SPM VibChecker User manual

User Guide
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MAINTENANCE
A PROFITABLE
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SPM Instrument AB • Box 504 • SE-645 25 Strängnäs • Sweden Technical data are subject to change withput notice.
Tel + 46 152 225 00 • [email protected] • www.spminstrument.com ISO 9001 certified. © Copyright SPM 2019-04 72220 B Rev.0

1
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................. 4
Condition-based maintenance ........................................................................... 4
Instrument overview ............................................................................... 5
Instrument parts................................................................................................. 5
General description ........................................................................................... 5
Displays and icons.............................................................................................. 6
Battery .............................................................................................................. 9
Start up............................................................................................................ 10
Settings ................................................................................................... 11
Default settings................................................................................................ 11
Using external sensors ..................................................................................... 17
Sensors with magnets (option)......................................................................... 17
Bias voltage ..................................................................................................... 18
Vibration severity measurement .......................................................... 19
Vibration parameters ACC, VEL, DISP ............................................................. 19
Built-in sensor with probe................................................................................ 20
Measuring points ............................................................................................. 20
Measurement ................................................................................ 21
Recording readings for follow-up .................................................................... 22
Storing measurement results .......................................................................... 23
Spectrum analysis .......................................................................... 24
Spectrum display ............................................................................................. 24
Zoom ............................................................................................................... 24
RPM, manual input........................................................................................... 25
Adding markers for harmonics......................................................................... 25
Time signal analysis ....................................................................... 26
Time signal display........................................................................................... 26
Zoom ............................................................................................................... 26
ISO 2372 ....................................................................................... 27
Evaluation of machine condition...................................................................... 27
Definition of machine classes according to ISO 2372 ...................................... 28
ISO 10816 ..................................................................................... 29
ISO 10816 Part 2.............................................................................................. 29
ISO 10816 Part 3.............................................................................................. 30
ISO 10816 Part 4.............................................................................................. 31
Technical specifications .................................................................. 32
VibChecker VC200/250.................................................................................... 32
Accessories ...................................................................................................... 32
Maintenance and calibration .......................................................... 33
Maintenance .................................................................................................... 33
Calibration ...................................................................................................... 33
Warranty .......................................................................................................... 33

2

3
Document Outline
This User Guide contains useful information about the VibChecker, beginning with general infor-
mation about instrument parts, user interface, battery and settings.
This document also describes the hands-on use of the instrument, and how to confirm and evalu-
ate measurement results.
References to icons, displays and modes in the instrument are in bold text. References to instru-
ment keys are in capital letters.
Safety notes
• The instrument is intended for professional, industrial process, and edu-
cational use only while taking into consideration the technical specifica-
tions. The accessories may only be used for their respective intended
purpose as defined in this User Guide.
• The instrument must not be used in environments outside of the tem-
perature range specified under “Technical specifications” in this User
Guide, as the battery may be damaged and may cause harm or danger.
• When measuring, ensure that no cables, etc. can be caught in rotating
parts which can cause injury.
• For safety reasons, the measurement device must only be operated and
maintained by properly trained personnel.
• The battery should be charged in a dry office environment with a tem-
perature range within 0 to +45 degrees °C (0 to 113 °F). If the battery
is charged in an environment outside of specified temperatures, it may
be damaged.
• The service and repair of the measurement device may only be performed
by an SPM authorized service technician.
!

4
Introduction
Condition-based maintenance
Condition-based maintenance (CBM) is a widely accepted concept in industry. The idea is simple: keep
plant machinery in good working condition by locating and repairing minor faults before they grow
large enough to cause expensive breakdowns and production stops.
The challenge is to assess machine condition and detect a slow deterioration long before a piece of
equipment grinds to a shuddering halt. In the past, a skilled operator could do this largely without the
help of instruments, by listening, touching, and smelling. Modern machinery is often unattended, sound-
proofed, or out of easy reach. It rotates faster and is less massively constructed, which means that even
a minor deterioration of its working condition can have very serious consequences. Therefore, personal
skill and subjective judgment have to be supported by monitoring systems and instrument readings.
Vibration monitoring
Vibration monitoring is a very useful method for overall assessment of machine condition. Changes in
the vibration level always imply changes in the operating condition. Excessive vibration basically has
three potential causes: something is loose, misaligned, or out of balance. These three causes cover
virtually all possible mechanical faults.
Moreover, the assessment of machine vibration has been much simplified by international standards
which define the acceptable vibration level for a given type of machine and recommend monitoring
methods suitable for industrial purposes.
Effective condition-based maintenance requires economical and simple monitoring methods which can
be applied by maintenance personnel without special training. Their primary task is to locate trouble
spots early and direct the efforts of the maintenance crews to the right place at the right time. Fault
analysis and repairs are a secondary step which may require expert knowledge and a different type of
instrumentation.
VibChecker is designed as a maintenance aid. In accordance with the international standards, it measures
vibration severity over the frequency range 10 to 1000 Hz. It allows a practical classification of machine
condition in relative terms: good, acceptable, just tolerable, or bad. Regular measurements will also
show the development trend of the vibration level and thus the urgency of the maintenance problem:
stable condition, slow deterioration or fast deterioration.

5
M
ISO
VIB
Instrument parts
A Measuring probe (VC200)
B Sensor input
C Graphical display with LED backlight
D MEASURE key
E Navigation keys
F BACK key and power on
G Mini-B USB communication output
Instrument overview
A
B
C
F
D
E
G
General description
VibChecker is an instrument for fast and easy measurement of machine condition in preventive mainte-
nance. The instrument and the monitoring techniques are based on the recommendations of ISO2372 and
ISO10816 (Part 2,3,4 >600 RPM) standards for broadband measurement of vibration. These standards
make the assumption that limited information, obtained easily and at a low cost, is often as useful as a
detailed analysis using expensive equipment and elaborate techniques.
VibChecker is battery powered and designed for use in harsh industrial environments. The graphical
display (C) shows the condition readings and − if ISO 10816 or ISO 2872 is activated − provides evalu-
ated machine condition in green-yellow-red.
The instrument has a built-in probe sensor (A). The external sensors with magnets TRM100, TRM120,
and all types of SPM vibration sensor series SLD for permanent installation can also be used, connected
to the sensor input (G). It is push-key controlled and basic measurement setup information is entered
manually. Evaluated measurement results are indicated by green-yellow-red condition indicators and an
FFT spectrum is produced for pattern recognition. Up to ten readings can be saved to memory.

6
Displays and icons
Main display
Sensor settings
Spectrum settings
General settings
Vibration measurement
View stored readings
ISO setup
Navigation keys
Go back one step (from anywhere
in the menu structure)
Measure vibration levels (from
anywhere in the menu structure)
Confirm setting/Save reading

7
General settings
Vibration quantity settings
Factory reset Date and time
Units of measurement About
Display contrast and
screensaver settings

8
Vibration measurement
Spectrum analysis
Save result to
memory
Condition status
ISO settings
Alternative value(s)
Measurement value
View spectrum
and time signal
Measurement
Zoom in
Zoom out
Move
right
Move
left
Spectrum
+
-
Step
right
Step
left
RPM, manual
input Markers 1X-5X

9
Battery
The instrument is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which is charged
using a charger connected to the instrument’s USB communication
output (or other USB output with the specifications 5V/500 mA).
Please note that the instrument must be sent to a certified SPM
service and calibration partner for replacement of a discharged
battery.
Charging the battery
The battery charge icon in the upper right corner of the Main display
(A) shows the current battery status. The icon turns red when the bat-
tery is low (<10%) and needs recharging.
The battery should be charged in a dry office environment with a
temperature range within 0 to +45 degrees °C (0 to 113 °F). If the bat-
tery is charged in an environment outside of specified temperatures,
it may be damaged.
A flash symbol to the left of the battery charge icon indicates that a
charging cable is inserted. When the battery charge icon is green, the
battery is charging. When it turns gray, the battery is fully charged.
Should the battery charge icon be full but in red color, something is
wrong with the charging system or circuitry, and the instrument needs
to be sent to SPM Instrument for service.
Extending battery life
Avoid deep cycling of the battery. Each cycle wears the battery down
by a small amount and a partial discharge is better than a full discharge.
Lithium-ion is maintenance-free and the battery lasts longest when
operating between 30 and 80 percent. Store the instrument partially
charged in a cool and dry place.
The battery will gradually self-discharge even if stored in a partially
charged state. Self-discharging increases with age, usage, and el-
evated temperature.
Do not replace
the battery!
Refer servicing to your
local SPM dealer.
!
M
74
184
M
74
184
M
74
184
Battery low
Battery charging
Battery full
Faulty charging
system/circuitry
M
74
184
AMain display

10
Start up
Press and hold the BACK key (A) to switch on the instrument. Vib-
Checker always starts in the Main display.
Settings and instrument functions are selected using the arrow and
ENTER keys (B).
For all VibChecker versions, measurement is started manually from the
Measurement display, which is opened by pressing the MEASURE key
(C) from anywhere in the menu structure.
In the Measurement display, a new vibration measurement is started
by pressing the MEASURE key again. A blue pixel at the bottom of the
display indicates that the measurement cycle has started. The display
backlight then turns off until the measurement completes.
When idle, the instrument automatically and successively goes into
energy saving mode, first by dimming the display backlight accord-
ing to the user-defined screensaver timeout (for more information,
see chapter “Display contrast and screensaver timeout” in this user
guide). Next, after another twenty seconds, the backlight turns off
entirely, with the instrument still running. At this stage, reactivate the
backlight by pressing any key. Finally, after a further two minutes of
inactivity, VibChecker automatically turns off completely. Restart the
instrument with the BACK key.
The instrument can also be shut off manually by briefly pressing and
holding the BACK key.
Forcing instrument reset
Should the instrument have a lockup problem, prompt a reset by
pressing the ENTER key for approximately five seconds.
NOTE: This action does not initiate an instrument reset back to fac-
tory settings.
M
ISO
VIB
B
A
C

11
Settings
Default settings
Below is a summary of the main instrument settings and their respective factory default values:
ISO standard = OFF (no condition evaluation will take place)
ISO 10816 default settings = PART 3, GROUP 1, SUPPORT Rigid
ISO 2372 default settings = CLASS 1, RPM 1500
Vibration quantity = VEL (velocity)
Amplitude units = Velocity rms and Peak
Units = Metric, Hz, vibration amplitude in g turned off
Averaging turned off
Number of lines = 200
External transducer = 10 mV/m/s2, settling time 3.0 seconds
Display contrast = Max
Dim time = 20
System of measurement and units
Available settings include the metric or imperial sys-
tem; frequency in Hz (Herz, cycles per second) or CPM
(cycles per minute - similar to RPM); and acceleration
in g or m/s2.
To make your settings:
1. Go to the Main display (A).
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the General Set-
tings icon (B), then press ENTER.
3. In the General settings display, select the Units icon
(C) and press ENTER.
4. In the Units display (D), use the UP/DOWN arrow
keys to highlight a checkbox (Metric (millimeters) or
Imperial (inch); Hz or CPM; and g). For each selec-
tion, press ENTER to mark your choice.
5. To save the settings, use the DOWN arrow key to
highlight the SAVE checkbox and press ENTER.
To return to the Main display, press the BACK key.
AMain display
B
General settings
C
Units
D

12
Display contrast and screensaver
timeout
To set the display contrast and the amount of idle time
that should elapse before the screensaver is activated:
1. Go to the Main display (A).
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the General Set-
tings icon (B), then press ENTER.
3. In the General Settings menu, select the Display
contrast icon (C) and press ENTER to open the dis-
play contrast and screensaver settings (D).
4. Use the UP/DOWN arrow keys to set the time to
wait (5 - 600 seconds) before the screensaver dims
the display backlight.
5. Use the LEFT/RIGHT arrow keys to set the display
contrast.
6. Press the ENTER key to save your settings and re-
turn to the General settings menu.
To return to the Main display, press the BACK key.
Date/time
It is essential that the instrument has the correct date
and time to avoid confusion when saving measuring
results to memory.
To set date and time:
1. Go to the Main display (A).
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the General Set-
tings icon (B), then press ENTER.
3. In the General settings display, select the Date and
time icon (C) and press ENTER.
4. In the Date and time display (D), use the LEFT/
RIGHT arrow keys to select positions and the UP/
DOWN arrow keys to change the setting.
5. Press ENTER to save the settings and return to the
General Settings display.
To return to the Main display, press the BACK key.
AMain display
B
General settings
Display
contrast
C
D
AMain display
B
General settings
C
D

13
ISO standard setup
When an ISO standard is activated, the instru-
ment automatically evaluates the readings ac-
cording to the selected ISO standard and and
indicates machine condition with a green, yellow
or red condition indicator in the Measurement
display. With ISO = OFF, no condition evaluation
will take place.
VibChecker bases condition evaluation on ISO rec-
ommendations, with the exception that good and
acceptable condition are both evaluated as green.
Machine condition evaluation according to ISO
standards require correct classification of the
monitored machine (for more information, see
the ‘ISO 2372’ and ‘ISO 10816’ sections).
To select ISO 10186 or ISO 2372:
1. Go to the Main display (A).
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the ISO
setup icon (B), then press ENTER.
3. In the ISO display (C), use the UP/DOWN
arrow keys to highlight the preferred ISO
standard, then press ENTER to select it.
4. On the display shown next, further settings
are required (with one exception).
For ISO 10816:
- Use the UP/DOWN arrow keys to select
PART (2, 3, or 4).
- When PART 2 is selected (D), step to ‘RPM’
with the RIGHT arrow key, then use the UP/
DOWN keys to select ‘1500 or 1800’ or ‘3000
or 3600’.
- When PART 3 is selected (E), step to ‘GROUP’
with the RIGHT arrow key and use the UP/
DOWN keys to select ‘GROUP’ (1-4). Then
move on to the ‘SUPPORT’ setting with the
RIGHT arrow key and use the UP/DOWN
keys to select ‘Flexible’ or ‘Rigid’.
- For PART 4, no further input is required (F).
For ISO 2372:
- Use the UP/DOWN arrow keys to select
machine ‘CLASS’ 1-6 (G).
5. Press ENTER to save the ISO settings and
return to the Main display.
VibChecker is now ready for measurement with
evaluated machine condition according to the
selected ISO standard.
AMain display
B
C
ISO setup
ISO 2372, machine
class settings
G
ISO 10816,
Part 2 settings
D
ISO 10816,
Part 3 settings
E
ISO 10816,
Part 4
F
NOTE: Condition evaluation according to
ISO standards requires that the vibration
quantity is set to VEL (for more informa-
tion, see section ‘Vibration quantity and
amplitude units’).

14
Vibration quantity and amplitude units
The selected vibration quantity (acceleration, velocity, or
displacement) affects the unit for the result shown in the
Measurement display as well as the spectrum and time
signal unit. The default setting is Velocity (VEL).
To set the vibration quantity:
1. Go to the Main display (A).
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the General settings
icon (B), then press ENTER.
3. In the General Settings menu, select the AVD icon (C)
and press ENTER.
4. In the first of two AVD displays (D), use the UP/DOWN
arrow keys to highlight the appropriate vibration quan-
tity and press ENTER to mark it. The second display
opens (E).
NOTE: If an ISO standard has been activated in the
ISO setup display, only VEL can be selected here (for
more information, see section ‘ISO standard setup’).
5. Using the UP/DOWN arrow keys, highlight the check-
box of the metrics to show in the Measurement dis-
play, and press ENTER to mark your choice.
6. To save the settings, use the DOWN arrow key to
highlight the SAVE checkbox and press ENTER.
To return to the Main display, press the BACK key.
AMain display
B
D
AVD display 1/2
E
AVD display 2/2
General settings
C

15
AMain display
B
Spectrum
settings
C
Spectrum resolution settings
The spectrum resolution equals the maximum frequency
(1000 Hz) divided by the number of lines of resolution. A
higher number of lines allows more detailed spectrums;
the drawback is slightly longer measurement times.
By activating the ‘AVERAGE’ parameter, VibChecker will
perform four measurements, and then display an average
of the measurement results.
To set a number of spectrum lines:
1. Go to the Main display (A).
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the Spectrum set-
tings icon (B), then press ENTER.
3. In the Spectrum settings display, use the UP/DOWN
arrow keys to highlight the checkbox for your preferred
number of lines and press ENTER to mark it.
4. If averaging should be used, mark the ‘AVERAGE’
checkbox.
5. To save the settings, use the DOWN arrow key to
highlight the SAVE checkbox and press ENTER.

16
Reset
To perform an instrument reset back to factory settings:
1. Go to the Main display (A).
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the General Set-
tings menu (B), then press ENTER.
3. In the General settings display, select the Reset
icon (C) and press ENTER.
4. The Reset display opens (D). Press ENTER to confirm
instrument reset. A green checkmark is displayed,
indicating that the reset has been done.
To return to the Main display, press the BACK key.
Pressing the ENTER key will reset the instrument back
to the default settings listed on page 11.
Serial number and software version
To find out the software version and instrument serial
number:
1. Go to the Main display (A).
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the General Set-
tings menu (B), then press ENTER.
3. In the General settings display, select the Informa-
tion icon (C) and press ENTER.
4. The Information display opens (D), showing the
software version and serial number.
To return to the Main display, press the BACK key twice.
AMain display
B
General settings
C
Information
D
AMain display
B
General settings
C
Reset
D

17
Using external sensors
VibChecker can be used with all accelerometers of type
IEPE (ICP®) with voltage output.
To configure VibChecker for measurement with an
external vibration sensor:
1. Connect the sensor to the input connector (mini
coax).
2. Go to the Main display (A).
3. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the External sen-
sor icon (B), then press ENTER.
4. In the External sensor display (C), use the LEFT/
RIGHT arrow keys to position the cursor and adjust
the sensitivity with the UP/DOWN keys.
5. To select the appropriate unit (mV/m/s2or mV/g),
position the cursor with the LEFT/RIGHT keys. Press
the UP key to toggle and select a quantity.
6. To adjust the settling time (i.e. the time it takes for
the sensor to reach a stable output), position the
cursor with the LEFT/RIGHT keys. Set the correct
time using the UP/DOWN keys.
7. Press ENTER to save the settings and return to the
Main display.
Vibration sensors of type SLD and sensors from other
manufacturers have actual sensitivities and settling
times written on their calibration cards. When several
sensors are in use, they should be marked to assure
that the readings are calibrated.
Sensors with magnets (option)
The vibration sensors with magnets, TRM100 and
TRM120 (options), can be used for attachment to fer-
rous metal parts to reach measuring points in narrow
spaces and has the same construction and method of
operation as the built-in sensor.
The firmer the contact with the machine, the better
the measuring result. Plain, clean metal makes the
best contact surface for the vibration sensor. To get
comparable results, the measuring points should be
clearly marked, so that measurements can always be
taken in the same spots.
Before starting vibration measurements, make sure that
the sensitivity for the vibration sensor you are using
is properly set up. The sensors with integral magnet
TRM100/120 have a nominal sensitivity of 10.2 mV/m/
s2(individual value given on the calibration chart). The
settling time is 2 seconds.
TRM120
TRM100
Sensors with integral
magnet
AMain display
B
C
External sensor
+
-
Step right
Step left

18
Bias voltage
When measuring vibration with external sensors, a bias
voltage check will automatically be made to check the
quality of the signal transmission between sensor and
instrument. Part of your signal will be lost in a poor
sensor line, so your measuring results will be incorrect.
If a measurement is made with a poor sensor line, the
instrument will display Bias error.
If there is an open circuit (broken cable or no sensor
connected) the bias value is >16 V. If the bias value
is <8 V, the connectors, cable, and sensor should be
checked for short circuit.