In metrology an artifact is a manufactured object whose property serves as a standard: a stainless steel weight, a gauge block, a ring gauge, a step gauge, a standard resistor or an optical flat. Artifact standards are calibrated and then carried, compared or measured, and their stability, handling damage and temperature behavior all feed the uncertainty. They contrast with primary realizations that derive their value from physical constants.
Use the step gauge artifact for the CMM interim check, the ball bar is out for cal.
Also heard as
- artifact standard
- artefact
Related terms
Primary standard
A standard that gets its value straight from the unit definition, not from calibration against another standard.
Check standard
A stable item measured regularly to confirm a measurement process still behaves as it did when characterized.
Transfer standard
A stable, portable standard used to carry a value from one lab or standard to another for comparison.
Jo blocks
Shop name for gauge blocks, precision steel or ceramic blocks wrung together to build reference lengths.