The positioning influence of dial gauges on their calibration results

In Brazil dial gauges are among the mostly used measurement instruments in industrial dimensional metrology. The objective of this work is to study the positioning effect of the dial gauge in the vertical position and in the horizontal position on the uncertainty of their results in tests and measurements. By using a system with optical solution (laser), with an interferometer method of displacement control, calibrations were performed in six new dial gauges, from two different manufacturers, with scale interval of 0.01 mm and measuring range of 10 mm. All differences between the obtained values were below the values of the calculated uncertainties of the involved calibration processes. No meaningful differences are noticed, when the dial gauge is either in vertical or horizontal position. This factor produces an effect that does not deserve being considered as a source of meaningful contribution to the final uncertainty of the results of measurements.