NO! This is not a rant about the world coming to an end due to global warming. In this column I’ll discuss the conditions required for dimensional measurement and let environmental types sort out the rest of the universe.
First, a quick look at the easy stuff. The environment in a lab or inspection department must be clean so that you’re not measuring over dirt. Similarly, it has to be relatively free from physical vibrations which, if bad enough, will cause digital displays to constantly change. At one time, humidity was a concern when electronic comparators were in use but today’s solid state electronics have removed that problem. However, most labs keep humidity in the 40-50% range to prevent rust from forming on highly finished surfaces.