference
uncertainties are typically on the order of 25 µin to 75 µin. This program is suitable for participants who calibrate micrometer setting rods or similar length standards, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Plain Plug Gages

This program involves the measurement of the outside diameter of plain plug gages in the range 0.1 - 1.5 inches. Reference values are obtained by mechanical comparison and associated reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 18 - 30 µin. This program is suitable for participants who measure plain plug gages by mechanical comparison or similar methods, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Ring Gages

This program involves the measurement of the inside diameter of plain ring gages in the range 0.25 – 4 inches.

Reference values are obtained by mechanical comparison and associated reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 10 – 20 μin. This program is suitable for participants who measure plain ring gages by mechanical comparison or similar methods, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Thread Plug Gages

This program involves the measurement of the major diameter and pitch diameter of thread plug gages in the range 2 mm – 1.5 inches. Reference values are obtained by mechanical measurement including the 3-wire method for the pitch diameter.

The associated reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 30 – 100 μin. This program is suitable for participants who measure thread plug gages using similar methods, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

This package consists of 4 thread plug gages and contains both inch and metric gages.

Thread Wires

This package consists of 12 thread wires (4 sets) in the range from 6 to 48 TPI in both inch and metric.

This program involves the measurement of the effective diameter of thread wires in the range 0.01 – 0.1 inches and calculation of the corresponding wire constants.

Reference values are obtained by mechanical comparison. The associated reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 5 μin. This program is suitable for participants who measure thread wires using similar methods, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Electrical Calibration

Digital Multimeter

The artifact is an Agilent 34401, a 6½ digit DMM. This program is suitable for participants who source and measure these electrical quantities and/or calibrate multimeters, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

This program involves sourcing and measuring:

DC Volts (50 mV – 750V);
DC Current (80 mA – 1A);
DC Resistance (1 kOhm – 10 MOhm);
AC Volts (1V – 500V @ 100 Hz – 50 kHz);
AC Current (1 A @ 1 kHz).

The associated reference uncertainties are on the order of:

0.9 µV – 5.5 mV DC;
0.004 mA – 0.12 mA DC;
9 mOhm – 0.8 kOhm.;
0.1 mV – 50 mV AC
0.3 mA AC.

Microwave Attenuator Calibration

This program involves the measurement of the attenuation characteristics of a set of microwave attenuators with type N connectors. The measuring range is -3 dB to -20 dB at 300 MHz to 18 GHz. Reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 0.03 dB - 0.05 dB. This program is suitable for participants who calibrate microwave attenuators or measure microwave attenuation, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

The artifacts are a set of 4 Agilent 8491B Attenuators

RF Power Sensor Calibration

This program involves the determination of the calibration factor for a RF Power Sensor calibrated at 1 mW input power, referenced to 50 MHz at 1 mW. Calibration factors are to be determined in the range 10 MHz to 18 GHz. Reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 1.5%. This program is suitable for participants who calibrate RF power sensors and whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

The artifact is an Agilent 8481A Power Sensor

Temperature Simulation/Process Calibrator
(Electrical Calibration)

The test object for this test is a Fluke 724 Thermocouple Simulator.

This program involves sourcing electrical signals to simulate thermocouple types J (-200°C to 725°C), K (-200°C to 1100°C) and T (-200°C to 400°C) as well as 3-wire RTDs (-180°C to 750°C). In addition this program involves sourcing Voltage (80 mV to 24 V), current (4 mA to 20 mA) and resistance (50 Ohms to 700 Ohms). The associated reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 0.07°C to 0.15°C for the temperature simulations and primarily limited by the resolution of the artifact for the pure electrical measurements.

This program is suitable for participants who calibrate temperature-indicating devices by electrical simulation and process calibrators, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Physical Calibration

Mass Measurement

This package consists of 12 ASTM class 3 weights in the range of 1 g to 500 g.

Reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 1.7 µg to 26 µg. This program is suitable for participants who measure or calibrate mass, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Pressure Gage Calibration

This package consists of a pressure gage with a measuring range of 75 psi to 750 psi.

Reference uncertainties are primarily limited by the resolution of the instrument (0.1 psi). This program is suitable for participants who calibrate pressure gages, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Pressure and Vacuum Combination Gage Calibration

This package consists of a combination vacuum/pressure gage with a measuring range of -14 psi to +15 psi.

Reference uncertainties are primarily limited by the resolution of the instrument (0.02 psi). This program is suitable for participants who calibrate vacuum and/or pressure gages, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Torque Wrench Calibration

This package consists of 3 torque wrenches with ranges of 30 in-lb to 100 ft-lb.

Reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 0.3% of reading. This program is suitable for participants who calibrate torque wrenches, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the method of the ISO GUM.

Dimensional Inspection

2D Dimensional Inspection
(For example using Optical CMMs, Microscopes, Optical Comparators and/or Surface Plates and Height Gages)

This program involves the measurement of distances, locations and inside and outside diameters of a steel artifact with the approximate dimensions 150x100x35 mm. Reference values are obtained by CMM measurement. The associated reference uncertainties are typically on the order of 2 – 3 µm. This program is suitable for participants who measure 2D machined work pieces using Optical CMMs, Microscopes with X-Y stages, optical comparators, surface plates and height gages or by any other means, whose uncertainties are not significantly smaller than the typical reference uncertainties, and who calculate their uncertainties per the ISO GUM method.

CMM Measurement

This package is our first "premium" proficiency test. It is more elaborate than the other tests available:

Test artifact:

1.5 liter cast iron engine block weighing about 70 lbs.

Test sub-sections:

Section 1:: All measurements can be made with a straight-down probe. All measuring points are defined.
Section 2:: Requires either an articulating probe or a multiple tip probe cluster. All measuring points are defined.
Section 3:: Requires either an articulating probe or a multiple tip probe cluster. Only the features to be measured are defined (you have to decide how many points to take and where).

Test time:

Each participant has two weeks including shipping time to complete the test. You can either measure the artifact in one week and use surface shipping or take more time for the measurement and use more expensive air shipping.