Why regular calibration is essential
No measuring device is drift-free. With increasing operating time, aging, stress cycles, and environmental influences such as temperature, humidity, or mechanical stress change the measuring behavior of a force sensor.
Regular calibration enables deviations to be detected at an early stage and measurement uncertainties to be minimized. At the same time, companies comply with applicable standards and quality guidelines – from ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 to industry-specific specifications such as AMS 2750 for the aerospace industry.
In addition to quality and safety aspects, there are also economic reasons for calibration: Precise measured values improve process control, increase the efficiency of systems, and prevent unnecessary costs, for example, in billing-related measurements.
Universal testing machines as high-precision calibration systems for the highest accuracy classes according to DIN EN ISO 376
Calibrating load cells requires a testing system with extremely low measurement uncertainties. The specialized universal testing machines from Hegewald & Peschke are used precisely for this purpose: as fully-fledged calibration machines for high-precision determination of the force characteristics of force sensors in accordance with international standards.
The machines are designed for both tensile and compressive calibrations and offer two completely separate working spaces. A reversing frame ensures that the reference force measuring cell is loaded exclusively in one load direction – a decisive advantage, as no hysteresis occurs and the zero point does not have to be crossed. This is necessary in order to achieve accuracy classes 00 or 0.5 according to DIN EN ISO 376.
Furthermore, the calibration machines work with high-precision reference force measuring cells with two measuring bridges. One bridge is used for machine control, the second as a feedback reference signal. This allows force levels to be approached with extreme precision and fine-tuned using the calibration module of our LabMaster test software.
The reverse frame and fixed installation position reduce the axial machine stiffness in the control loop – a key factor for the exceptional approach accuracy. In addition, the usable measuring range deliberately starts 5–15% above the zero point to avoid linearity deviations and additional uncertainties.
Hegewald & Peschke offers calibration machines in a wide load range from 2.5 kN to 2500 kN. This allows load cells from almost all industrial applications to be precisely tested and traceably calibrated – from sensitive sensors in electronic assemblies to high-load measuring cells used in presses, rolling mills, or crane systems. This ensures that all force transducers – regardless of their size or application – deliver consistently reliable, standard-compliant, and process-relevant measurement values.
