Rion VM-56 User manual

3-20-41 Higashimotomachi, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-8533, Japan
http://www.rion.co.jp/english/
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Tri-axial Groundborne Vibration Meter
VM-56

i
Organization of this manual
This manual describes the features, operation and other aspects of the Tri-axial
Groundborne Vibration Meter VM-56. If the unit is used together with other equip-
ment to congure a measurement system, consult the documentation of all other
components as well. Pages iii and following contain important information about
safety. Be sure to read and observe these in full.
This 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 features
Briey identies and explains all parts of the unit.
Preparations
Describes power supply and pre-use checks, installation, connections, key
settings, and other steps.
Reading the Display
Explains symbols and other information shown on the display of the unit.
Measurement
Describes the steps for measurement.
Comparator
Explain the operation of the comparator.
Store operation
Explains how to store measurement data.
Card capacity and store time
Lists the data store time corresponding to the SD memory card capacity, etc.

ii
* All company names and product names mentioned in this manual are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Output Connectors
Explains the input and output connectors of the unit.
Default Settings
Lists the factory default settings of the unit.
Setup Files
Explains how to start up the unit using settings saved in a setup le.
Optional Accessories
Explains how to use the optional extension cord with the unit.
Serial Interface
Describes how to use the internal serial interface for connection to a com-
puter, to control measurement parameters and export measurement data.
Reference Information
Lists the battery life and INPUT connector.
Specications
Lists the technical specications of the unit.

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
WARNING
Important
Disregarding instructions
printed here incurs the risk of
death or severe injury to per-
sons.
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
Indicates a prohibited action.
This information is given to
prevent accidents and ensure
safe use of the unit.

iv
Precautions
Operate the unit only as described in this manual.
Take care not to drop the unit, and protect it from shocks and vibrations.
Take care not to drop the vibration meter, and protect it from shocks.
Ambient conditions for operation of the unit are as follows: temperature
range −20°C to +50°C, relative humidity up to 90%RH.
Protect the unit from water, dust, extreme temperatures, humidity, and
direct sunlight during storage. Also keep the unit away from air with high
salt or sulphur content, gases, and stored chemicals during storage and use.
Always turn the unit off after use. Remove the batteries from the unit
if it is not to be used for a long time. Otherwise battery uid may leak,
posing a risk of corrosion and damage.
When disconnecting cables, always grasp the plug and do not pull the
cable.
Store this unit in the right place in the supplied storage case.
Clean the unit only by wiping it with a soft, dry cloth or, when necessary,
with a cloth lightly moistened with water. Do not use any solvents, cleaning
alcohol or chemical cleaning agents.
Do not tap the LCD panel or other surfaces of the unit with a pointed
object such as a pen, pencil, screwdriver, etc.
Take care that no conductive objects such as wire, metal scraps, conductive
plastics etc. can get into the unit.
Do not try to disassemble or alter the unit. In case of an apparent mal-
function, do not attempt any repairs. Note the condition of the unit clearly
and contact the supplier.
Never format optional program cards such as the VX-56RT and VX-56WR
with SD memory card formatting software (such as SD Formatter, etc.).
Otherwise the program data on the card will be erased and the respective
functions can no longer be used. Restoration of the erased program is not
warranted.

v
In order to maintain the “water and dust resistant performance” of the
unit, observe the following precautions.
- Make sure that the battery compartment lid, the side cover and the
top cover of the unit are rmly closed.
- Do not open the battery compartment lid while the unit is wet.
- Do not leave the unit in a wet state. Always wipe off any moisture
and properly dry the unit.
- Have the unit regularly checked and calibrated, to ensure continued
“water and dust resistant performance”.
- We recommend to have the packing inside the case, the side cover
and the top cover replaced regularly (fare-paying service). The cycle
of replacing the side cover and top cover is two years. The cycle of
replacing the waterproof parts of the case and the battery lid part is
5 years. If the cycle of replacing the waterproof parts have passed,
the “water and dust resistant performance” of the unit will no longer
be guaranteed. Regarding replacement of the packing, the side cover
and the top cover, please contact your supplier.
The life of the backup battery for the internal clock of the unit is lim-
ited. You should have the battery replaced about once every ve years.
Regarding replacement of the battery, please contact your supplier.
Please note that this product is warranted up to the product purchase price
against defects in material.
Dispose of the unit and of batteries only according to national and local
regulations at the place of use.

vi
Precautions for opening the case
Before opening the case and removing any equipment, place the case on
sturdy, at table or on the oor. Then open the case fully as shown below.
Never open the case while it is
standing upright. Otherwise equip-
ment may fall out, possibly causing
damage and accidents.

vii
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.

viii
Contents
FOR SAFETY............................................................................... iii
Precautions for opening the case ...................................................vi
Outline............................................................................................1
Controls and features ......................................................................3
Front view..................................................................................3
Right side view ..........................................................................7
Top view ....................................................................................9
Bottom view ............................................................................10
Vibration Pickup and extension cord ....................................... 11
Preparations ..................................................................................12
Power.......................................................................................12
Power on/off ............................................................................ 16
Vibration pickup placement and connection ............................18
SD memory card and program cards........................................23
Connection to a data recorder (DA-21), and other device .........24
Connection to a computer .......................................................25
Setting the date and time .........................................................26
Measurement in a dark location ...............................................28
Eco setting (Power-saving mode) .............................................30
Calibration ..............................................................................32
Reading the Display ......................................................................34
Measurement screen display ....................................................34
Measurement screen ................................................................39
Measurement screen (3 channels display).................................39
Max Hold display screen..........................................................40
Processed data display screen .................................................. 41
Time-level display screen.........................................................43
Indicator messages...................................................................44
Menu list screen.......................................................................45
System................................................................................46
Store...................................................................................49

ix
Display / I/O.......................................................................53
Save....................................................................................55
Option ................................................................................56
Measure..............................................................................57
Recall.................................................................................59
Measurement.................................................................................61
Manual mode...........................................................................61
Auto mode ...............................................................................61
Timer Auto mode.....................................................................62
Procedure example of the measurement...................................63
Comparator ...................................................................................64
Store operation ..............................................................................66
About the store data format......................................................66
About SD memory cards..........................................................67
Data recovery...........................................................................68
Formatting an SD memory card...............................................68
Screen hard copy ....................................................................69
Card capacity and store time .........................................................70
Using Auto store ......................................................................70
When performing waveform recording ....................................71
Output Connectors ........................................................................72
OUTPUT connector.................................................................72
Default Settings.............................................................................75
Setup Files ....................................................................................76
Resume function ......................................................................76
Loading a start up le at startup ..............................................76
Restoring default settings (factory default settings) ..................77
Using setup les.......................................................................78
Setting a start up le................................................................80
Optional Accessories.....................................................................81
Extension cord ........................................................................81

x
Serial Interface..............................................................................83
RS-232C ..................................................................................83
USB .........................................................................................86
Connection to a computer .......................................................94
Disconnection from the computer ............................................95
Communication cutoff .............................................................96
Rated values ............................................................................97
Command ................................................................................98
Command list ........................................................................ 101
Command description............................................................106
Command example ................................................................ 143
Reference Information................................................................. 145
Battery life............................................................................. 145
INPUT connector .................................................................. 146
Calibration example using an exciter .....................................146
Wm, Wb, Wd Frequency response characteristics
(typical characteristics) .......................................................... 147
Non-weighting frequency response characteristics
(typical characteristics) .......................................................... 148
PV-83D frequency response characteristics............................ 148
VM-56+PV-83D Frequency response characteristics.............. 149
Velocity frequency response characteristics ...........................150
Displacement frequency response characteristics...................154
DIN plate frequency response characteristics......................... 155
L-bracket frequency response characteristics......................... 155
Peak Vector Sum (PVS)......................................................... 156
Specications .............................................................................. 157

1
Outline
The VM-56 is the Tri-axial Groundborne Vibration Meter which is made
according to DIN 45669-1 and ISO 8041 for measuring ground-borne vibra-
tions in order to evaluate the effects on persons and/or on structures. Peak
particle velocity (PPV), vibration dose value (VDV), and other values (e.g.
displacement) which are calculated simultaneously can be stored to SD memory
card at user-specied intervals, and can also be obtained via communication
interface (USB, RS-232C).
The VM-56 consists of the main unit and Vibration Pickup PV-83D. Hence
the system processes 3 channels of vibration signal, and allows real-time
analysis of each channels. Waveform recording as PCM format WAVE les
on SD memory card will be available if the WR program option is installed,
and recorded WAVE les make it easy to analyze later on a computer. The
main unit has separate X, Y and Z outputs of analog signal for connecting to
other devices (e.g. frequency analyzer), and it’s possible to check or analyze
the vibration signal on site.
In consideration of environment, size AA nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH)
rechargeable batteries can be used to help reduce the amount of battery
waste. The unit can be connected the external power supply for a long time
measurement.
Features
PPV, VDV and other values can be calculated simultaneously
Tri-axial data series can be stored in CSV le
Program option: Waveform recording, 1/3 octave real-time analysis
Visibility good LCD on site
SD/SDHC card (up to 32 GB) available for a long term measurement
USB/RS-232C communication interface (same as NL-42 series)
Rechargeable batteries(Ni-MH) available
Vibration monitoring using comparator function
Unication of operability with NL-42 series

2
Outline
DC IN
NC-98 Series
Battery
R6 (AA) 8-cell
Alkaline / Ni-MH
Power Path
Controller
DC/DC
Converter
Each
power supply
PV- 83D AMP2_X
AMP2_Y
AMP2_Z
A/D D/A
Converter
A/D D/A
Converter
DSP
CPU
OverVoltagedetect circuit
Circuit control
Level Select / Filter Select
CPLD
RS-232C
Oscillator
USB
KEY
Display
RTC
SD
AMP3_X
AMP3_Y
AMP3_Z
AC out
ACout
ACout
EEPROM
LED
ROM
ATT_X
ATT_Y
ATT_Z
AMP1_X
AMP1_Y
AMP1_Z
Block diagram

3
Controls and features
Front view
INPUT connector
The Vibration Pickup PV-83D is to be connected here. If the vibration
pickup is to be installed at a greater distance, optional extension cord
can also be used.
Display
The display of the unit is a backlight LCD panel. It shows the measured
acceleration value as a numeric indication, as a bar graph and as a time-level
graph. It also indicates the operation status of the unit and shows measure-
ment parameters as well as warning indications and other information.
INPUT connector
Display
Control section

4
Controls and features
Control section
START/STOP key
PAUSE/CONT key
DISPLAY key LIGHT key
POWER key
MENU/ENTER key
OUTPUT CAL key
X/Y/Z/XYZ key
RANGE key
RECALL key
MAX HOLD RESET key
key
Indicator LED
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.
The following two settings are available: [0.0001 to 1], [0.001 to 10]
X / Y / Z / XYZ 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 XYZ X etc.
RECALL key
Transition from measurement screen to recall screen.
MAX HOLD RESET key
Resets the value of the max hold function.
START / STOP key
Serves to start / stop the measurement (store).

5
Controls and features
Indicator LED
Lights/ashes in red or blue to indicate the operation or status of the unit.
PAUSE/CONT key
Press the key to pause measurement (processing), and press the key again
to resume measurement (processing).
During pause in manual processing, the indicator LED ashes in blue .
Note
The PAUSE key does not function while the store
mode is Auto or Timer Auto.
OUTPUT CAL key
This key serves for level matching between the unit and peripheral equip-
ment.
keys
These four keys serve for selecting and setting items on menu screens.
POWER key
Turns power to the unit on and off. The key must be held down for at least
2 seconds to take effect.
MENU/ENTER key
Press this key to make or nalize the setting of an item in a menu or any
other setting.
When the key is pressed at the measurement screen, the menu list screen
comes up.
LIGHT key
This key turns on the display backlight, for easier reading in a dark lo-
cation. Press the key again to turn the backlight off.
When the automatic light out function was selected from the menu, the
backlight will turn itself off automatically after the preset time (see page
28).
Also press this key when you want to check the measurement settings in
power-saving standby condition (see page 52).

6
Controls and features
DISPLAY key
This key switches measurement screen display.
Each push of the key cycles through the settings in the following order:
Measurement screen Max Hold screen Processed data screen
Time-level screen Measurement screen
Key lock
Pressing the and keys together activates the key lock. A lock symbol
appears in the bottom left corner of the display (see page 34), and the
operation keys except for the LIGHT key are disabled.
If a key other than the LIGHT key is pressed, a key lock indication appears.
Pressing the and keys together once more cancels the key lock.
To turn the unit off, you must rst cancel the key lock and then hold down
the POWER key.
The key lock does not function on the menu list screen and calibration
screen.

7
Controls and features
Right side view
Side cover
This cover protects the connectors on the right side during transport or
storage. Removing the cover gives access to the connectors shown above.
Important
To keep the water and dust resistant performance,
close tightly the side cover of the unit.
OUTPUT connectors
These are Pin connectors which carry the output signal for the X, Y, and
Z axis.
An AC signal corresponding to frequency weighting is output here.
I/O connector
Serves for RS-232C connection.
OUTPUT
X Y Z
I/O connector
OUTPUT connectors
USB connector
Side cover
DC IN connector

8
Controls and features
USB connector (mini B)
Serves for connection to a computer.
DC IN connector
The optional AC adapter NC-98 series can be connected here for powering
the unit from an AC outlet (100 V to 240 V AC ).
Important
To prevent the risk of damage, do not use any
AC adapter and battery pack other than the
specied type.