METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING CALIBRATION CYCLES BASED ON ACTUAL TOOL USE FOR TOOLING AND INSTRUMENTS REQUIRING PERIODIC CALIBRATION

摘要

A method and apparatus for verifying calibration of a tool used in a repetitive applications, the tool having at least one part that moves with respect to another part of the tool during each repetitive application. An electronic sensor and a microcontroller operatively coupled to the tool detects and counts each repetitive application. A motion sensor provides an indication to the microcontroller of each repetitive application. The microcontroller stores a continuous count of the number of repetitive applications and compares that count to a predetermined maximum number of counts allowed during a calibration cycle, and provides a signal indicating when the stored continuous count reaches the predetermined maximum count. The signal may be a local visual indicator and a transmitted signal to a remote location to indicate that the tool is in need of re-calibration.