What are your OES calibration intervals and reference standards for traceability?
Rigorous Calibration Schedule and Verification Procedures
Our Optical Emission Spectrometers undergo a comprehensive calibration protocol with daily, weekly, and monthly verification cycles to maintain optimal analytical performance. We perform daily standardization using certified reference materials to correct for instrumental drift, with complete recalibration conducted quarterly or whenever performance verification indicates deviation beyond acceptable thresholds. This systematic approach ensures consistent accuracy for analyzing diverse materials, including Aluminum Alloys, Titanium alloys, and Stainless Steel components produced through various manufacturing processes like Powder Bed Fusion.
Certified Reference Materials and Traceability Hierarchy
Primary Reference Standards
We utilize certified reference materials (CRMs) traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and international standard bodies for all calibration procedures. Our reference material library includes specialized standards for additive manufacturing alloys, high-temperature Superalloy compositions, and custom-matched standards for specific material grades. This traceability chain ensures that all analytical results can be directly referenced to international measurement standards, which is particularly critical for components destined for Aerospace and aviation, as well as medical and Healthcare applications, where material certification is mandatory.
Quality Control Materials and Continuous Verification
Between formal calibrations, we employ secondary control materials with documented homogeneity and stability to continuously monitor analytical performance. These quality control samples are analyzed with each batch of test samples, with results tracked using statistical process control charts to detect any deviations from established performance criteria. For specialized materials such as those used in Automotive applications or Carbon Steel tooling, we maintain material-specific verification protocols that account for the unique spectral characteristics and potential interferences of each alloy system.
Documentation and Compliance Framework
Calibration Records and Audit Trails
Our quality system maintains complete documentation of all calibration activities, including reference material certificates, instrument performance logs, and verification results. This comprehensive documentation supports regulatory compliance and customer audit requirements, providing full traceability from each analytical result back to international standards. The calibration system is integrated with our overall quality management system, which also governs other services including Heat Treatment and CNC Machining validation.
Industry-Specific Compliance
Our calibration protocols adhere to international standards, including ISO 17025 requirements for testing laboratories and industry-specific standards such as NADCAP for aerospace components. The traceability pyramid ensures that even minor alloying elements in materials, such as copper alloys, or trace contaminants in Plastics for Consumer Electronics, are measured with documented uncertainty, providing confidence in material certification decisions across all applications.
