Evaluation of Measurement Uncertainty and Calibration Traceability for Gauge Thermometers and Vernier Calipers
Keywords:
calibration, gauge thermometer, measurement , metrological traceability, uncertainty, vernier caliperAbstract
This study analyzes measurement uncertainty and metrological traceability in the calibration of a gauge thermometer and a vernier caliper at the Standardization and Industrial Services Center of Medan. The calibration was performed using a comparison method against traceable reference standards under controlled laboratory conditions. The gauge thermometer was tested at five temperature points (20°C, 60°C, 100°C, and 140°C) with five repeated measurements at each point to evaluate repeatability and measurement consistency. Meanwhile, the vernier caliper was calibrated at six nominal length points (25 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm, 125 mm, and 150 mm) with three repeated measurements for each point using gauge blocks as reference standards. The results show that the gauge thermometer exhibits systematic deviation, particularly at the lowest temperature point (20°C), with an error of +3°C, while higher temperature points show smaller deviations. The vernier caliper demonstrates good repeatability with small deviations ranging from 0.05 mm to 0.20 mm across measurement points. These results indicate that both instruments are still usable but require periodic calibration and correction to maintain accuracy. This study emphasizes that structured multi-point calibration and repeated measurements improve the reliability of uncertainty evaluation and strengthen metrological traceability. The findings contribute to better calibration practices in laboratory and industrial environments by supporting more reliable measurement results in accordance with international metrology standards.
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