We perform calibrations and verifications to internationally recognized standard methods including ISO 376 and ASTM E74 for calibration of standards.
Calibration of Working Standards
The lab calibrates the “working standard” transducers used by our field specialists and can provide this service to our customers. Because of the low uncertainties associated with our deadweight stacks (compared to other labs that use secondary standard load cells), we are able to shorten the “chain of calibration” and equip the field with load cells calibrated with a lower uncertainty than is typical.
Capabilities for the calibration of Extensometer Calibrators
The laboratory can calibrate the displacements produced by many extensometer calibrator rigs, be it of AQD, Epsilon, or Boeckeler type, or even of bespoke design where possible. Calibrations are performed over the range of 0.01 mm to 60 mm meeting the requirements of the ISO 9513 and ASTM E83 standards.
Available Factory Verification Services
| Force Verification |
ASTM E 74
ISO 376 |
Calibration of load cells from 10 N to 10,000 N |
| Internal Methods |
Calibration of force measuring devices from 0.01 N to 3000 kN in compression and 2000 kN in tension |
| Extensometer Calibrators |
ISO 9513 ASTM E83 |
Calibration of extensometer calibrators from 0.01 mm to 60 mm |
Certification to Highest Standards and Traceability
The Instron Difference
Instron not only meets internationally accepted force calibration standards, but we routinely exceed them. All our calibration certificates provide comprehensive uncertainty of measurement data meeting the demanding needs of testing laboratories requiring full compliance to ISO/IEC 17025. Our calibrations usually cover a much wider force range than other calibration providers so that you can use your system confidently down to lower forces.
Equipment Calibrated
Materials testing machines and instruments of all types, production equipment with force or weight transducers, hardness, structural testing rigs, simulators, mechanical, electromechanical or hydraulic drives.
Equipment Brands
Instron, Satec™, Dynatup
®, Wilson
® Instruments, Wolpert™, Schenk
®, MTS
®, Instron IST, Tinius Olsen, Zwick, United, Lloyds Instruments, Mayes, Dennison, Shimadzu
®, Rhiele, Baldwin
®, ATS, and more.
Force Verification Standards
There are two internationally recognized standard methods for verifying the force measuring capability of a materials testing machine or instrument. One is the ISO document, ISO7500-1. The other is published by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and is titled ASTM E4. Both of these similar standards have been developed over many years, and are technically rigorous. If followed, they ensure that the force measuring system of your testing instrument is accurate under static or quasi-static conditions.
ASTM E4 specifies that the testing machine be accurate to 1% of reading over the verified range. This is very different from 1% of full-scale, which is how some suppliers spec their product. ISO 7500-1 defines several accuracy classes,ranging from 0.5 to 3. Most materials testing machines are calibrated to Class 1, which is equivalent to the ASTM E 4 requirement of 1.0%.
Which Force Verification Standard Should be Used?
For the majority of customers, verifying equipment to either of the major standards (ISO7500-1 or ASTM E 4) is a low-risk way to assure that the calibration of force transducers is done properly, and the probability that the instrument will provide bad data is minimal. These standards provide a reasonable balance between the difficulty (and cost) of performing the verification and the quality of the results. Accepted practice is to verify systems in Europe to ISO 7500-1 and systems in North America to ASTM E 4 . Other regions vary based on local requirements. Ultimately, the choice is yours and Instron can calibrate to either or both standards to meet your needs.