Tag: Calibration

What is the difference between ANSI Z540.1 and ANSI Z540.3?

The replacement of the ANSI Z540.1 with the ANSI Z540.3 and the ISO/IEC 17025 back in 2007 has led to a number of questions from Document Center Inc. customers.  To help you understand the situation, here’s a review of the migration path.  And we’ll discuss the differences between the ANSI Z540.1 and ANSI Z540.3 as we go.

Calibration is an essential activity in many organizations, including test labs and manufacturing firms with precision machinery.  Back in the day, the MIL-C-45662 Calibration System Requirements ruled the day.  This original Mil Spec was replaced by the standard MIL-STD-45662 in 1980.  However with Mil Spec reform in the 1990’s, the document was cancelled in favor of the ANSI-Z540.1 and ISO-10012.

ANSI Z540.1 was titled Laboratories, Calibration, and Measuring and Test Equipment.  Released in 1994, it consisted of 2 parts — the Part 1 was based on the old ISO/IEC Guide 25 (now ISO/IEC 17025).  The Part 2 was based on the MIL-STD-45662 Revision A.  So you can see that the document was a natural successor to the old military document.  However, it was developed specifically for calibration services, not testing labs.

The Part 1 directly addressed general requirements for the competence of calibration labs.  It applied to the development and implementation of a quality system.  For some situations, these older requirements may still be used when both the customer and the lab are in agreement.

With the release of the ISO/IEC 17025 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) in December 1999, there was an obvious overlap between the two standards.  In an effort to make it clear and easy for users, NCSL (the caretaker of the ANSI Z540 documents) decided to revamp the Z540 publication.  A new standard would take the place of the Part 2 while the ISO/IEC 17025 would be adopted for the material in Part 1.

The ANSI Z540.1 Part 2 addressed quality assurance requirements for a supplier’s system with regards to measurement accuracy.  This included calibration of test equipment.  It provided customers to be assured that the calibration lab was meeting the prescribed requirements.

The “new” ANSI Z540.3, Requirements for the Calibration of Measuring and Test Equipment, again establishes the technical requirements for the calibration of measuring and test equipment.  So you’ll get requirements for establishing and maintaining the performance of your measuring and test equipment.  The suitability of a calibration for the application is covered.  And the traceability of your measurement results to the International System of Units (SI) is included.

So to recap, the ANSI Z540.1 was an umbrella publication.  When the ISO/IEC 17025 was released, a new ANSI Z540.3 was issued just for the calibration requirements themselves.  The ISO/IEC document was adopted for the competence requirements.

If you need any of these publications, use Document Center Inc. for your purchase.  We have over 1 million standards for you to choose from at our webstore www.document-center.com.  Here are direct links to the order pages for ANSI Z540.3 and the ISO/IEC 17025.

Document Center Inc. has been working with standards since 1982.  We have a familiarity with standards that you’ll find at few other organizations.  Reach out to us by phone (650-591-7600) or email (info@document-center.com) with any questions you may have.  Our services support compliance needs of many companies around the world.  Make us your Standards Experts!

 

New ASTM E112 2012 Edition revises Standard Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size

There is a new ASTM E112 2012 Edition, “Standard Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size,” that has just been released and is available from Document Center Inc. in either paper or pdf format.  Commonly used to determine the quality of a specific alloy, the standard provides the methodology for a tester to compare the grain structure of a sample to a series of graded images using wall charts, clear plastic overlays, or a grain counting eyepiece reticle.

The widely cited ASTM E112 not only covers the measurement of average grain size by the comparison procedures (as noted above), but also the planimetric (or Jeffries) procedure and the intercept procedures.  Testers use the standard to determine the average grain size of specimens with a unimodal distribution of grain areas, diameters, or intercept lengths.

To see the differences between the new ASTM E112-12 and the previous (now obsolete) ASTM E112-10 (from 2010), you may want to purchase the redline edition.  This will give you two copies of the standard.  The current 2012 edition comes in a “clean” copy, and an additional copy of the 2010 is included with all changes “marked up.”

For determining the mean grain size, and the distribution of grain intercept lengths or grain areas, for polycrystalline metals and nonmetallic materials with equiaxed or deformed grain shapes, with uniform or duplex grain size distributions, and for single phase or multiphase grain structures, use the companion standard ASTM E1382.

Use Document Center’s website, www.document-center.com, to purchase all your ASTM standards.  The document not only can be delivered as soon as you place your order, but will be tracked by our notification service at no additional charge.  This means that you will receive an email update each time the standard is revised.  For more information, contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’re here to assist you with all your standards questions and requirements.

New Revision B released for MIL-HDBK-6870, Nondestructive Inspection Program Requirements for Aircraft and Missile Materials and Parts

MIL-HDBK-6870 Revision B, “Nondestructive Inspection Program Requirements for Aircraft and Missile Materials and Parts,” has just been released and is now available from Document Center Inc.  This 28-page handbook provides the guidance for defining the requirements for establishing a nondestructive inspection (NDI) program for evaluation of structural components in development, production or sustainment of U.S. military aircraft and missiles systems. It is directly applicable when referenced in the item specification contract or order.

MIL-HDBK-6870 is the replacement document for the old MIL-I-6870, which was withdrawn in 1996.  It applies to structures for aircraft and missiles when the design activity or system specification requires nondestructive inspection for production acceptance, and recurring nondestructive inspection for long-term sustainability.

This handbook may also be applicable to mechanical equipment, subsystems and propulsion systems but the guidance should be tailored for such use. This handbook applies to all phases of the system life cycle: acquisition, modification and sustainment.

The NDI Program Plan should be developed at the beginning of the development phase and should define all NDI requirements to be adhered to during system development, test, production, and sustainment.

Like all military handbooks, this document is for guidance only and cannot be cited as a requirement.  Marginal notations are not used in this revision to identify changes with respect to the previous issue due to the extent of the changes.  Revision B replaces the previous edition, MIL-HDBK-6870A, which is now obsolete.

All publicly distributed (non-classified) military specifications, standards, and handbooks are available from Document Center Inc.  We have an extensive collection of obsolete documents as well as the current editions.  Use our website, www.document-center.com.  Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We are available Monday to Friday from 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time to help you with any questions you may have.