Vibration spectrum analysis runs on handheld PC

Datastick Systems introduces new-generation handheld vibration spectrum analysers for machine diagnostics and predictive maintenance - available in the UK from Lightwave Scientific.

Datastick Systems introduces new-generation handheld vibration spectrum analysers for machine diagnostics and predictive maintenance - available in the UK from Lightwave Scientific.

The all-new Datastick VSA-1214 or VSA-1215 vibration spectrum analyser module attaches to a state-of-the-art Palm TX handheld computer running Datastick Spectrum version 1.6 software.

This system collects vibration measurements and displays and stores them as time waveforms and FFT spectra.

Included is the Datastick Reporting System (DRS), which imports the data from the handheld into a special Microsoft Excel-based application on the PC.

The Datastick hardware module has extremely low-noise analogue input for standard ICP-type accelerometers and velocity sensors with optimised digital circuitry and a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery using proprietary power management circuitry to allow it to operate and power ICP sensors far beyond an eight-hour shift.

The system displays and records overall vibration and ISO vibration severity alerts, as well as acceleration waveforms with a resolution of up to 6400 points (3200 points for the VSA-1214); and acceleration, velocity, or displacement spectra with up to 3200 lines of FFT resolution (1600 FFT lines for the VSA-1214).

User-selectable maximum frequencies range from 20kHz down to 50Hz (10kHz to 50Hz for the VSA-1214).

The tenth-order hardware antialiasing filter provides an extremely clean signal, while new low-noise electronics and specialised algorithms keep the noise floor so low that velocity signals are useable down to 1Hz (60 cycles per minute).

The new version of the Datastick Spectrum software for the Palm handheld computer takes full advantage of the Palm TX's bright, high-resolution 320 x 480 pixel full-colour display either in portrait or landscape views to make it easier to see nuances in FFT spectra.

The spectrum, overall vibration, and ISO-based alert levels are all encompassed in one comprehensive view.

Cursor-position readouts show specific values and harmonic orders when the user touches a data point with a finger or the handheld computer's stylus, and the stylus and touch screen can also be used to zoom and pan directly to areas of interest.

Datastick Spectrum version 1.6 allows users to record vibration data directly onto removable Secure Digital (SD) cards with capacities of 2Gbyte and higher.

Users transfer vibration data to a PC either by using the Palm handheld's pushbutton HotSync feature or by copying the data directly from the SD card.

The new handheld vibration spectrum analysers offer a low cost solution to predictive maintenance.

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