Measurement instruments for laboratories and industry.
Objective: Recognize the importance of measuring instruments in the industry.
Content:
• Measurement tools
• Classification of measuring instruments
• Method of operation of the Instruments
• Measurement units
• Types of Measuring Instruments
Measurement tools
They serve to obtain numerical values of physical magnitudes, allowing the
properties of objects, substances or phenomena to be quantified and compared.
These are essential tools designed to provide a solution to professionals such
as technicians, engineers, maintenance personnel, laboratory personnel,
security personnel, companies and entities that need measurement solutions in
their field of activity.
Classification of measuring instruments
Measuring instruments can be classified in various ways 1. Below are some of
the most common classifications:
1. According to the principle of operation:
• Electrical 2: They use electrical principles to make measurements, such as
voltage, current or resistance.
• Hydraulics: They use principles of hydraulics to measure pressures, flows,
among others.
• Mechanical: They are based on mechanical principles, such as the use of
gears, levers or springs, to make measurements.
• Pneumatics: They use principles of pneumatics to measure pressure, flow,
among others.
2. According to the measured magnitude:
• Length: Instruments used to measure distances, such as rulers, tape
measures or calipers.
• Mass: Instruments for measuring the mass of objects, such as scales or
scales.
• Time: Clocks and stopwatches used to measure elapsed time.
• Temperature: Thermometers and thermocouples used to measure
temperature.
• Pressure: Manometers and pressure transducers used to measure the
pressure of gases or liquids.
• Flow: Instruments that measure the amount of fluid that passes through a
point in a certain time, such as flowmeters.
• Electrical properties: Instruments used to measure current, voltage,
resistance, capacitance, among others.
3. According to the level of precision:
• Low precision instruments: Those that offer a precision of less than 1%.
• Medium precision instruments: Those that offer a precision between 1% and
0.1%.
• High precision instruments: Those that offer a precision of less than 0.1%.
Method of operation of Instruments
1. Mechanical method: These instruments use mechanical principles, such as
gears, levers, and springs, to make measurements. For example, a vernier
caliper or graduated ruler are mechanical instruments used to measure lengths.
2. Electrical method: Electrical measuring instruments use electrical principles
to make measurements. For example, a multimeter is an electrical instrument
that can be used to measure voltages, currents, and resistances.
3. Optical method: Some measuring instruments use optical principles to make
measurements. For example, a microscope is used to measure magnification
and observe objects at a microscopic level.
4. Electronic method: Electronic measuring instruments use electronic circuits
and transducers to convert physical quantities into electrical signals that can be
measured and processed. For example, a digital thermometer uses electronic
sensors to measure temperature.
Measurement units
• Length
• Time
• Mass
• Volume
• Temperature
• Speed
• Pressure
• Energy
Types of measuring instruments in the laboratory
1. Pipettes: used to measure precise volumes of liquids.
2. Volumetric flasks: These are used to measure exact volumes of liquids.
3. Burettes: used to measure volumes of liquids with high precision and
accuracy.
4. Analytical balances: used to measure the mass of substances with high
precision.
5. Thermometers: used to measure the temperature of a sample or
environment.
6. pH meters: used to measure the pH of a solution.
7. Spectrophotometers: These are used to measure the absorbance or
transmittance of a sample at different wavelengths.
8. Conductivity meters: These are used to measure the electrical conductivity of
a solution.
9. Centrifuges: used to separate components of a sample using centrifugal
force.
10. Microscopes: used to observe objects or samples at a microscopic level.
Types of measuring instruments in industries
1. Caliper: Used to measure external and internal dimensions of objects with
high precision.
2. Thermometer: It measures temperature in different ranges and is used in
industries such as chemical 2, pharmaceutical and food.
3. Pressure gauge: Measures the pressure of gases or liquids and is used in
industrial applications such as pneumatics and hydraulics.
4. Flow meter: Measures the flow of liquids or gases and is used in industries
such as chemical 2, petrochemical and process industries.
5. Multimeter: Measures voltage, current and electrical resistance, and is used
in electrical and electronic industries.
6. Scale: Measures the mass of objects and is used in industries such as food
2, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
7. Micrometer: Measures small dimensions with high precision and is used in
manufacturing and machining industries.
8. Luxmeter: Measures the intensity of light and is used in industries such as
lighting and photography.
