Machine vibrations are an important indicator when assessing the current condition of a machine. Damage to rolling bearings and other machine components can be detected early, before costly machine downtimes occur. The new smart IO-Link vibration sensor from ifm helps to implement simple and scalable condition monitoring with just one device.
The new condition monitoring sensor VVB30x, was presented at SPS in Nuremberg, continuously records vibration in all three dimensions. From the recorded measurements, the sensor calculates proven indicators for assessing the machine condition, namely information on fatigue (v-RMS), mechanical friction (a-RMS), shock (a-peak) and bearing wear (crest factor). The surface temperature is also transmitted as an additional wear indicator. The sensor also offers various other smart functions: in the basic condition monitoring version, the sensor continuously analyzes imbalances occurring in the machine and can report them reliably if required.
The sensor also calculates the machine’s uptime based on the machine-related vibration level – another auxiliary variable in modern maintenance. Last but not least, devices in the DataScience condition monitoring variant also feature a smart orientation demodulation process, the so-called BearingScout, for reliable continuous orientation analysis. The new vibration sensor uses IO-Link for data transmission, device diagnostics and parameterization. This enables users to implement vibration monitoring and analysis in SCADA systems from any manufacturer using standard fieldbus protocols. Optionally, this is possible in parallel via standardized MQTT or HTTPS interfaces in any IT system.
With its IIoT platform moneo, ifm electric offers all sorts of smart additional functions for root cause failure analysis, so that IT-based condition monitoring can be easily implemented. Configuration is also very easy via IO-Link. In conjunction with each machine category according to ISO 20816-3, predefined limit value profiles are stored directly on the device and can be adapted to the respective target application using appropriate system commands.
If limit values are exceeded, a detailed cause analysis is easily possible even without moneo thanks to the built-in BLOB ring buffer. Up to 12 seconds of raw data is automatically made available if required. The sensor also has a history of internal characteristic values that provides an overview for the last 9 days.
Condition monitoring allows early detection of damage in pumps, fans, geared motors, vacuum pumps and many other rotating machines. In this way, maintenance work can be planned cost-effectively when necessary and machine availability can be maximized. Condition monitoring also helps to improve production processes if machine vibrations affect quality.