The Fluke 810 – manufactured by industrial testing equipment manufacturer Fluke – is one of the most advanced troubleshooting instruments available for vibration testing, enabling maintenance teams to rapidly collect data and diagnose and solve mechanical problems.

Fluke, represented locally by industrial equipment distributor Comtest Group, designed and programmed the hand-held Fluke 810 to diagnose the most common mechanical problems of unbalance, looseness, misalignment and bearing failures in a variety of mechanical equipment, including motors, fans, blowers, belts and chain drives, gearboxes, couplings, pumps, compressors, closed coupled machines and spindles.

Comtest Group notes that, when the device detects a fault, it identifies the problem and rates its severity on a four-level scale to help the maintenance professional prioritise maintenance tasks. It also recommends repairs. Context-sensitive on-board help menus provide new users with real-time guidance and tips.

The Fluke 810 uses a “simple step-by-step process” to report on machine faults when first-time measurements are taken. The group notes that the combination of plain-text diagnoses, severity ratings and repair recommendations helps users make better maintenance decisions and to address critical problems first.

“Typical vibration analysers and software are intended for monitoring the machine condition over the longer term, but require special training and investment that may not be possible in many companies,” says Comtest. It stresses that the Fluke 810 is designed specifically for maintenance professionals who need to troubleshoot mechanical problems and quickly understand the root cause of the equipment condition.

Mechanical diagnosis with the Fluke 810 begins when the user places the Fluke triaxial transducer electronic data sheet (TEDS) accelerometer on the machine under test. The group notes that the accelerometer has a magnetic mount and can also be installed by attaching a mounting pad using adhesive. “A quick-disconnect cable connects the accelerometer to the Fluke 810 test unit. As the machine under test operates, the accelerometer detects its vibration along three planes of movement and transmits that information to the Fluke 810.”

Thereafter, the Fluke 810 uses a set of advanced algorithms to produce a plain-text diagnosis of the machine with a recommended solution.

A New Approach to Machine Diagnosis
Comtest notes that evaluating mechanical equipment typically requires comparing its condition over time to a previously established baseline condition. It states that “vibration analysers used in condition-based monitoring or predictive maintenance programmes rely upon these baseline conditions to evaluate machine condition and estimate remaining operating life.”

By contrast, the diagnostic technology in the Fluke 810 analyses machinery operation and identifies faults by comparing vibration data to an extensive set of rules developed over years of field experience. The Fluke 810 determines fault severity using a unique technology to simulate a fault-free condition and establish a baseline for instant comparison to gathered data. This means that every measurement taken is compared with a “like new” machine.

Viewer Application Software
The Fluke 810 includes Viewer PC software, compatible with Windows XP and Vista, to expand its data storage and tracking capability. With Viewer, the user can create machine setups at the computer keyboard and transfer the data to the Fluke 810, generate diagnostic reports in a PDF file format, view vibration spectra in greater detail, and import and store JPEG images and Fluke .IS2 thermal images for a more complete view of a machine’s condition.

Comtest notes that the Fluke 810 comes with embedded diagnostic technology, triaxial TEDS accelerometer, accelerometer magnet mount, accelerometer mounting pad kit with adhesive, accelerometer quick-disconnect cable, laser tachometer and storage pouch, smart battery pack with cable and adapters, shoulder strap, adjustable hand strap, Viewer PC application software, mini-USB to USB cable, a ‘Getting Started Guide’, illustrated ‘Quick Reference Guide’, user manual CD-ROM and a hard carrying case.