Fluke Calibration 5730A, Operator'S Manual, Page: 213 / 260

Operator Maintenance and Calibration
Calibration Check
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7-21
Calibration Check
A calibration check is similar to artifact calibration, with the primary differences being
that no changes are made to the stored constants, and the internal check standards are
used as the reference points. A calibration check produces a report similar to the normal
calibration report, and shows output shifts that would result from using the results of the
calibration check.
This procedure can be performed from an external computer, and can be set to run
automatically, with no assistance (there is no need to enter the security passcode, since no
constants are changed).
Use calibration check at any time to confirm the integrity of the 5730A Calibrator
without connecting external standards. The calibration check is also useful for collecting
a performance history.
Before this procedure is started, make sure the Calibrator is powered on and has
completed the appropriate warm-up period. Then follow this procedure to check the
calibration.
1. Touch the Setup Menu > Calibration to bring up the Calibration menu.
2. Touch Run Calibration Check to begin the procedure.
3. As the calibration check proceeds, the display indicates the current process of the
calibration check. When the check is complete, the largest shift that is detected
appears on the display. The Calibrator tells when calibration is complete.
4. Touch Continue to return to the Calibration menu. A report of the output shifts can
be saved from this menu.
Develop a Performance History
A Fluke Calibration specification is a set of performance limits that all products must
meet. To maintain consistent quality, Fluke calibrators are specified with enough margin
to include temperature, line, and load extremes, plus additional margin for production.
This means that a typical Calibrator in a typical environment operates inside 50 % of
specification limits. For some exacting applications, it can be helpful to know just how
accurately a particular Calibrator operates. The proper way to do this is to accumulate a
performance history by calibrating regularly and recording results on a control chart.
Calibrating regularly and recording the results on a control chart is tedious and requires a
large array of equipment. The Calibrator calibration check feature is an alternative with
some distinct advantages:
•
Calibrated check standards are already programmed into the unit. External standards
are not necessary.
•
The process is consistent and automatic and it does not require operator assistance.
Each calibration check produces a new set of data points for accumulating a historical
record. When this process is externally automated, significant history can be accumulated
much faster than with a manual calibration.