7 Best-Selling Step Calibration Blocks

How do you find the best-selling calibration blocks in the market today?

If this question has been on your mind for a while, then you are reading the right guide to help you solve this issue. Calibration blocks are essential tools for ultrasonic testing devices. They help to set the accuracy and to remove cumulative errors that have been accumulated over a long period for these UT tools. However, it can be daunting searching and locating a suitable one for your peculiar inspection needs. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. This guide shows you the seven best-selling step calibration blocks available to you today and how to select the most suitable one for your needs. So, without further ado, let’s dive in. 

I. 7 Best-Selling Step Calibration Blocks Roundup

Here is a roundup of the best-selling step calibration blocks in the industry today. 

① 5 Step UT Calibration Block

As the name implies, this step calibration block has five steps, but it also has other unique features than its five steps. One of these features is a marker for every step, which helps you identify the required calibration thickness with different thicknesses that include 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 inches as the variable thickness given by each step of the calibration block. The material is often 1018 steel grade, and the overall dimension is 120x50x10mm. 

② Alloy Step Wedge Calibration Block

This step wedge calibration block is available in various alloys, including alloy steels, nickel alloys, and refractory alloys. It is also available in various step designations, including 5 and 10 step blocks. Additionally, it features step markers to identify the start points of different block thicknesses, which correspond to the thickness testers. 

③ 4 Step Calibration Block 

This ultrasonic step calibration block is made of 4 steps, indicating the four types of thickness measurement that it can deliver. The thicknesses include 0.1-, 0.2-, 0.3-, and 0.4-inch thickness measures. Often made from 1018 steel but can also be manufactured using other materials. 

④ 10 Step Calibration Block 

This step calibration block is made up of 10 steps indicative of the different ten thicknesses it can measure. These thicknesses include 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 1.0 inches. Mostly available in steel materials and other materials, including aluminum and stainless steel. 

⑤ Steel Step Calibration Block

This step calibration block is used in most basic welding calibration operations. It features a 1018 steel material, making it accurate for measuring thicknesses in steel materials. It can be available in various step options, including 5 and 10 steps. 

⑥ Aluminum Standard Step Calibration Block

This step calibration block is made from aluminum material, making it suitable for calibrating aluminum measuring devices with great accuracy. Also, it can be available in 4,5,6, and 10 step calibration blocks. 

⑦ Ultrasonic Step Calibration Block

Often employed in ultrasonic testing, this step calibration block is applicable in most welding measurements. It is often made from steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, while it can also come as either 5 step or 10 step calibration blocks. 

II. Buyer’s Guide:

This section gives you all the information you need to know about.

1. What is a Step Calibration Block?

Step calibration blocks are simplified designs of parts that represent actual parts with the introduction of certain flaws, including holes, radii, and angles, to standardize identifying these discontinuities accurately. These calibration blocks also undergo the same manufacturing processes as the actual parts, including the lathe, power saw, milling machines, and engravers. However, these calibration blocks are manufactured to meet specific standard requirements like ASME, ISO, IIW, and ASTM. These standards have established requirements that govern the identification and measurements of discontinuities. 

2. Types of Step Calibration Block

Categorizing step calibration blocks often occur using two criteria. The first is the number of steps, and the second is the material of manufacture. Both are equally important in selecting a suitable calibration block for your measurements. 

By Steps:

• 4 Step Calibration Block – This block contains four steps signifying four ranges of thickness measurements for calibration. It can be manufactured from several materials, including steel and alloys. However, they are mostly made from carbon steel with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 as the different levels of step thickness. 
• 5 Step Calibration Block – The 5 step implies five different thickness measurements. However, it offers more accuracy and more measurement options than the 4-step calibration block. It is often studier and can also be made from various materials, including steel and other alloys.
• 10 Step Calibration Block – This step calibration block is slimmer but offers more options for the inspector who has a wide range of thickness measurements to consider and who wants to accomplish this with less stress. It mostly comes as 1018 steel but can also be made from other metals. 

By Material: 

• Steel Step Calibration Block – obviously made from carbon steel, this step calibration block is very suitable for measuring steel materials with high accuracy. It can be made for various steps, including 4,5,6 and 10 steps. 
• Alloy Step Calibration Block – This calibration step block is made from alloys like alloy steels, nickel alloys, and refractory alloys. It is exceptionally accurate for measuring alloys with great accuracy. 
• Aluminum Step Calibration Block – Aluminum is employed in manufacturing this step calibration block, and it is employed with great accuracy for measuring aluminum materials. 
• Acrylic Step Calibration Block – Made from acrylic materials, this step calibration block is usually applicable where chemical resistance is needed. 

3. Why do you need Step Calibration Blocks for Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge?

Accurately measuring the thickness of various materials is achieved using ultrasonic thickness gauges under different circumstances. However, calibration blocks which are reference tools, are utilized to achieve maximum accuracy. Yet, it is essential to make sure the test block material is as close as possible to the test sample material if you must achieve maximum accuracy. Nevertheless, a calibration block will comprise different steps corresponding to the different material thickness requirements for ideal situations. Also, UT devices are susceptible to error due to the effects of the distance of sending and receiving signals which calibration blocks effectively correct. 

Additionally, understanding the upper and lower limit requirements in this measurement is essential, especially for thin materials. Calibration blocks can effectively determine the lower limits of thin materials below which no measurements should be made. However, the upper limit is always preferable, especially when estimating the thickness range. 

4. What are the Features of the Best Step Calibration Blocks?

To select the best step calibration block, certain features are a must, and you need to be aware of these features to choose a suitable one. The most important feature is usually the material of the calibration block. The reason is that the material is a critical factor in determining the accuracy of the measurement. The second feature is the range of thickness, which increases the accuracy of measurements since the number of steps equates to the number of thicknesses that you can measure with the step calibration block. Also, the markers on the calibration blocks that signify the beginning and ending of various thicknesses is equally essential to enhance the ease of use. 

5. How to Choose Your Step Calibration Block?

When choosing a step calibration block, you ought to critically consider certain factors of selecting a suitable step calibration block. Here are the most critical of these considerations. 

• The manufacturers chosen by famous brands – Most famous brands choose manufacturers with vast industry experience and who have existed in the industry for a long time, giving them so much credibility. This is important as it gives you a high level of assurance that these manufacturers can deliver quality step calibration blocks in a timely fashion.  

• Manufacturer experience – The experience you get from a manufacturer is equally vital. This goes a long way for recommendation and building a customer-centered reputation for the manufacturer. It is also essential for building rapport with the manufacturer for future businesses and repeat service. 

• Application – The use case of the step calibration block is critical. Getting a wrong calibration block for your particular use case can be a disaster since you might not be able to recover the money spent and time wasted in getting that step calibration block. So, consider the application carefully. 

• Price – This factor is probably the most important factor as an unreasonably high price can often be the difference between getting a calibration block or not. Find a step calibration block that is quality and reasonably priced to fit your inspection needs. 

• Precision – If the precision of the step calibration block is low, then the accuracy of the test result will also be low and might be misleading for users of the tool. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, getting an accurate UT thickness testing tool can help you accurately measure the thickness of different components. However, we may need to get a step calibration block that serves as a standard reference for setting the thickness gauge. The absence of a reliable manufacturer’s precise, reasonably priced, and applicable step calibration block can be disastrous. Ensuring that the material of the step calibration block matches that of the test sample is very crucial to getting accurate measurements and quality UT testing. Hence, you may need to get the closest to the test material for your step calibration block.