VOL. 26, NO.4, OCT., 1986

NATIONAl CONFERENCE OF STANDARDS LABORATORIES

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Hap y 2 th Birthday NCSL This letter from your President was a little late this month

and I could think of a thousand excuses why, including that I was out of the country accepting the Nobel Peace Prize. But the truth is, I've been daydreaming and reminiscing with a copy of the 25th Anniversary Newsletter on my desk. This issue has brought back a lot of memories of days gone by. 25 years doesn't appear to be a long time, but when you sit back and consider how many memories and personal relationships you have accumulated, you realize considerable time has passed.

Membership during this period has risen from less than 100 corporations, agencies, etc. in 1964, to over 750 today. On the same note, we're very proud to say that as part of this growth, last month we had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new office in Boulder, Colorado. This office will be staffed by full-time ded­icated NCSL people.

Glancing through back issues of the Newsletter and looking at the same faces from one year to the next, (and might I add

that some people are avoiding the aging issue by using the same mug shot as used in the much earlier issues!) displays the dedication of many of the individuals who have been instrumental in bringing the National Conference of Standards Laboratories to its position of importance and recognition in today's society.

Just looking at the individuals who have served the Organization for at least five years in the capac­ity of being on the Board of Directors, totals 34. It is the efforts of these and other dedicated people with the Organization who have brought us to the forefront of the measurement community, and established the NCSL as being the true voice of the standards world.

By the time this edition of the Newsletter hits the streets, our 25th Anniversary Conference will be an item of the past, but nevertheless, the most memorable. Under one roof, at one time, there will have been over fifteen of the individuals who have held the position of either Chairman or President of the National Conference of Standards Laboratories.

To the 25th Anniversary Committee, I commend you on your efforts, thank you for bringing back the wonderful memories, and shame on you for reminding me that I'm getting older.

Edward Nemeroff President

NCSL NEWSLETIER VOL. 26 NO.4 OCT 1986

ISSN 0194-5149 USPS 469-030

Publisher: National Conference of

Standards Laboratories c/o NCSL Secretariat Suite 305B 1800 30th St. Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 440-3339

Editor: John L. Minck, NCSL Editor Hewlett-Packard Co., Bldg. 5U P.O. Box 10151 Palo Alto, CA 94303-D889 (415) 857-2060 Facs (415) 494-1379

The NCSL Newsletter is published quarterly in Boulder, Colo., by the National Conference of Standards Laboratories. It is sent to NCSL­member organizations and to a special listing of activities andkey personnel whose work is closely related to that of NCSL. The subscrip­tion price of $25 is included in the annual dues. (3 copies per issue) Non-NCSL member subscriptions are available for $15 per year. Make remittance to the NCSL Secretariat.

NCSL is a non-profit association of laboratories and organizations that maintain or have an interest related to measurement standards and calibration facilities.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

Send old and new address to NCSL Secretariat, Suite 305B. 1800 30th St., Boulder. CO 80301. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to NCSL Secretariat, Suite 305B. 1800 30th St.. Boulder, CO 80301.

Second class postage paid at Boulder, CO 80303 or at additional mailing office at Palo Alto, CA 94303.

BOARD OF REVIEWERS

Delbert Caldwell Robert Lady John Martin Ed Nemeroff Hillary Taff Robert Weber

•••Articles and other items appearing in the NEWSLETrER express the views of authors and contributors and are not necessarily those of the Editor or the National Conference of Standards Laboratories.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NCSL BOARD MEETING 3 AUDITOR'S STATEME T 90 0

TRAINING INFORMATION 100

NBS NEWS-UPDATE ON ELECTRO·OPTICAL MEASUREMENTS 13 COMMITIEE NEWS 160 ••• 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••

NCSL NEWSNOTES 220 • .. • .. • .. • .. • .. .. • • • • • .. • ••

NCSL SECRETARIAT MOVES 270

CSL CALENDAR 29.. 0.00.00. 0 ••••••••••• 0 •••• 000 ••••••••••••••• 0 0

NBS NEWS 31o ••••••••••••••••••••• 0 ••••••••••••••••

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF METROLOGY ARTICLES 0 •••• o. 350

WELCOME TO OUR NEW NCSL MEMBERS o. 400 0 .....

REPORTS FROM THE REGIONS 410" 0 •••••• 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••

NCSL MANAGEMENT ROSTER 460 • • • .. • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••

HERBERT BAReLAY It is with great sadness and deep personal sorrow that I infonn you of

the passing of Herbert Barclay, Teradyne Inc., Boston, MAo Herb died June 30, 1986, after a brief illness. He had been an active member of NCSL and will be greatly missed by the Region 1 Measurement Com­munity.

Herb was a Navy Veteran of WWII, serving our country in the Pacific Theater, and never lost his love of the sea. He was a boating enthusiast, and taught navigation and boating fundamentals to Power Squadron Students during his very limited spare time.

Herb was granted a BBA in Engineering Management in 1955 and a BSEE in Electronics in 1972 from Northeastern University. He went to work for GTE Systems Group in Needham, MA. in 1956 providing that company with 25 years of dedicated service until his retirement in 1982. But retirement was not for Herb; he soon became restless and re-entered the work force as Chief Metrologist for Teradyne in 1983. His professional­ism in that capacity quickly gained him the respect of both his co-workers and management alike.

Herb will be remembered by members of Region 1 as a true gentleman and a dedicated colleague.

Larry Potaro, Teradyne Inc.

EDITOR'S MESSAGE Sorry I missed you all at the 1986 gathering of the NCSL clan. We

hope you enjoyed the 25th Anniversary Issue of the Newsletter.

NCSL Newsnotes

typical of the ways in which I have spent the past 14 years of retirement: the binoc­ulars are used for bird, plant, and scenery "watching"; the mini motorhome is our pre­ferred way of travel. Except for the Texas citrus belt, we have been within a hundred mi les or so of every spot in the United States (the lower 48, that is; we've been to Alaska, too, but not to Hawaii since it was a state).

This new Application Note 326 from HP, "principles of Microwave Connector Care for Higher Reliability and Better Measurements", might be a good handout and reminder for your technical troops. It covers cleaning, gauging, and alignment details. You can get one or more copies from:

Inquiries Manager Hewlett-Packard Company 1801 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94303

It has been a pleasure to keep in touch with some of you "old timers" through the NCSL newsletter. Bill's death was one of the unpleasant facts that I learned through the Newsletter.

Best wishes,

ApplicatioD Note 326 • -4.'

Coulal SysleJDI ,. Principles of microwave connector care (for higher reliability and better measuremenI3) -: ..

IW13: H~Wt.ETT

~I=IACt<ARD

Harvey W. Lance

* * * * * * * * * *

WHAT'S THE FIRST THING TO WEAR OUT IN MICRO­WAVE METROLOGY?

There are probably a number of answers to that question. But one answer we could all agree on is "coaxial connectors." They suffer serious abuse from many people who should know better. And the results usually range from frustrating to catastrophic in Metrology.

Spinning the body of a Type N connector acts just like a milling machine on the center pin. This creates losses for power sensors and inaccuracies on noise sources and all sorts of trouble for the cal kits of auto­matic vector network analyzers. Dirty and worn surfaces cause repeatability hassles we don't need.

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NCSL SECRETARIAT MOVES TO NEW QUARTERS

Effective September 29, NCSL will move their administrative offices from NBS, Boulder to the address below:

1800 30th Street Suite 305B Boulder, Colorado 80301

Phone: (303) 440-3339

Effective October 1, 1986, Kenneth Armstrong will aSSume the position of NCSL Business Manager. Ken has for the past several years performed as the NCSL Secretariat under the support of the National Bureau of Stan­dards. We are fortunate to retain his experience as an independent NCSL emerges.

GOOD LUCK, NCSLI

If any questions exist relating to the Bob Weber>, Vice ppesident far> Oper>ations; Joanrelocation, please call Ken Armstrong: Wilshir>e, Administr>ative AS8istant; Pete England, Past Pr>esident; Ken Ar'TIlstr>ong, NCSL Busines8 Manager>;Effectlve 09/29/86 (303) 440-3339 and Bob Kemper>, Dir>ector> of NBS Boulder> Labor>atoPies, watch as Ed Nemer>off, NCSL Pr>esident, cuts the r>ibbon to the new offices of the National Confer>ence ofBob Weber standar>ds Labor>ator>ies, Vice President Operations

* * * * * * * * * *

NCSL WORLD HEADQUARTERS

Cr>08Sr>OadS Gar>dens is the name of the building at 1800 30th Str>eet in Boulder>, Color>ado, wher>e the new home office of the National Confer>ence of Standar>ds Labor>atones is located. The new addr>es8 i8 1800 30th Str>eet, Suite 305B, Boulder>, CO 80301. Telephone (303) 440-3339.

HELLO THERE, JOAN

Joan Wilshir>e is the Administr>ative AS8istant for> the NCSL Headquapter>s Office in Boulder>. Joan comes to us with a long line of secr>etar>ial and communications cr>edits that will smooth the tr>ansition fr>om Jo Emer>y and Dor>is Schaffner> whose outstanding competence we r>elied on when NBS 8uppor>ted the Secr>etar>iat.

- 27 ­

NCSL Secretariat Moves

GETTING THEIR ACT TOGETHER

Joan Wilshir>e and Bob Weber> (standing) J~lank. NCSL pr>esident Ed Nemer>off, at the initial meet~ng ~n the Cr>ossr>oads Gar>dens confer>ence r>oom. seated to Weber>'s r>ight is Pete England. On the left ar>e Ken APmstr>ong and Bob Kamper>.

SAME MANAGER--NEW LOCATION

Ken A-r>mstr>ong, NCSL Business Manager>, sits at his desk in the new NCSL home office. As an employee of the National Bur>eau of Standar>ds (NBS), Ken was chosen to manage the NCSL Secr>etar>iat beginning July 1, 1976. He continued in that position until ter>mination of NBS suppor>t of NCSL Secr>etar>iat, September> 30 of this year>. Now r>etir>ed fr>om NBS, he was hir>ed by the NCSL Boar>d of Dir>ector>s to continue in the NCSL management position.

I'm delighted to continue my association with NCSL. It is a dynamic association of or>ganizations r>epr>e­sented by outstanding people," says Ken.

Thanks, Ken, we too ar>e happy that you ar>e still on our> management team.

THANKS, BOB

Dr>. Rober>t A. Kamper>, Dir>ector> of the National Bur>eau of Standar>ds Boulder> Labor>ator>ies, r>eceives an engr>aved wall plaque fPom NCSL Past ppesident, Pete England. The inscpiption r>eads: "Pr>esented to Dr>. Rober>t A. Kamper>, National Bur>eau of Standar>ds, by the National Confer>ence of Standar>ds Labor>ator>ies, in r>ecognition of yOUr> valuable ser>Vices as OUr> sponsor>'s delegate fr>om 1983 to 1986. The entir>e member>ship is deeply appr>eciative and the gr>ateful thanks of each member> delegate is her'eby extended." Yes, Bob, thank you sincer>ely for> those year's of suppOr>t.

NCSL, THIS IS NANCY

Nancy is the Cr>ossr>oads Gar>dens execu~ive-suite secr>etar>y who will take our> calls when ne~ther> Joan Wilshir>e nor> Ken Ar>mstr>ong can answer> the telephone. She will give your> messages to Ken or> Joan. Depend on it!

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NEWS FROM NBS ANNOUNCEMENT OF SPECIAL TEST SERVICE

The Temperature and Pressure Division of the National Bureau of Standards announces a Special Test Service* for helium permeation leak artifacts in the range 10-8 molls (2xlO- 7 atm cc/s @ O· C). A Report of Test, which will present the measured value of leak rate over a nominal temperature range of 0 to SO·C, will be issued for each arti ­fact submitted.

All leak artifacts submitted for measurement must meet the following specifications:

1. Nominal value of helium leak rate of the artifact at room temperature must be between 10-8 and 10-11 molls (2xlO-4 and 2X10-4 and 2xlO- 7 atm cc/s @ O·C).

2. Construction: all metal reservoir and tubing, of ultra-high vacuum type design, ending in a standard 2. 7S" conf lat-type f lange on the vacuum end, and a sealed helium reservoir.

3. The leak element must be of a sealed glass design, permeable to helium gas, and structurally rugged.

4. An easily observable customer identifi ­cation number or code must be engraved on the circumference of the 2. 7S" flange.

This Special Test Service must be scheduled in advance. To obtain a Test Authorization Number and shipping instructions, send a request stating name, organization, mailing address, telephone number, number of leak artifacts to be evaluated (with nominal leak rates, at room temperature, in mol/s), and any other pertinent information to:

Dr. Charles Ehrlich Leak Program, Special Test Service

Metrology Building/ASS National Bureau of Standards

Gaithersburg, MD 20899 (301) 921-2121

The fee for this Service will be at cost, which will be determined at the conclusion of the measurement. Estimated fees will be from $2000 to $4000, U.S., per leak arti ­fact. For further information, contact Dr. Charles Ehrlich or Mr. Richard Hyland at (301) 921-2121.

*This Special Test Service involves a meas­urement or calibration method which is still being perfected and for which all the qual­ity control documentation has yet to be com­pleted (ref. NBS SP2S0 1986-88).

* * * * * * * * * *

NBS PUBLISHES NEW CALIBRATION SERVICES GUIDE

NBS C<Jllbratioo Set,icesUsers Guide 1986-88

NBS has published a new "users guide" list ­ing calibration services, special test services, and measurement assurance pro­grams (MAPs) available from the bureau.

The physical measurement services of NBS are designed to help the makers and users of precision measurements achieve the high­est possible levels of measurement quality and productivity. The hundreds of individ­ual services described in the users guide are the most accurate calibrations of their type available in the United States. The calibrations directly link a customer's precision equipment or transfer standards to national measurement standards.

The calibrations and special tests include NBS services that check, adjust, or char­acterize instruments, devices, and sets of standards. The MAPs are quality control programs for calibrating a customer's entire measurement system.

The following measurement calibration areas are listed in the new guide: dimensional; mechanical (including flow, acoustic, and ultrasonic); thermodynamic; optical radia­tion, ionizing radiation; and electromag­netic (including dc, ac, rf, and micro­wave) . The guide explains fees, types of

Regional Reports

Pete England William Fry Kim Gill Frank Hajney Pete Kilstofte Ken Landis Brad Lewis

Thomas Marshall

Carolyn Middleton J. Montage Paul Nelson Julio Netto J. Payton Dennis Pinnecker Glenda Ringard Richard Ringard Ralph Schneider Rolf Schumacher Donald Seky Byron Smith Kenneth Smith Leon Steffy Neal Straub Samuel Stucy Robin Varner Henry Voznick

General Dynamics Re"Lired Hewlett Packard Douglas Aircraft General Dynamics/Convair Hughes/Fullerton Statham Divison of Solartron Company Allied Signal Energy Controls Imed Corporation Imed Corporation Hughes/Fullerton Ringard Metrology Teledyne Ryan Elec. Rockwell International Ringard Metrology Ringard Metrology Pacific Missile Test Rockwell International Honeywell/Viking Labs Imed corporation Imed Corporation Scope*Tek General Dynamics/Convair Digital Equipment Corp. Imed Corporation Wahl Instruments

Mo~e of the San Diego t~adema~k. Sun, sun, and mo~e

sun.

Ou~ Long-time f~iend, BiLL F~y, fo~e~Ly with GIDEP, aLso 8uPfaced fPom petipement.

- 44 ­

July 2, 1986 Region Report Graham Cameron International Region Director

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - ISRAEL

A letter was received from Israel requesting support in establishing an Israeli section. Grisha Deitch, Head of the Standards Divi­sion of the National Physical Laboratory of Israel, met with me in Ottavla on June 29th to discuss plans and approaches.

Two member organizations are located near Haifa, four in the Tel Aviv area and the National Laboratory in Jerusalem. Mr. Dei tch felt that travel to a certain point would not constitute a problem for our members.

CANADIAN SECTION ACTIVITIES--PLANNING FOR 5TH ANNUAL MEETING

Duane Brown, our Canadian Section Coordi­nator, organized and chaired the planning meeting for our November meeting at Alexander Tools, Burlington, Ontario, June 26th. The dozen members of the planning group decided our meeting format could be expanded from 1 to 2days. this may occur in 1986 or 1987 depending upon program and facilities.

The 6th Annual Canadian meeting is currently schedule at:

ational Research Council of Canada Montreal Road Ottawa, Ontario, Canada November 6, 1986

Principle themes are:

* Measurements and Uncertainties * Metrology Education * National Research Council of Canada-­

Its Me surement * Services and Their Importance to the

Canadian Measurement System

CANADIAN NATIONAL FIEASUREMENT REQUIREMENTS SURVEY

Some 108 responses were received, entered in the data base and reported to the National Research Council of Canada. All respondents recei ved summary reports collated by three regions--Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and Maritime Provinces.