NPL and IMechE launch 'Beginner's Guide to Measurement'
26 April 2013
The National Physical Laboratory and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers have jointly launched the ‘Beginner's Guide to Measurement in Mechanical Engineering'.
Measurement is a key concept for a successful career in mechanical engineering and the Guide will be distributed to Institution members and made freely available to download from the NPL website. It will be especially useful for mechanical engineering students.
At the launch event at NPL on Wednesday (April 24), Martyn Sené, Deputy Director and Director of Operations at NPL, and Isobel Pollock, President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Chair of the National Measurement Office Steering Board, spoke about the importance of measurement and how the Guide can help mechanical engineers.
Explore the guide to find out:
- how a measurement mix-up led to the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter
- the best ways to record measurement results
- the difference between accuracy and precision and the importance of calibration and traceability
- how to calculate uncertainty
- some examples of measurement challenges often faced by mechanical engineers
Martyn Sené, Deputy Director and Director of Operations at NPL, said: "We are delighted to publish this guide in collaboration with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Much of NPL's work feeds into industry and we see first-hand the importance of measurement. Mechanical engineering students can use this Guide to gain new knowledge and skills to help them better apply measurement, this will benefit the companies they work for and the UK as a whole."
Professor Isobel Pollock, President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Chair of the National Measurement Office Steering Board, said: “Measurement is vital to all aspects of engineering – without the correct measurements an aircraft won’t fly, a wind turbine can’t spin and a dialysis machine can’t pump.
“This Guide is a useful introduction to the concept of measurement for mechanical engineers. It is a hugely valuable resource for students to understand the basic principles and to select the best technique for each application.
“Choosing something affordable that gives an adequate accuracy and repeatability is a key skill in becoming a professional engineer. Sometimes the simplest techniques give the best results.”
Download the Guide here.