Calibration mission supports APG organizations

By YVONNE JOHNSON, APG NewsOctober 7, 2009

Title
Charles Gaines, an engineering technician with the Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment support center in building 2482 in the Aberdeen Area, loads a 120,000-pound High Force Machine, one of hundreds of pieces of equipment used for calibration ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Research, development, test and evaluation organizations on Aberdeen Proving Ground would have a hard time completing their missions without the Support of the U.S. Army Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Support Center, Aberdeen.

Located in building 2482, 2484 and E-5106, the TMDE is a branch of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command's TMDE Activity, headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

The activity is one of eight sites in the Northeast, Region 1 tasked with the calibration and repair of the Army's test, measurement and diagnostic equipment.

The APG TMDE support activity consists of two sites in the Aberdeen and Edgewood areas. The Aberdeen site is the only secondary level calibration lab in the Army accredited to ISO 17025, the international standard for competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

What this means for APG customers, according to TMDE chief Daryl Y. Williams, is the highest level of accuracy and reliability.

"Calibration is the keystone to Army maintenance," Williams said. "This is a special lab because most of our customers are in research and development. Like our customers, we're supporting the Soldier in the field because we maintain the testing equipment being developed for Soldiers.

"The installation is gaining a lot of new organizations that may not know we're here," he said. "We just want to get the word out that TMDE support is in place at APG for all calibration needs."

He noted that other TMDE sites in the region include Fort Meade, Md.; Fort Eustis, Va.; Letterkenny Army Depot, Pa.; Fort Devens, Mass.; Fort Dix, N.J.; Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pa.; Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Mich., and Fort Drum, N.Y.

The TMDE activities regularly support the missions of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Test Center, Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense and Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic.

"We are the only accredited lab away from Redstone," said engineering technician Jack Derrenberger, who oversees the calibration of humidity and temperature devices at the EA site. "And we substantiate our numbers," Derrenberger said. "We don't just say it's accurate, but why it's accurate."

All work is traceable through the national institute, he added.

"We offer a much higher level of calibration," he said. "We talk to people nationally and internationally, and our operation is highly esteemed by our peers."

Williams said the operation is audited annually and every two years by international auditors.

"We consistently receive high marks, due to the fact that we continuously train on current and new equipment and prepare for assessments," Williams added.

He credits the 22 technicians and engineers, many former Soldiers, which make up the TMDE team for sustaining the award-winning operation.

Multiple services

In building 2484, located in the Aberdeen Area, technicians calibrate equipment such as light meters, parnometers and sound equipment. In the nearby Assembly and Acceleration room technicians calibrate equipment for tactical vehicles that measures the impact of explosions, crash tests and vibrations.

In the Force Torque Area electronics maintenance mechanic Jose Rivera-Alvarez uses the AKO Torque Master to calibrate torque wrenches that are used to tightens bolts that are used on tanks or helicopter rotor blades. He explained that equipment must meet the presets and standards displayed on the screen of the AKO.

"This indicates when the peak hold is reached and the test is complete," he said.

Inside the Pressure Module, a climate controlled room that must be maintained at 68 degrees at all times, technicians perform air or fluid pressure checks, usually on ballistics research equipment, pressure gauges and digital pressure , length, height and angles reading instruments.

Extra care for precise measurements is taken in the Mass Area Balances and Scales lab where the floor is supported by a concrete slab that isolates vibrations and technicians must wear gloves when handling the calibration weights.

"Any amount of oil on the hands would be enough to change the weight," said engineering tech Charles Gaines.

This room is a sealed, climatically controlled environment with gauges that monitor humidity and airflow.

"Sensitivity to vibrations affects balances and to keep people from moving in or out of the room I often have to lock the door," Gaines said.

Retired Sgt. 1st Class Norman Hardy taught calibration with the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and Schools before retiring from the Army in 1978. He now is the lead technician in the TMDE Electrical Standards Lab where they test items for electrical resistance and electrical conduction, voltage, current, frequency measure and generation.

"Our objective is to test, ensure it's working properly and get it back to the customer," Hardy said. "We consistently meet those standards; which is one reason we do more than the standard lab. This is the best lab in the world."

The TMDE supports the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy job shadowing program.

For more information about the APG TMDE Support Center, contact Williams, 410-278-4464 or daryl.y.williams@us.army.mil.