• Question: What type of mesuments do you use in your day

    Asked by nat123 to Ant, Dan, Matt, Mike, Steph on 12 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by 3214h, glenister123, shola.
    • Photo: Dan Veal

      Dan Veal answered on 12 Mar 2012:

      Lots of them! Last wefek I had to measure the mass of some parts (a camera and a lens) with a mass balance so I could include the weight in my report. I use rulers a lot to measure lengths, to see i things fit with others, and often I’ll just hold a ruler up in the air and try to get an idea of how big 40 millimeters is! (<-you might try this 😉

    • Photo: Mike Salter

      Mike Salter answered on 12 Mar 2012:

      I have to make lots of measurements at work. For example, if I’m testing an electronic circuit I have to check all the different electronic signals are correct. There’s a document which tells me what voltage range each one should be in, so I use something called an Oscilloscope to measure the voltage levels to see if they’re correct. If the circuit is going into space then I have to do all this in a clean room, and I have to wear gloves, a face mask, hair net and gown! It’s not very comfortable!

    • Photo: Matt Maddock

      Matt Maddock answered on 12 Mar 2012:

      Good question!

      I use all sorts of measurements. The obvious one is length; whenever I have to make anything, it’s important that it fits into the space available, or is long enough to reach between two things that need connecting.

      I use various machines to help measure the properties of RF cables and devices. That means I’m using measurements of voltage and time, even current – although to be fair, the machines make those measurements and I use the results.

      Temperature is important in the running of the machines I work with – especially if they end up getting too hot!

      There’s water and gas used for cooling and that has to be monitored in terms of pressure and speed.

      I even sometimes have to measure sound levels to make sure it’s safe to work near the machines.

      That’s a long answer to say: “All sorts!”

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