Dimensional Metrology Group

The Dimensional Metrology Group (DMG) provides unique high-accuracy length-based calibrations and leads documentary standards efforts that are essential to global trade, spur innovation in manufacturing, and promote adoption of innovative measuring technologies. The DMG produces over 15 % of all NIST calibrations by revenue, performing thousands of measurements for industry, academia, and government institutions each year. This includes supplying critical measurement services to the military and their primary standards laboratories, which helps ensure the reliability of assets used to keep U.S. troops safe. The DMG leads documentary standards efforts that prescribe test methods and performance specifications for advanced measuring systems used in the large-scale precision manufacturing industry, including automotive, aerospace, and excavation equipment, one of the largest net-exporters of U.S. produced manufactured goods. Hundreds of millions of dollars in metrology instruments are bought, sold, and warrantied each year using NIST-lead documentary standards, which allow manufacturers to make informed investments in new technologies that improve their efficiency, ensure product quality, and enable global trade.

CALIBRATION SERVICES, Resources, AND DOCUMENTARY STANDARDS

• Resources
  The Engineering Metrology Toolbox provides tools for calculating the index of refraction of air, which is needed for interferometric length measurements, and for calculating the elastic compression of spheres and cylinders at point and line contacts.

COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES

The Dimensional Metrology Group welcomes opportunities to collaborate on joint research, technology, and standards development projects. The group provides multiple opportunities for students, scientists, industry, academia, and other R&D laboratories to collaborate. Specific opportunities depend on current areas of interest within the Group, but may include undergraduate research fellowship, postdoctoral fellowships, visiting scientist, and guest researchers as well as various cooperative research arrangements ranging from formal agreements, such as CRADA, Consortia, and interagency agreements, to informal collaborations. For more details, see Employment and Internship Opportunities and Collaboration Opportunities.