Software upgraded on PDA-based vibration analyser

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 19, 2006

Performance upgrades shipped of both software components for PDA-based vibration spectrum analyser for predictive and condition-based maintenance.

Datastick Systems has shipped performance upgrades of both software components of its PDA-based VSA-1212 vibration spectrum analyser for predictive and condition-based maintenance.

Version 1.2 of Datastick Spectrum software for the PDA provides a maximum frequency of 10kHz with FFT spectrum displays of 400, 800 and 1600 lines.

FFTs are calculated up to three times faster than before, and time-domain waveforms are displayed at resolutions up to 3200 points.

Michael Scandling, VP of Marketing, said: "Datastick Spectrum's upgrade improves the display of higher frequencies - the frequencies that most often indicate faults in rolling-element bearings".

"This is crucially important in troubleshooting and diagnosing machine health problems quickly to prevent costly breakdowns, especially of mission-critical equipment".

"We are sending free upgrades to all our customers".

In addition to hardware that attaches to the Palm OS PDA and Datastick software for Palm OS handheld computers, the VSA-1212 system includes companion desktop PC software: Datastick Reporting System for VSA for Windows-compatible PCs.

Version 1.2 of the reporting system lets users magnify the display of any time span or frequency span and automatically detect spectrum peaks within any selected span.

"This magnification feature enhances visualisation because it exceeds the zooming capability of DRS's underlying Microsoft Excel software", said Scandling.

"DRS is popular with customers, who tell us that they like being able to exchange data files freely with anyone who has Excel".

The vibration spectrum analyser is made up of four major components: the VSA-1212 hardware module, which snaps onto the back of a Palm OS PDA; Datastick software for the PDA; Excel-based Datastick Reporting System; and a Palm OS PDA.

The system can use any standard off-the-shelf ICP-type industrial accelerometer; the sensor plugs into the VSA-1212 module.

Datastick puts all the vital waveform or FFT spectral information on one screen on the PDA.

Data can be shown in terms of acceleration, velocity or displacement.

Cursor-point tools enable precise zooming and numerical readout of any data point.

They can also show the relationship between any two data points.

An add-note feature lets the user attach written observations to individual waveform or spectrum captures.

After the data is captured on the PDA, the user exports it to a Windows-compatible PC by pushing a button on the PDA's recharging cradle.

Once the data is on the PC, it is imported into the Reporting System software for analysis using waveform and spectrum graphics, and comparison using stacked spectra and waterfall graphs as well as numerical tables.

Because Reporting System is based on Excel, files and graphs can be read by anyone who has Excel.

"Datastick's open desktop software expands the use of vibration analysis to customers who are not vibration experts, since they can easily email data files to any consultant they choose", said Penny Melrose, CEO.

"And our PDA-based technology makes it easy to begin collecting measurements with minimal training".

Up to 22Mbyte of recorded waveform and spectrum data can be stored in the Palm OS Garmin IQue 3200 or 3600 PDA - data from more than 700 inspection checkpoints - before exporting the data to the PC.

There are six selectable FFT windowing options and a broad selection of maximum frequency options.

An optional ruggedised case protects the system in rough industrial environments.

Handhelds supported include Palm Tungsten T, T2, T3 and C, Palm M-500 series, and Garmin IQue 3200 and 3600.