The best benchtop multimeter - an open letter from Roger Peniche, Director of Engineering at Fluke Calibration

Engineering innovation to solve customer problems

This year on World Metrology Day, I spent time reflecting on the dedicated engineers I’ve had the pleasure to work with during my tenure at Fluke Calibration and the innovations they’ve dedicated their careers to achieving. Our engineering fleet spans the globe, several generations, and numerous calibration and engineering disciplines. Recently, one of those teams launched the world’s best benchtop multimeter in terms of being the most stable and accurate digitizing multimeter. One engineer on that project humbly stated those advances were simply “clever engineering.”

What is innovation if not clever engineering that is directed towards solving customer problems? Solving tough engineering challenges is what we do. It’s what moves technologies, industries and visions of a better future forward.

In celebration of our innovators and the spirit of Forward with Fluke Calibration, I’d like to highlight some of the solutions made possible by our team—and the engineers that made them happen.

New 8588A and 8558A Reference Multimeters: the background 

There are several reliable long-scale digital multimeters in the market.  However, our customers voiced a strong need for more impactful innovation in this space. Electrical metrology laboratories needed a long-scale multimeter with higher stability and accuracy. Automated test equipment users requires a combination of higher system throughput and high accuracy measurements to meet the most demanding manufacturing applications of precision components and instruments.

Our project team developed a reference multimeter that holds 2.7 ppm accuracy over one year, outperforming best-in-class legacy technology in both stability and accuracy for all metrology applications.

Highlighted improvements

Digital RMS

Digital Root Mean Squared, or Digital RMS, is the effective value or magnitude of a varying quantity such as an alternating voltage. Traditionally, engineers use an analog method to obtain the RMS value. For the 8588A and 8558A the team used a sampling system through an analog-to-digital converter to calculate the RMS value mathematically. This method allows the RMS to be much faster, using parts that are more stable to time and temperature.

Common hardware input buffer for ac/dc

In a hardware input buffer the input signal is adapted to suit the measurement circuits. In the past, buffering has been good for low frequency and dc, or for higher frequencies, but not for both. For the 8588A and 8558A the team utilized a composite design that operates from dc to 10 MHz, making these meters more reliable than older models.

Software measurement buffer

A software buffer is where information is held for processing.  8588A and 8558A information is held for processing in a software buffer. One of our firmware developers created a more efficient method to store and process this information. His method, along with the use of dual core processors, enables the 8588A and 8558A to process data fast—more than 100,000 readings per second. We were proud to recently see him present this inventive new method at an international software conference.

Thanks to the teams

Market response to the 8588A Reference Multimeter and the 8558A 8.5 Digitizing Multimeter has been literally overwhelming.  There were many people and departments involved in making these products a success. I'd like to personally thank our engineering team for your hard work, impactful engineering and dedication to the spirit of Forward with Fluke Calibration.

Recommended resources

Watch brief video overview of all Fluke bench multimeters: Choosing a Digital Bench Multimeter

8588A Reference Multimeter Introduction Video

Overview of 8558A and 8588A calibration support processes and equipment requirements

Recommended products

8588A Reference Multimeter

8558A 8.5 Digit Multimeter