With the inherent processing capabilities of the major vibration analyzers, it appears to me that including ultrasound analysis would be a simple matter of adding software and an ultrasound sensor. It could be marketed as an upgrade for existing customers and an add on for new customers.
I think it would be a very useful and cost effective combination.
I would love to hear your comments on this and any ideas you may have on enhanced or additional uses for these devices.

You can already bring in ultrasonic data into CSI's database. I haven't done it in a long time so I can't give you details right off the top of my head. As well, I'm not sure if there is much of a market for what you describe as an add on. Sure, there is value in what you propose, but for a modest investment there are already plenty of products out there to do what you want.

The real value to me would be carrying an extra sensor in my pocket for when I need it instead of going back to the office to get a different data collector.

I also understand that some vendors have a lot invested in ultrasound hardware and would be reluctant to create a system that might undermine that investment,whatever the benefit to the customer.

Would you be more inclined to use it for contact applications or airborne?

Presently most of my applications would be contact. Bearings,lubrication, etc.

Charlie,

What ultrasound meter are you using now? What do you want to do?

1) Audio monitor (headphones)
2) Meter value (log, alarm and trend)
3) Waveform analysis
4) Spectrum analysis
5) Level Vs time plot
6) Other analysis
7) Log observations

What are you willing to pay or what is it worth to you?

Walt
w_f_strong at msn dot com

Walt,
Ultrasound is not a part of my job. I'm a vibration analyst. I think ultrasound would be a valuable technology for me to use in combination with vibration analysis.
I have an old ultrasound meter that I salvaged and repaired. It is most likely the only one in the plant. Someone bought it with good intentions years ago and never followed through with a program to use it. I'm using it for my own education. I don't think a new meter or an ultrasound program will get into the budget any time soon. Then again, if I can learn enough to use this old meter to catch an expensive problem on one of our machines, I might be able to change some minds.
Results beget results.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kljaf',

One other option depending on which vibration meter you use would be an audion output of the accelerometer. Plug in your headphones and listen to the bearing.

Regards,

Charlie,

Your intentions and objective in using Ultrasound in conjuction with Vibration data collection for analysis purposes is definitely a good one. I've been in situations where vibration on a critical Motor was acceptable but, the Ultrasound detector/headphone homed in on a major fault in the Exciter and prevented a imminent failure. Having said that, I don't believe there's value in combining the two technique into one analyzer.

Regards....Rajan Muthukrishnan

Mick,
I agree, I always use headphones when I collect data. There have been many times that I have taken extra data because of something I heard that didn't show up in the route data.

RajSha,
Perhaps when I've learned more about how ultrasound is analysed I may also decide that it is better not combined.

Charlie,

There is another forum discussion category for Ultrasound Testing that has some usefull info if you haven't seen it.

http://maintenanceforums.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/5891004322

Walt

Thanks Walt,
I'm on vacation next week. I intend to spend some of that time going through the old posts.

Hello Charlie,
there is a real benefit in being able to signal process ultrasound signals and I have presented papers on this topic at IMC and PdM conferences on several occasions.
There is a point to be made though-there are many instances where vibration measurement is overkill. Most organisations with mature vibration programmes may have significantly more stored data of "good" condition machines than they will have of "problem" machines.
Many organisations with mature systems are now looking to use ultrasound as a filter to reduce the amount of data and the amount of time needed to collect data on "good" machines.
So I half agree with you - there is a need for diagnostics, but there is also a need for simplicity.
IMHO a separate stand-alone "simple" ultrasound system with data collection capabilities coupled with a good Level 1 course is likely to be more useful to you in the short, medium and long term.
Best Regards,
Tom Murphy
tom@reliabilityteam.com

Tom,
I do have at least one place where a combined unit would be useful. I have a vibration route on a pulp conveor. The conveor is almost a half mile long and I have to collect data on the drive at one end, the takeup rolls in the middle and the tail roll on the other end. If I could listen with airbourn ultrasound for carrier roller problems as I walked between vibration points without having to carry and extra box I could kill two birds and save the maintenance guys from having to remove the covers and manualy inspect the rollers every 6 weeks.