Year
1990
Abstract
In 1987 a portable, automated, inexpensive mass and balance calibration system was developed at the Savannah River Site to ensure the reliability and traceability of mass measurements!- Automation was achieved by using an EPSON HX-20™ notebook computer and locally developed software. Since then, the software and hardware have been enhanced to cover a wider range of balances and improve the system's maintainability. The new software/hardware configurations offer greater flexibility over the HX-20 which could only accommodate one application at a time. The new system has two main functions in a mass measurement control program: certification of balance performance and calibration of mass standards. The balance certification program verifies calibration within predefined parameters, stores the results for future use, and provides a printed hardcopy to document the tests and provide traceability. The system tests for accuracy, hysteresis, precision, linearity, and cornerloading. The mass calibration feature allows for field calibration of low cost mass artifacts for use in nonrecoverable or corrosive environments. Traceability for the mass artifacts is established and the uncertainty associated with the assigned values is propagated by the program. Details of the development program and results of field tests are discussed.