Traceable measurement of micro forces involved during stylus profiling is described. For this purpose two methods based on a transferable cantilever-type force standard were developed using the cantilever deflection and the output voltage of an integrated piezoresistive strain gauge. Force calibration was performed with commercial stylus instruments in the range of 10 - 200 µN.

The purpose of this paper is to show the needs and to propose a new methodology for a better dissemination of torque quantity in Brazil. Starting traceability from the Force, Torque and Hardness Laboratory (LAFOR) in the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality (INMETRO), an improvement to the Primary Torque Standard was necessary. In the same way, the acquisition of new transfer and reference standards, together with the development and adoption of new methods for torque calibration systems characterization, are important for a better acting of Inmetro’s Accreditation and Laboratorial Proficiency Testing Division (DICLA). In the methodology for that dissemination and harmonization, this proceeding lists what are important points to be on focus.

Hydrometers are simple but effective instruments for measuring the density of liquids. In this work, we present the new hydrostatic weighing system developed at the INRiM, formerly IMGC – CNR, for the calibration of hydrometers in the range 500 kg·m^-3 to 2000 kg·m^-3.
The apparatus which uses a method to automatically align specific scale-marks for the calibration of hydrometers, makes easy the whole calibration procedure and allows to reduce the former uncertainty declared by laboratory. It consists of a vision system, a stepping motor, and software to control the system. The vision system, composed of a CCD camera and a frame grabber, is used to acquire images. The overall performance of the apparatus is illustrated by the assessment of the uncertainty for some usual kinds of hydrometers sent to the Institute for calibration.

A density standard realized by 1 kg silicon spheres has been used for measuring the density of solid samples by hydrostatic weighing. Details are given for the structure of the measurement system, procedure for the solid density measurement, and uncertainty evaluation. The density of a 1 kg silicon sample has been measured with a relative combined standard uncertainty of 1.2 parts in 10⁷. When the effect of covariances in input quantities is taken into account, the relative combined uncertainty in measuring the density difference between the silicon spheres and the silicon sample may be reduced to 3.6 parts in 10⁸. Uncertainty sources in the hydrostatic weighing and the effect of covariance in the input quantities are discussed.

Electromagnetically compensated balances (ECB) are reliable and well-established weighing instruments. As completely electromagnetically compensated types they are commercially available with mass ranges from two grams to several kilograms. They also represent a highly stable and linear scale for force. In this publication it will be shown how ECBs can be used for force standard machines (FSM) having a range of a few Newtons and a feed-back stabilized resolution of single micro Newtons. Moreover, such FSMs conform to the future requirements of continuous calibration.