I'm using a single channel CSI 2120 and looking to upgrade. Because of the expense of CSI and the cost of service agreements, I have been looking at other units.
Does anyone use the Commtest 3000 and have an oppinion on that unit & software? Or any recomendations on other new units currently on the market.

I have tried the Commtest 3000 and software and I think it is a good buy for the money. Much less expensive than some of the others but like they say "you get what you pay for". If I had to pay out of my pocket for new equipment, I would have to consider it even though some features seem a little slow and a little off the main stream that I am used to, but all things considered, it's a good buy.

Only my opinion and I could be totally wrong.

quote:

Only my opinion and I could be totally wrong.

Ralph, I have found your opinions to be quite good and on the money. I have yet to see you be "totally wrong". I think your disclaimer diminishes your credibility.

Of course this is only "my" opinion.

Like Ralph, I've heard good about the Commtest unit. There are a number out there and certainly I haven't used them all. There's good words about SKF and I like DLI. But, what is your particlar plant size and you also may want to look at Conditech.

You can easily get tech sheets and do comparsions from your chair nowadays. Also, go to the Nicholet site and see what they have; may be a pleasant surprise - Dactron. But you want what's best for your particlar situation. That's sometimes difficult to know.

quote:

Ralph, I have found your opinions to be quite good and on the money. I have yet to see you be "totally wrong". I think your disclaimer diminishes your credibility.

Of course this is only "my" opinion.

Hmmmm!

Thanks. You're the second one who has sort of said that.

Sam, to answer your questain, I'm a service provider to several small companies. Alignment, balancing, vibration analysis, and ultrasound is what I provide.
I work a full time job using all CSI technology. No doubt it's good stuff and I have an old 2120 at home with mastertrend. It works good but I would like to upgrade it. This cost greatly excedes what the commtest 3000 kit would be and I don't know if I realy need all the options RBM has.
Thanks all for you opinions so far. And Ralph, I liked your disclaimer!

Call Commtest in Knoxville, I am sure they will send one out so you can test it out. They are one of the best manufactures that I have dealt with and there support is exceptional!

Thanks Todd that's very encouraging. How do you like the balancing it does? I take it you have one and using it for everything. What else can you tell me about this unit. Is there anything you don't like about it?
Pete

Being as though I travel, I have two VB3000 collectors, not that I have had a problem with the first one I just can not afford to be 1000 miles from the office and not have a working data collector. Balancing is excellant. If I could chang one thing it would be the screen resoultion but then there is a price trade off. If I am working on a problem machine I bring my laptop with me and upload and download as requried.
It is an excellant tool, the user is still the key to success.

We use entek and CSI 2120's. I think a DLI DCA 50 is worth a look as it is reasonably priced your whole customer database (500Mb hard drive) can be on it. So you don't need your laptop to change lists or add points. You can add analysis points in the field it has a large high resolution colour display collects. It can collect 4 channel at once or triaxial readings. You can Buy 3 different levels of the PC analysis software with it.
I used the commtest unit for balancing which was OK but there PC software is getting more expensive (although its very good includes proven method etc)and the data collector screen is small and the collection speed is not great.

quote:

Only my opinion and I could be totally wrong. Smiler

We have a VB3000 unit and Ralph trained us with our own equipment and software . I also have seen him working with the CSI, his "preferred" unit and his opinion is the first one I consider (with all respect to the others)

I am interested in SKF units & software and I need some opinions. Can I perform with this units balancing, alignment and ultrasound measurements?
Finally,…it is a good buy?

Thanks’ cristi

quote:

Originally posted by Frotopulper:
I'm using a single channel CSI 2120 and looking to upgrade. Because of the expense of CSI and the cost of service agreements, I have been looking at other units.
Does anyone use the Commtest 3000 and have an oppinion on that unit & software? Or any recomendations on other new units currently on the market.

Believe me CSI is the best one in the market and we are using CSI 2120 and 2130 dual analysers and are having 5 such analysers in our plant and it s faster and user friendly than the others

CSI is expensive but Peakvue worth it ! Most of the analyzers I´ve tried offer the standard options you need (Entek, Commtest, SKF), but their early fault detection is not as good as CSI´s tool (honestly I´m not a big fan of enveloping). I´m totally convinced about that and I´ve proved a million times on the field. Commtest is a good instrument with a reasonable price, but there are better options on the market.

At the end, It´s a money issue. If you have the money then go for CSI, if you´re restricted, don´t worry Commtest will do the job, but you should realize you´re not driving a BMW, just an standard car.

* Vendor Warning *

Four Words - "Try before you buy!"

Would you buy a car without test driving it first? Then why buy a data collector without test driving it first? Please contact our Knoxville office to arrange for a free trial. With Commtest there is never buyer's remorse.

During your trial we want you to build real routes measuring data from your own machines and to collect the same data using equipment from multiple vendors. We encourage you to prove it to yourself that our products are among the fastest (and easiest to use) on the market today.

Commtest will do whatever it takes to change the perception of "you get what you pay for" to "you get MORE than you pay for”. Our products have been deliberately designed to achieve a perfect mixture of power and simplicity. We couple this with a commitment to deliver the lowest total cost of 5-year ownership in the industry.

Part of our 5-year support program includes free firmware updates for the life of the warranty. Recent firmware updates have delivered significant speed improvements in route collection mode. (Those on this thread who have commented about slow data collection speed should make use of our free firmware upgrade and experience the speed improvements first hand.)

At Commtest we know that not everyone will choose our products. However, rather than rely on opinions alone, please 'test drive' our products for yourself. At the end of your trial I am confident you will agree that we are much closer to that "BMW" than many people would like you to believe.

John Cochrane
General Manager

I guess Mr. Cochrane missed the "No Vendors Please" request.

Indeed! My appologies!

John Cochrane

Back to the old synergy problem.

It is the vendors who keep the magazines alive. It is the vendors who keep the trade shows and organisations alive through their sponsorship. It is the users that keep the vendors alive.

A discussion which blocks out one of the two groups will be more biased and less informed than a truly open, factual, engineering discussion.

BTW how many "consultants" out there are not and never have been vendors?

Keep it open and keep it technical!

Tom Murphy

I agree with Tom, if they post on the board one would think they will have to back up there promise.
I agree also, keep it open and keep it technical!
BTW I am a "consultant" and a vendor, sell everything I can, it's called making a living.
Todd Jeppesen

Tom and Todd,
No disrespect intended to you or Mr. Cochrane (who graciously apologized for his oversight) and his fine product, but I think it is up to the poster to determine who he wants his opinions from and Frotopulper said he didn't want vendors.

BTW, I am a consultant and have never been a vendor of products in this field.