Vibration Analyser - Which is the best in Australia and why 2

[Comalco4874]

Hi
I am looking for a best fit vibration analyser for our site. Where as we do have fixed and mobile plants our primary goal is to start measuring triaxial vibration of single and triple deck screens. In the market I am confused with every one is saying it is the best. Secondly, I do not consider dual channel analyser is THE analyser for our purpose. Often associated software cost, accessories cost and host of other associated issues including training are add ins to the total package cost. Unfortunately lack of customer services could be another cost factor. Our plant is in North Queensland Australia.

Could you please share with your experience on this search, which ones do you recommend and why ? Any link will be appreciated. I have some information but will appreciate to hear from the forum.

Regards

Posted on 15 February 2003.

 

[GregLocock]

Is a laptop based system physically robust enough, or do you need an industrial unit?

Do you need to be able to analyse on site?

Is 3 channels enough?

What have you looked at so far and why don't you like them?

What sort of accelerometers and signal conditioning will you be using?

Will you be doing impact testing? Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[Comalco4874]

Greg
Thanks. My response is next to your question.
Q= 1= Is a laptop based system physically robust enough, or do you need an industrial unit?
ANSWER : We need this system to be used for our site and does not need to be the same as used by professional vibrationa consultants for various plants at different places. I suppose cost is an important criterion and not sure what you meant by a lap top system vis a vis industrial system. It is normal to take a lap top to log data on site.

QUESTION : Do you need to be able to analyse on site? ANSWER : Yes

QUESTION : Is 3 channels enough?
ANSWER : Don't know. I thought even dual channel for measuring vibration for screens is more than adequate and probably single channel should do. I was raising question and seeking assistance to understand.

QUESTION : What have you looked at so far and why don't you like them?
ANSWER : I am afraid to provide information in public why don't you like them. It is risky as the answer will be in negative and may not liked by the supplier.

QUESTION : What sort of accelerometers and signal conditioning will you be using?
ANSWER : Don't know and asked the same question.

Q : Will you be doing impact testing?
ANSWER : NO

 

[GregLocock]

If single channel is OK then the simplest system will probably do the job. I strongly recommend a two channel system because that gives you the option of doing 'proper' analysis if you decide you need to.

Laptops are not quite robust enough for everyday use in the field, but we have gone that way because of the enormous advantages they give us (plus when we bust a laptop we just buy another one, this is cheaper than maintaining our dedicated systems). Check out

http://www.prosig.co.uk

for a system that is infinitely extendable.

If you don't want to name names, I will.

HP (Agilent as they now are) little 2 channel analyser (33560?) Now sold by other people (eg SKF, I think) - easy to use, powerful, accurate. Probably the best of the handheld analysers

PL22/SD222 Similar to the above, has some weird operability issues, technical support was hopeless

Ono Sokki - generally powerful, accurate, and very difficult to learn to use, since the manuals are written in Japglish, and the user interface is designed by software engineers.

B&K - too elaborate for your jobs, I think, and a longish learning curve for their more complex units.

In terms of build quality I find that there is little to choose between HP, Ono Sokki and B&K.

I've also used a couple of dedicated balancing handhelds, can't say I was wildly impressed. These can be reprogrammed by inserting a new card and used for other tasks.

A useful company to talk to is Davidsons in Melbourne. If you have any contacts at Vipac they can probably give you a few hints as well, although I think they often roll their own software.

So far as costs go I guess you are looking at $A 10k-30k, depending on bells and whistles.

Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[GregLocock]

http://www.gracey.com/prod-10a.htm

The DI2200 is the same hardware as the PL22. Does the technical spec of that unit meet your requirements?

Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[Comalco4874]

Thanks Greg
Since you have named it I am giving additional information. We are examining products made by CSi /Msc CSi 2120 A vs B& K Product. My concern is to find out the effectiveness of the product and cost associated with a software as a part of total package. It was good that you mentioned about B & K with others. What is your view on CSi/Msc products ?

Regards

 

[sms]

We use CSI at most of our 20+ plants for routine data collection. We have been very happy with the equipment. In the USA CSI and Entek IRD have the majority market share for this type of equipment.

The Equipment Greg has listed is all excellent, but is geared to be flexible for diagnostic purposes, which also makes it more complicated to learn, and not a user friedly for taking routine data on a scheduled basis. The portable data loggers like the CSI 2120 are geared toward gathering a lot of data over a long period of time with a route type approach, and by technicians that may not have the training necessary to run those other instruments. They don't have the flexibility of the instruments Greg has listed, but certainly do have most of the analysis capabilities necessary for good diagnostics.

The other nice thing about the CSI is that it is pretty bullet proof once it is setup and running, so OEM support becomes less of an issue.

I have a HP 3560, and I have run the Ono Sokki's on previous jobs. The HP collects dust for the most part unless I need to do impact testing. The Ono Sokki is probably too complicated for what you want to do.

 

[GregLocock]

thread384-39286

Hopefully some of the others with experience of CM will get involved. Do you need order tracking ? Do you need waterfalls, or Campbell diagrams?

At one of our sites we have the CSI balancing analyser - it is OK, with good tech support.

Which B&K were you using? If it is the PULSE system then I think it is probably too elaborate for you (but if you try it and don't like it give it to me!). The 214x series are nice units, again a bit too complex for CM/PM, I think. But they are strong and tech support is excellent. Neither of these are handhelds. The 2260 is handheld, and is the B&K product that I find hardest to use, and like least, in 20 years of messing about with (sorry, using) B&K gear.

From a google search I'd say it's horses for courses - CM and PM people tend to use CSI, if you want to do deep investigations (and it sounds like you don't) then run with the B&K.

Incidentally the VB1 mentioned by dgallagher in that other thread looks like the sort of thing I'd expect you to want. Its even got a 3 year warranty - that is confidence! Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[Comalco4874]

Dear Greg and SMS
Thanks for your assistance in responding my queries. If I am not too bothering you could any one of you two or some one from the group please share your experience with VB series prodcuts manufactured by Commtest Instruments from NZ? Are these products user friendly ? If the Ascent Software supplied with it gives value for money, user friendly and fit for purpose ? How reliable are the hardware of VB series are ? How good they compared to CSi or B&K products ?

Best regards

16 February 2003

 

[dgallagher]

My $0.02 worth of advice: Check out Commtest Instruments VB Series - the analyzers and software are less than half the price of CSI, Entek, DI, etc. - are made in New Zealand, and their support is very good. They have several reps in your country:

http://www.commtest.com/fset2.html