August 2021

www.rittal.co.uk - www.eplan.co.uk TECHNOLOGY n FLUKE RELIABILITY has announced a “unique” vibration monitoring technology that combines hardware and software to analyse a machine’s condition and take appropriate action to avoid downtime, rather than simply screening for problems. The Fluke 3563 vibration analysis system combines a high-frequency piezoelectric sensor, two MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) sensors, and software, allowing maintenance teams to monitor and analyse vibration readings continuously from critical assets. Fluke argues that until now it has been difficult or cost- prohibitive to use vibration- monitoring to monitor every type of machine to reduce downtime and prevent potentially catastrophic failures. By combining hardware, software and services, the new system can give detailed insights into anything from performance tracking to fault analysis, thus improving the reliability of equipment. “The Fluke 3563 vibration analysis sensor is unique in that it combines sophisticated piezoelectric technology with robust software to analyse a machine’s conditions versus simply screening for it,” explains Ankush Malhotra, president of Fluke Reliability Solutions. “This creates a system that recognises each machine’s unique vibration signal to reliably identify the four common faults – imbalance, misalignment, looseness, and bearing damage – much more quickly to minimise equipment downtime.” Users can configure the sensors based on the type of machine being monitored, to generate precise readings without needing to enter severity thresholds manually. The system has an operating frequency range of 2–10kHz which, Fluke says, is up to ten times wider than most vibration sensors. The system monitors two axes to provide detailed information. The wireless sensors have dual connection capabilities – Wi-Fi and Ethernet – allowing them to be used in any facility. The wireless capability makes it easier to monitor machines in awkward locations where walk- around checks would be impossible. Up to 20 sensors on different machines can transmit data to a gateway located up to 100m away. The piezo sensor and software also combine to offer smart battery management, allowing users to determine the data transmission rates, thus extending the sensor’s battery life while still capturing the necessary data. If data is transmitted every ten minutes, the batteries will typically power the device for about a year. Purchasers of the new vibration analysis system will get one-to-one set-up assistance from Fluke experts remotely or on-site, simplifying configuration, commissioning and installation. In Europe, a system consisting of 16 sensors and two gateways will cost €9,770, including one years’ subscription to the system software, which will subsequently cost €20 per sensor per month. www.fluke.com/3563sensors The Fluke 3563 vibrationmonitoring system combines hardware and software to monitor and analyse vibration readings from critical machinery continuously. Up to 20 of the vibration sensors can connect wirelessly to one gateway located up to 100m away. ‘Unique’ vibration analysis technology combines hardware and software