How often should a user calibrate?
A. Depends. Most manufacturers recommend annual accelerometer calibration, but how a sensor is used and specific test requirements often dictate proper calibration interval. Exceeding the accelerometer’s high or low temperature specifications, or if it is dropped, would be cause for recalibration. If the test object is safety critical or failure of the test object expensive, the calibration interval should be immediately before the test and immediately after the test. Such is the case with space flight hardware. On the other side, if the accelerometer is used only occasionally and there is a documented history of stability, the calibration interval might be extended to every 2 years.
