Webinar Outline 1. Advantages of automation - Eliminate user dependency - Improve throughput - Do more with fewer resources 2. When to automate and when not to 3. Levels of automation – it doesn’t have to be fully automated to be beneficial 4. Physical equipment limitations - Automation with deadweight testers and dial gauges - Automated pressure controllers 5. Collecting the data – PC software versus built-in calibrator capabilities

1. Automating Pressure
Calibration
Presenter: Tim Francis
©2017 Fluke Calibration

2. Agenda
• Advantages of Automation
• When to automate, when not to
• Levels of Automation
• Physical Equipment Limitations
and Capabilities
• Collecting the Data
• Summary and Questions
©2017 Fluke Calibration

3. Advantages of Automation
• Eliminate User dependency
• Improve throughput
• Add more value to your customers
©2017 Fluke Calibration

4. 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
©2017 Fluke Calibration

5. 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
©2017 Fluke Calibration

6. 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.
©2017 Fluke Calibration

7. 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
©2017 Fluke Calibration

8. 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
©2017 Fluke Calibration

9. 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
©2017 Fluke Calibration

10. 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
©2017 Fluke Calibration

11. 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
©2017 Fluke Calibration

12. Questions or Comments?
Email Nicole VanWert-Quinzi
nicole.vanwert@Transcat.com
Transcat: 800-800-5001
www.Transcat.com
For related product information, go to:
www.Transcat.com/Fluke
©2017 Fluke Calibration