Ideal calibration lab layout / design - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: itsbiodiversity
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 02:16:54 pm
content: If given the opportunity to design a small scale, fully capable cal lab from scratch (new building, blank slate) - what would your ideal layout be and what duties would you perform in each section? I've been part of multiple labs and start ups, but they were usually constrained in one way or another due to the building not being built specifically for calibration activities.The types of measurements would include electrical, phys dim, pressure, torque, scales, pipettes, etc so a pretty wide range (I am sure I'm missing something). Mid range precision.Can that be accomplished in around 2000 sq ft? I know that a "shop" type area with torque would be required. A roll up door. Quality office.Any thoughts or links to layouts would be greatly appreciated.This post is not about starting a lab or anything - solely the design / layout of the lab environment for best quality and usability.

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 04:53:02 pm
content: Dim is often 20°C ±2°C, Elec is 22°C ±2°C so they need to be separated. Its good to have some sort of double door setup so that airflow from outside won't affect internal labs.Aircon, watch for airflow so the room doesn't have hot and cold spots. Also, avoid fast air flow/movements. Insulate as much as you can. I have been told false ceilings are good. A bigger space allows for more stable temps.Good bright lighting with high CRI and a stuff that doesn't cause extra heat.Try and think about the flow of the work, in, booked, calibrated, done, out. Have plenty of space for stuff to sit and settle, bench space for electrical stuff to warm up.Have desks for people to work at when working but also have spaces away from kit for working but not necessarily calibrating. Just my 50p worth.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 06:08:08 pm
content: That would be a lot to think about.I would base it on the Keysight El-Segundo CAL laband the Keysight Loveland CAL labThis should give you some good starting points.Hopefully your budget is open ended!

author: itsbiodiversity
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 06:27:30 pm
content: Thanks for those links!

author: itsbiodiversity
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 06:42:44 pm
content: Maybe a more specific question would help.Which type of activities would you see as being able to share a room, but on different benches? For instance, temperature and pressure.What activities would you devote a room to?Is one large shared room good for most activities (with some benches with the dividers) and another "shop" type room for larger items. One additional room for scales - would you share that with phys. dim. or would you separate those two.Also - this theoretical lab is "small" and often times entire areas are not used for lengthy periods. Item types for phy would be calipers/mics/indicators nothing crazy. Item types for electrical would be handheld DMM. Pressure would be lower accuracy gauges, rarely digital.

author: Henrik_V
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2021, 04:40:07 pm
content: Different temperatures .. different roomsanother point is noise... some automatik cal devices make noise.. seperate them.some cal routines need concentrated continious human work .. seperate them.I've seen a lot of cal labs with a lot of small rooms seperated by glas ..If operators work a lot with eyes (dimensional .. optics ..) give them a window bench on the north side ..new building .. electric measurements: dedicated .. seperatated, clean, low impedance earth/ground ..If you arleady have operators... include them into the planning!