Used Measuring Equipment for Sale — 2,244

Measuring Equipment

What is measuring equipment and how does it function?

Measuring equipment is a generic term for various objects that are used to take measurements. In addition to measuring devices, there are also regular aids and reference materials. Guidelines, like ISO 9000, are used to ensure that the equipment upholds a certain level of quality. For example, the correct way of handling and using this kind of equipment is specified in the ISO 9001. The term itself is defined by the DIN standard 1319 in Part 2, which outlines the standard terms associated with measuring equipment.

The most important means for measuring are measuring devices and measuring equipment

Measuring is to numerically compare physical quantities with appropriate reference values. This type of comparison can either be undertaken using the help of a corresponding measuring scale, or indirectly through comparing it to one or more other quantities that are easier to measure. Suitable devices for measuring length include, for example, rulers, callipers or a micrometer screw gauge. An indirect measurement is used, for example, by the liquid thermometer. This type of measuring device reads the temperature as a length of a liquid column, which changes with a specific value through thermal expansion. In addition to measuring tools, devices and systems is also used to measure quantities. Measuring systems are usually made up of one or more devices and supplementary equipment. The detected measurement is inputted into the measuring device either mechanically, electrically or optically and transformed into an output value. In an analog voltmeter, for example, a particular level of voltage causes a needle or pointer to move. The digital measuring device then transforms this movement into a numerical value, which is presented on a display.

What does gauging, adjusting and calibrating measuring equipment mean?

In order to assess the quality of the taken measurements, measuring devices and instruments need to be periodically reviewed and adjusted, if necessary. This ensures that they are providing accurate measurements. This task is either called calibrating, adjusting or gauging. During calibration, the deviation of the measured value from the desired value is distributed to the measuring device, determined and then documented. On the other hand, adjusting methods minimise the level of deviation by intentionally altering the measuring device. Gauging is the process of using official guidelines to test measuring devices. This is undertaken by approved bodies. If successful, the device is marked to indicate the success. Therefore, calibration is only possible on gauged devices, because adjusting a measuring device would make the previous gauging process invalid. Gauging is demanding and thereby only undertaken on measuring devices where it is legally required.

What is a standard?

When gauging, adjusting and calibrating a piece of measuring equipment, it is compared to a known measurement. This known measurement is called a standard. Depending on the type of measuring device that needs to be adjusted, the standard can either be a measurement standard, a measuring device or piece of equipment. The measurements, or other properties used to measure a standard can only be identified as known, if it has also been gauged and calibrated itself. Due to this, there is a chain called the calibration hierarchy, built upon an international standard. Comparing this kind of equipment to the international standard is the most demanding form of calibration. Therefore, it is only used by national institutions for their own national standards. In Germany, this is undertaken by the Physikalisch Technischen Bundesanstalt PTB. Further standards are then derived on the national standards. Every step reduces the accuracy of the standard, but also the demand of calibrating. Due to cost, the equipment should be implemented appropriately: its level of accuracy needs to fit the requirements of the task.

What are reference materials and why are they needed?

Not all measuring equipment can provide accurate figures. For example, two thermocouples can be used to accurately measure the temperature difference. In order to get the absolute temperature, one of the two needs to be adjusted to the known temperature. In this instance, a mixture of crushed ice and water can be used as a reference material. Reference materials are necessary when measuring chemical components. For example, gasses with known compositions are usually used as a reference material for the calibration of exhaust gas measuring instrumentation.

Areas of application for measuring equipment

It is used to detect mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical and magnetic measurements. They are used to control and monitor machines and processes, to ensure the compliance of manufacturing tolerances, and to regulate machines and other measuring equipment. This equipment is required for production, as well as for quality assurance. The quality of measuring instrumentation and its surroundings has a strong influence on the accuracy of the measurements that they take. Precise measurements are essential for a high production quality. High-end equipment and their maintenance is relatively cost intensive. However, they provide achievable improvements to the production quality, which ultimately leads to savings e.g. by reducing the amount of waste material. This is undertaken, for example, by grouping together products or components with the same actual value of particular properties. This is particularly common for electronic components. It allows for the use of single batches of components with significantly tighter tolerances, as predetermined by their production. Measuring equipment is required for a lot of these tasks, as well as to measure the properties of products or components, and to monitor and check the equipment. There are measuring devices available that are more or less universal and can be compared to an SI unit. These were conceptualised for very specific uses. The first group contains weights, gauge blocks and scales. The second group has devices to measure surface roughness and standards for groove spacing and depth. Devices like microscopes can also be considered a piece of measuring instrumentation, if they are used to determine the quantitative qualities of an object.

Who produces measuring equipment?

Some of the companies who produce measuring equipment includes ATOS, CARL ZEISS, DMG MORI SEIKI, FLUKE, GOSSEN METRAWATT, HAMEG, HEXAGON METROLOGY (also known as LEITZ), HOMMEL WERKE, MAHR, SMU, TAYLOR HOBSON and VLSI.

Measuring Equipment Sales

Used measuring equipment that suits your needs can be found on very few places online. TradeMachines aggregates all of the measuring machines from various sellers and auction houses around the globe. All testing and measurement machines which are up for sale from various sellers are updated regularly on TM marketplace. All you need to is subscribe for our special newsletter which we call it as Auction Alarm and we notify you when a machine you are looking for is available for sale on TradeMachines. Keep yourself informed and be ahead of fellow bidders.