What is Calibration? Instrument calibration is one of the primary processes used to maintain instrument accuracy. Calibration is the process of configuring an instrument to provide a result for a sample within an acceptable range. Eliminating or minimizing factors that cause inaccurate measurements is a fundamental aspect of instrumentation design. The Importance of Calibration T he figure above depicts how a properly performed calibration can improve product performance. Ideally, a product would produce test results that exactly match the sample value, with no error at any point within the calibrated range. This line has been labeled “Ideal Results”. However, without calibration, an actual product may produce test results different from the sample value, with a potentially large error. Calibrating the product can improve this situation significantly. During calibration, the product is “taught” using the known values of Calibrators 1 and 2 what result it should provid...