In high precision machining measurement, you can buy what are called, "precision gage blocks" to check your test micrometers or other machining test devices for accuracy down to even millionths of an inch in a controlled temperature environment.

Is there any equivalent you can buy to those calibration blocks in electronics to test the accuracy of your test equipment including multimeter, o-scope,
signal generator etc.

 

In high precision machining measurement, you can buy what are called, "precision gage blocks" to check your test micrometers or other machining test devices for accuracy down to even millionths of an inch in a controlled temperature environment.

Is there any equivalent you can buy to those calibration blocks in electronics to test the accuracy of your test equipment including multimeter, o-scope,
signal generator etc.

Welcome to AAC.

Yes, there are standard references used to calibrate instruments. Just like the case of gage blocks, these secondary standards are traceable to NIST primary standards if things are being done formally.

The references used in electrical metrology reflect the SI units the instrument being calibrated measures. There are voltage references, resistance references, capacitance references, &c. The service manual for the instrument will describe the references required.

Some references are more amenable to hobbyist-/enthusiast-/amateur-scientist-type puttering than others. One common example is the voltage reference. "High precision" voltage references based in the AD584 IC from Analog Devices are readily available for less than $15, less if you build one.

very common voltage reference
​

The best way to explore this area is to get some service manuals for your test gear and read about the calibration procedure. This will include a list of references required, and give you an idea of practical application. You can also read about electrical metrology on the NIST website to get a background in the more general idea.

 

Welcome to AAC.

Yes, there are standard references used to calibrate instruments. Just like the case of gage blocks, these secondary standards are traceable to NIST primary standards if things are being done formally.

The references used in electrical metrology reflect the SI units the instrument being calibrated measures. There are voltage references, resistance references, capacitance references, &c. The service manual for the instrument will describe the references required.

Some references are more amenable to hobbyist-/enthusiast-/amateur-scientist-type puttering than others. One common example is the voltage reference. "High precision" voltage references based in the AD584 IC from Analog Devices are readily available for less than $15, less if you build one.

View attachment 302761
very common voltage reference
​

The best way to explore this area is to get some service manuals for your test gear and read about the calibration procedure. This will include a list of references required, and give you an idea of practical application. You can also read about electrical metrology on the NIST website to get a background in the more general idea.

Thanks

The photo there is a voltage reference gage? Where would you buy that?
Other than service manuals, are there actual physical calibration devices you can buy like physical calibration gage blocks?
Howabout Resistance calibration devices or other similar electronic gages?

 

Thanks

The photo there is a voltage reference gage? Where would you buy that?
Other than service manuals, are there actual physical calibration devices you can buy like physical calibration gage blocks?
Howabout Resistance calibration devices or other similar electronic gages?

There is a link in the paragraph above the photo.

Please re-read my post, I covered this specifically. The service manuals will tell you which references you need. For everything you can measure there is a primary reference standard kept by an agency like NIST and a secondary one (sometimes traceable to the primary, if you need that).

 

In high precision machining measurement, you can buy what are called, "precision gage blocks" to check your test micrometers or other machining test devices for accuracy down to even millionths of an inch in a controlled temperature environment.

Is there any equivalent you can buy to those calibration blocks in electronics to test the accuracy of your test equipment including multimeter, o-scope,
signal generator etc.

My primary home standard is this: OMEGA CL511 Calibrator

https://assets.omega.com/manuals/M1048.pdf
2000mV ADC calibration. https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/super-moon-shine.100322/post-899878

Most modern o-scopes have internal calibration functions, those that don't are usually pretty simple to test for relative accuracy.

For frequency I have this old guy.
https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/lets-talk-about-frequency-counters.136965/post-1145658

I used that to calibrate one of my original digital designs, a frequency counter.

 

The reference I bought looks like on Ya’akov's picture. The AD584K has a maximum error of 10 mV according to datasheet. My unit had an output voltage of 10.001 V, measured with a calibrated HP3458. So the label with 10.000V is a little bit exaggerating, but still it is a precise unit.

 

In high precision machining measurement, you can buy what are called, "precision gage blocks" to check your test micrometers or other machining test devices for accuracy down to even millionths of an inch in a controlled temperature environment.

Is there any equivalent you can buy to those calibration blocks in electronics to test the accuracy of your test equipment including multimeter, o-scope,
signal generator etc.

Yes, you can get calibration references of various kinds for various types of measurements. Depending on how accurate you need them to be and whether or not you need to document their lineage, they range from very inexpensive to exorbitantly expensive.

As with physical measurement devices, the calibration of electronic measurement devices in situations in which it matters is typically done by a certified PMEL (Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory) shop. For less critical calibrations, many service shops can do a perfectly suitable job at a fraction of the price.

 

WE do not check "precision", but rather we verify ACCURACY at some resolution.
Precision machining is done to some level of ACCURACY, measured to some resolution level. Checking gage blocks with a yardstick will not provide much value, will it?

 

https://meettechniek.info/measurement/accuracy.html

Quantities can't be determined with absolute certainty. Measurement tools and systems have always some tolerance and disturbances that will introduce a degree of uncertainty. In addition, also the distinctiveness is a limiting factor.

The following terminology are often used in relation to the measurement uncertainty:

• Accuracy: The error between the real and measured value.
• Precision: The random spread of measured values around the average measured values.
• Resolution: The smallest to be distinguished magnitude from the measured value.

In practice these terms are often confused. This article discusses these concepts.

 

"Precision" will get points off in most higher educational science classes.
The applicable parameters for data are accuracy (How much uncertainty is there?) and resolution ( How many significant figures in the data.) Accuracy is limited by the quantization window size and also limited by the reference accuracy.