Building a spring-transport package for spinning rotor gauges

Spinning rotor gauges (SRGs) are widely used as transfer standards in interlaboratory comparisons and as secondary standards by calibration laboratories. In both of these applications, it is necessary to ship the SRG for calibration, often internationally over long distances. A spring-transport mechanism is a device used to immobilize the SRG and keep it under vacuum during transport. To assure that the SRG will not be damaged during shipment, it is also important to have packaging that protects the SRG and spring-transport mechanism. This shop-note describes the design and mechanical testing of a robust spring-transport mechanism and shipping container built by National Institute of Standards and Technology.