Rion VM-54 User manual

3-20-41 Higashimotomachi, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-8533, Japan
http://www.rion.co.jp/english/
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
3-Axis Vibration Meter
VM-54

i
Organization of this manual
This manual describes the features and operation of the 3-Axis Vibration Meter
VM-54.
The manual contains the following sections.
Outline
Gives basic information on the conguration and features of the unit, and
contains a block diagram.
Controls and Functions
Briey identies and explains all parts of the unit.
Preparations
Explains power supply and pre-use checks, installation, connections, key
settings, and other steps.
Reading the Displays
Explains symbols and other information that appears on the two displays
of the unit.
Power-On/Off
Explains how to turn the unit on and off.
Measurement
Explains the steps for measurement.
Default Settings
Lists the ex-factory default settings of the unit.
Option Program Installation/Uninstallation
Explains how to install and uninstall the option program software.
Output Connectors
Explains the output connectors of the unit.

ii
* All company names and product names mentioned in this manual are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Reference Information
Provides additional information that is helpful for using the unit.
Specications
Lists the technical specications of the unit.
The product described in this manual is in conformity with the following
standards;
EN61000-6-2:2001
EN61000-6-3:2001 + All:2004
ISO/FDIS 8041:2004
Note: CE requirements are met provided that a core filter is fitted to
every cable.
To conform to the EU requirement of the Directive on
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, the symbol
mark on the right is shown on the instrument.
This product can be used in any areas including residential areas.

iii
FOR SAFETY
In this manual, important safety instructions are specially marked as shown
below. To prevent the risk of death or injury to persons and severe damage
to the unit or peripheral equipment, make sure that all instructions are fully
understood and observed.
Caution
Important
Disregarding instructions
printed here incurs the risk of
injury to persons and/or dam-
age to peripheral equipment.
Disregarding instructions
printed here incurs the risk of
damage to the product.
Mentioned about the tips to
use this unit properly. (This
messages do not have to do
with safety.)
Note

iv

v
Precautions
Operate the unit only as described in this manual.
Take care not to drop the unit, and protect it from shocks and vibra-
tions.
The permissible ambient temperature and humidity range for operation
of the unit is -10 to +50ºC, 90% RH or below.
Do not use or store the unit in locations that may be subject to extreme
temperature or humidity, to splashes of water, high levels of dust, or to
direct sunlight. Also avoid air with high salt or sulphur content, gases,
and the vicinity of stored chemicals.
Observe the following precautions after using the unit:
• Always switch off the power.
• When the unit is not to be used for an extended period, remove the
batteries to prevent possible damage caused by battery leakage.
• When disconnecting cables, always hold the plug and do not pull the
cable. Do not apply excessive force.
Clean the unit only by wiping it with a soft, dry cloth or, when neces-
sary, with a cloth lightly moistened with water. Do not use any solvents,
cleaning alcohol or cleaning agents.
Do not tap the LCD panel or other surfaces of the unit with a pointed
object such as a pencil, screwdriver, etc.
Do not insert any objects such as pins, metal scraps, conducting plastic
etc. into any opening on the unit.
Do not disassemble the unit or attempt internal alterations.
If you suspect that there is a problem with the unit, contact your sup-
plier.
Have the unit checked and serviced regularly.
When disposing of the unit, follow national and local regulations regard-
ing sorting and recycling of materials.

vi
Contents
FOR SAFETY............................................................................... iii
Precautions......................................................................................v
Outline ............................................................................................1
Controls and Functions ..................................................................3
Front panel ................................................................................3
Input/output section .............................................................3
Display section ....................................................................4
Control section ....................................................................4
Right side view .........................................................................8
Bottom view .............................................................................9
Preparations .................................................................................11
Power supply ........................................................................... 11
Accelerometer connection ....................................................... 14
Connection to external device (level recorder, DAT etc.) ........16
Setting the date and time ........................................................17
Backup battery......................................................................... 18
Measurement in dark locations ...............................................19
Adjusting the sub display contrast ...........................................20
Calibration ..............................................................................21
Reading the Displays ....................................................................23
Main display ...........................................................................23
Sub Display .............................................................................25
Menu screens .....................................................................28
Power-On/Off .............................................................................. 31
Power-on .................................................................................31
Power-off ................................................................................32
Measurement ................................................................................33
Instantaneous value measurement
(acceleration rms value measurement) .....................33
Maximum hold .......................................................................35

vii
Default Settings ............................................................................37
Option Program Installation/Uninstallation .................................38
Installing the option program .................................................39
Program installation failure ............................................... 41
Uninstalling the option program .............................................42
Output Connectors .......................................................................43
AC Output ..............................................................................43
Reference Information ..................................................................44
About the external power switching jumper pins ....................44
Input connector .......................................................................46
Frequency characteristics ........................................................47
Specications ...............................................................................48

viii

1
Outline
The VM-54 is a vibration meter capable of measuring acceleration in
three axes X, Y, Z. The unit can be used with the 3-axis accelerometer
PV-83C/PV-83CW, and various other sensors such as piezoelectric accel-
erometers and accelerometers with built-in preamplifier can also be con-
nected via a 3ch preamplifier VP-80. Two measurement modes are avail-
able, namely instantaneous value and maximum value hold. AC outputs for
X, Y, Z allow connection of a general-application data recorder or a DAT
recorder. The optional Marine Vibration Card VX-54WS as well as other
option program cards for hand-arm vibration measurement and whole-body
vibration measurement enable use for a wide range of applications to evalu-
ate the influence of vibrations upon humans.

2
Outline
3-Axis Vibration Meter VM-54 Block Diagram
ATT AMP1 LPF AMP3
AMP2 LPF ATT AMP4
AMP4
AMP4
A/D
D/A
CONV.
ATT AMP1 LPF AMP3
AMP2 LPF ATT
ATT AMP1 LPF AMP3
AMP2 LPF ATT
A/D
D/A
CONV.
Input
Z
X
Y
DSP RAM
MAIN
LCD I/F MAIN LCD
SUB LCD
SUB
LCD I/F
P I/O
Printer I/F
KEY I/F
RTC
Card I/F
ROM
RAM
CPU
DC/DC
Conv.
OVER
AC output
Analog select
Power supply
AC adapter
(Option)
4 batteries

3
Controls and Functions
Front panel
Input/output section
Input connector
The 3-axis accelerometer PV-83C/PV-83CW can be connected here, using
connection cable EC-54 (optional).
To connect a piezoelectric accelerometer or accelerometer with built-in
preamplier, use the optional 3ch preamplier VP-80.
Output connectors
These are BNC connectors which carry an AC output signal for the X,
Y, and Z axis.
3-AXIS VIBRATION METER VM-54
Input Output XYZ
Sub Display
Meas. Time Store Mode
Level Range
XYZ
Sub Display
Mode
X/Y/Z
Max Hold
Reset
Display
Menu Light
Cal
Powe r
Output
Install
RION
Control section
Input/output section
Display section
Input Output XYZ
Input connector Output connectors

4
Controls and Functions
Display section
Main display
Shows the instantaneous value, maximum hold value, and setting infor-
mation.
Sub display
Shows the bar graph screen, 3-axis measurement screen and other mea-
surement screens. The sub display also shows menus.
Control section
Note
Protective lm
The unit is shipped with a protective lm covering
the operation panel. When using the unit, you can
remove this lm.
Meas.Time Store Mode
Output Sub Display
3-AXIS VIBRATION METER VM-54
Main display Sub display
Level Range
XYZ
Sub Display
Mode
X/Y/Z
Max Hold
Reset
Display
Menu Light
Cal
Power
Install
Level Range keys
X/Y/Z key Mode key Start key
Menu key
Light key
Cal key
Power key
,keys
Max Hold Reset key
Install key
Sub Display key
,keys

5
Controls and Functions
Level Range keys
These keys control the level range for the X, Y, Z axis.
The key switches the level range up, and the key switches the level
range down.
X/Y/Z key
Switches the vibration axis to be shown on the display.
With each push of the key, the display cycles through the settings in the
order X Y Z X etc.
Mode key
Switches the display mode.
Each push of the key cycles toggles between instantaneous value and Max
Hold (maximum value hold).
Start key
Serves to set the date and time (page 17) and make default settings (page 37).
Menu key
Pressing this key brings up a menu screen 1/2 on the sub display.
Pressing the key changes the menu screen 1/2 to 2/2. Pressing the key
again closes the menu display. When an option program is installed, the
menu has three pages in VM-54 mode.
The menu can also be closed by pressing any other key except the Light
key, Power key, and , , , keys.
Light key
This key turns the backlight for the main display and sub display on. This
is convenient when using the unit in a dark place. To turn the backlight
off, press the key again.
When the unit is operating on battery power, the backlight will be au-
tomatically turned off after 10 minutes. When the unit is powered from
an external power supply, the backlight will not be automatically turned
off.
Battery current consumption increases by a factor of about 2 when the
backlight is on.

6
Controls and Functions
Cal (Calibration) key
This key serves for level matching between the outputs of the unit and
peripheral equipment.
If you press the Cal key immediately after power-on, while the initial-
ization screen is still shown, the software version of the VM-54 will be
displayed.
Power key
Serves to turn the unit on and off.
Hold down the key for at least one second to turn power on or off.
After switching the unit off, wait at least ve seconds before turning power
back on again. Otherwise the unit may not start up properly.
, keys
When the sub display is showing a menu screen, these keys serve to select
a menu item.
, keys
When the sub display is showing a menu screen, these keys serve to change
the setting of the selected item.
Max Hold Reset key
Resets the value of the maximum hold function.
Install key
To install or uninstall an optional program, hold down this key while
turning on the unit with the Power key.
Sub Display key
Switches the function mode of the sub display.
With each push of the key, the display cycles through the 3-axis bar graph
screen, 3-axis measurement screen, and settings check screen.

7
Controls and Functions
Unnamed keys (indicated by *symbol)
The four unnamed keys (indicated by a *symbol in the illustration be-
low) have no function in the normal operation mode of the VM-54. If
you press one of these keys, the indication "Invalid operation!" appears
on the sub display.
These keys perform certain functions only when one of the option pro-
grams (for marine vibration measurement, hand-transmitted vibration
measurement, or whole-body vibration measurement) is installed.
Level Range
XYZ
Sub Display
Mode
X/Y/Z
Max Hold
Reset
Display
Menu Light
Cal
Power
Install
*
*
*
*

8
Controls and Functions
Right side view
External power supply jack
The optional AC adapter NC-98C (for 100 to 240 V AC) can be connected
here to power the unit from an external source.
I/O connector
This connector has no function in the normal operation mode of the
VM-54. The connector provides a printer output signal only when one of
the option programs is installed.
Card slot
One of the option program cards can be inserted in this slot. In the
VM-54, this slot does not function as a regular memory card slot for
saving data.
External power supply jack
I/O connector
Card slot

9
Controls and Functions
Bottom view
External power switching jumper pins
Normally, the supplied jumper should be set on the side marked "A" ( JP1
AB ).
If the jumper is set to the side marked "B" ( JP1
AB ), the VM-54 comes on
even without pressing the Power key when the external power supply
becomes active.
Caution
The external power switching jumper pins
are small and pointed. Take care not to hurt
your ngers.
Important
Never connect any equipment to the external
power switching jumper pins. Otherwise dam-
age can occur.
Remove the batteries from the unit if it is to be used
with the jumper set to the side marked “B”.
Remove the batteries from the unit if it is to be
stored for a long time with the Power key set
to OFF to prevent possible damage caused by
battery leakage.
JP1
AB
R14P(SUM-2) 4
or LR14 4
External power switching jumper pins
Name plate Battery
compartment
Battery compartment lid

10
Controls and Functions
Battery compartment
Holds four IEC R14 (size "C") batteries.
Name plate
Shows the serial number of the unit as well as the manufacturing date
and other information.