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Recently, a scientific comparison of flatness measuring instruments at European National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) was performed in the framework of EURAMET. The specimen was a well-polished optical surface with a maximum measurement aperture of 150 mm in diameter. Here, we present an evaluation concept, which allows the determination of a mean flatness map taking into account different lateral resolutions of the instruments and different orientations of the specimen during measurement. We found that all measurements are in agreement with the mean flatness map within the uncertainty intervals stated by the participants. The aim of this scientific comparison is to specify an appropriate operation and evaluation procedure for future comparisons.

This paper shows the result of work of the Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics at Warsaw University of Technology and the Length and Angle Division of Central Office of Measures (GUM) [1] in building an automatic multiwavelength interferometric system with extended measurement range for calibration of long (up to 1 m) gauge blocks. The design of a full working setup with environmental condition control and monitoring systems, as well as image analysis software, is presented. For length deviation determination the phase fraction approach is proposed and described. To confirm that the system is capable of calibrating gauge blocks with assumed accuracy, a comparison between the results of 300 mm length gauge block measurement obtained by using other systems from the Central Office of Measures is made. Statistical analysis proved that the system can be used for high precision measurements with assumed standard uncertainty (125 nm for a length of 1 m). Finally the comparison between our results obtained for a long gauge block set (600 mm to 1000 mm long) and previous calibrations made by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) [2] is shown

The key comparison EURAMET.L-K8.2013 on roughness was carried out in the framework of a EURAMET project starting in 2013 and ending in 2015. It involved the participation of 17 National Metrology Institutes from Europe, Asia, South America and Africa representing four regional metrology organisations. Five surface texture standards of different type were circulated and on each of the standards several roughness parameters according to the standard ISO 4287 had to be determined. 32 out of 395 individual results were not consistent with the reference value. After some corrective actions the number of inconsistent results could be reduced to 20, which correspond to about 5% of the total and can statistically be expected. In addition to the material standards, two softgauges were circulated, which allow to test the software of the instruments used in the comparison. The comparison results help to support the calibraton and measurement capabilities (CMCs) of the laboratories involved in the CIPM MRA. Main text To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCL, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

An industrial standard steel ball plate of dimension 420 mm with 25 ceramic balls in a 5 × 5 arrangement was circulated among 12 European NMIs. The measurement task was the calibration of the centres of the 25 balls. The measurements were conducted between 2004 and 2006. One NMI withdrew from the comparison. The other 11 NMIs measured the ball plate and delivered data. The artifact was found to be stable during the duration of the comparison. For the analysis both the deviations from the KCRV and the En numbers were calculated. Most results agreed very well within the claimed uncertainty. A few results showed some larger deviations, e.g. length periodic modulations of the differences from the KCRV which still were within the claimed uncertainty, but might be a basis for some optimization of the measurement process. However, because of the significant length of time between the measurements and the final report, the optimization was already completed in most cases. Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCL, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

This paper describes common efforts of Warsaw University of Technology and Polish Central Office of Measure to build a multiwavelength interferometer with extended measurement range to calibrate long gauge blocks. To achieve this goal modified automatic fringe pattern analysis method based on fringe fraction method is proposed. The setup with special chamber with active temperature control to stabilize environmental conditions has been build. To assure correctness of measure factors like temperature, pressure, humidity and concentration of CO2 are need to be constantly monitored by network of sensors. Summarizing all this efforts we are presenting gauge blocks calibration results with uncertainty analysis.

The key comparison EURAMET.L-K1.2011 on gauge blocks was carried out in the framework of a EURAMET project starting in 2012 and ending in 2015. It involved the participation of 24 National Metrology Institutes from Europe and Egypt, respectively. 38 gauge blocks of steel and ceramic with nominal central lengths between 0.5 mm and 500 mm were circulated. The comparison was conducted in two loops with two sets of artifacts. A statistical technique for linking the reference values was applied. As a consequence the reference value of one loop is influenced by the measurements of the other loop although they did not even see the artifacts of the others. This influence comes solely from three "linking laboratories" which measure both sets of artifacts. In total there were 44 results were not fully consistent with the reference values. This represents 10% of the full set of 420 results which is a considerable high number. At least 12 of them are clearly outliers where the participants have been informed by the pilot as soon as possible. The comparison results help to support the calibration and measurement capabilities (CMCs) of the laboratories involved in the CIPM MRA. Main text To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCL, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Several standard and measures laboratories are using typical Koester interferometers (KI) and routine measurement procedures for evaluating the practical length of block gauges. In the paper the modification of KI by introducing laser light source and phase shifting element for automatization of interferogram analysis by temporal phase shifting method are presented. From phase data obtained the flatness, parallelism and length deviation of gauge block are automatically determined. The methodology and software procedures for this process are introduced and the examples of measurement are shown.

The results of the supplementary comparison EURAMET.L-S20 of laser distance measuring instruments (EDMs) are reported. It was the first comparison of EDMs. Four EDMs were circulated among 13 European NMIs. Each EDM was calibrated at a distance of 0.3 m and at regularly spaced intervals every 5 m for a range up to 50 m. The measurements were conducted between 2011 and 2012. The test of the stability of the EDMs showed significant changes in the mean results over timescales of months or even days. The uncertainty of the results mainly comes from the uncertainty due to the reproducibility, and it is difficult to distinguish the part relevant to the laboratories' calibration and measurement capabilities. For the analysis both the deviations from the reference value and the En numbers were calculated. For the evaluation of the reference value, the weighted mean approach has been chosen, although the consistency check failed in many cases. A more complicated procedure for the evaluation of the reference value was proposed, which slightly changes the uncertainty of the reference value. Most results agreed within the claimed uncertainties. Some 4.7% of the results showed some larger deviations. Some participants may have a high percentage of values that are not compliant with their CMC claims due to the influence of the artifact and the estimation of its uncertainty. Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCL, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Determination of a phase correction is necessary when making interferometric measurements of gauge blocks with an auxiliary platen. The phase correction compensates for the differences in the reflecting properties of the gauge block and the platen surfaces. Different phase corrections are reported for gauge blocks of different manufacturers, made from different materials and with different surface roughness compared to the platen. In this paper, the process of selection of the best surface roughness parameter and the influence of different complex refractive indices of the same type of material are analysed. The new surface roughness parameter based on the difference between the weighted mean of maximum and minimum asperities of 3D surface roughness measured by a modernized Linnik phase shifting interferometer is introduced. The results of comparison of the phase correction values calculated from the difference between the weighted mean values and calculated from stack method measurements are presented and discussed. The complementary method of phase correction measurement based on the cross-wringing method with the use of the modernized phase shifting Kosters interferometer is proposed.

The results of the inter-RMO key comparison EUROMET.L-K5.2004 on the calibration of a step gauge are reported. Eighteen National Metrology Institutes and one Designated Institute from four different metrological regions all over the world participated in this comparison which lasted three years, from December 2004 to December 2007. A lack of stability was observed through the shifting of some of the inserted gauges. In order to save the comparison and get valuable and useful conclusions, it was agreed to exclude four gauges from calculation and assume that only seven gauges were reasonably stable so as to get the corresponding reference values. It was also agreed to divide the participants into two groups, analyze separately their results and, taking the pilot as the linking laboratory, refer the results to common reference values. The inverse-variance weighted mean was taken as reference value. Due to the significant instability of the step it was also considered an artefact uncertainty. The reported uncertainties ranged from 0.045 ?m to 1.2 ?m (k = 1). The uncertainty of the artefact ranged from 0.018 ?m (for the 20 mm face) to 0.176 ?m (for the 400 mm face). The compatibility of all participants for measuring step gauges was demonstrated with the only exception of a participant showing very high systematic (both positive and negative) errors. Five participants communicated higher uncertainties than the corresponding approved CMCs. A set of Recommendations and Actions were agreed therefore. Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCL, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

At its meeting in Prague in October 1999, the EUROMET Technical Committee for Length, TC-L, decided upon a supplementary comparison on gauge block measurements, numbered EUROMET.L-S12, with the National Metrology Laboratory Ireland (NML) as the pilot laboratory. NPL, UK, agreed to act as co-pilot and linking laboratory to the corresponding key comparison, EUROMET.L-K1, by making both mechanical comparison and interferometric measurements. The comparison was subsequently registered as EUROMET project 601. This report describes the results of measurements of eight gauge blocks at thirteen European national metrology institutes. This comparison was carried out during the period from April 2001 to September 2002. The primary measurement quantity was the deviation of the central length of the gauge block from its nominal length, as defined in ISO 3650. The central length was determined by mechanical comparison against the laboratory reference gauge blocks using an appropriate mechanical comparator. Where possible, the participants also determined the variation in length across the surface of each gauge by undertaking measurements at five points on the surface of each gauge against the central length of the laboratory reference gauge block. The results obtained show a good overall agreement of measurement results with the calculated mean values. The uncertainties claimed in the CMC tables are broadly in line with those achieved in this supplementary comparison. Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by EUROMET, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).