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Our good practice guides are a practical and informative series of documents designed to meet the needs of industry. They are a user-friendly way to find out about what to measure, how to measure it and how to understand the results. Based on NPL's expertise and experience, our guides will enable you, your customers and your suppliers to be in agreement on measurement issues.
Download our most recent and popular guides free of charge by clicking on the relevant guide below. Alternatively, you can search through all our guides via the link below.
All good practice guides
NPL made every effort to ensure all information contained in these Good Practice Guides was correct at time of publication. NPL is not responsible for any errors, omissions or obsolescence, and does not accept any liability arising from the use of these Good Practice Guides.
This Beginner’s Guide explains the fundamental concepts and basic facts about measurement, and in particular accurate measurement.
This guide aims to explain how a mechanical engineer’s measurements relate to the national standards and to encourage good measurement practice to help make the best measurements possible.
This guide has practical information on the use of callipers and micrometers for internal, external and depth measurements.
This guide covers the selection of the number of measurement points when using Co-ordinate Measuring Machines and gives advice on the compromise between accuracy and speed.
After reading this Good Practice Guide you will be able to better understand the specifications relating to co-ordinate measuring machines.
Understanding the basics of the interpretation of engineering drawings in relation to the measurement process.
This guide is for those who need to make dimensional measurements but are not necessarily trained metrologists. An introduction to length units and key issues such as traceability and uncertainty.
The aim of this Good Practice Guide (GPG) is to provide an overview of some of the issues associated with making accurate elastic modulus measurements from static and dynamic tests.
This guide describes how gloss is specified and measured. It contains recommendations on how to obtain the suitable results for a given application, including descriptions of technology and the assessment of uncertainties.
This Good Practice Guide is intended as a useful reference for those involved in the practical measurement of mass and weight.
Measurement of phase noise has become important in designing and developing systems for communications which pervade so much of our daily life.
Assembling Coin Cells in Half Cell Format. This guide outlines best practice in the assembly of coin cells in half cell format. It is intended as an introductory text for researchers working on battery science. GPG153.
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