Machine vibrations can be used to assess damage to rolling element bearings and other machine components, ensuring early detection and prevention of costly machine downtime.

ifm says its new, smart IO-link vibration sensor helps to implement a simple and scalable condition monitoring approach using a single device.

The VVB30x condition monitoring sensor detects vibrations in all three dimensions. From the measured values recorded, the sensor calculates the following indicators to evaluate the machine condition: information on fatigue, or v-RMS, mechanical friction (a-RMS), impacts (a-Peak) and bearing wear, or Crest factor. As an additional wear indicator, the surface temperature is also transmitted.

The sensor offers a range of other smart functions. In the basic condition monitoring version, it can continuously analyse and communicate any unbalance developing in the machine. The sensor also calculates the machine operating hours based on the machine-related vibration level, which is another auxiliary variable in modern maintenance. The DataScience condition monitoring version also comes with a smart bearing demodulation process, known as BearingScout, for continuous bearing analysis.

The vibration sensor uses IO-link for data transmission, device diagnostics and parameter setting. This enables users to implement vibration monitoring and analysis in a supervisory control and data acquisition, or SCADA, system by any manufacturer using standard fieldbus protocols. This can be done simultaneously using a standardised message queuing telemetry transport, or MQTT, or hypertext transfer protocol secure, or HTTPS, interface in any IT system. With the moneo Industrial Internet of Thing, or IIoT, platform, ifm electronic offers a range of smart additional functions for root cause failure analysis, designed to help implement IT-based condition monitoring.

The IO-link can also be used for configuration. In agreement with the respective machine categories according to ISO 20816-3, predefined limit value profiles are stored directly in the device and can be adapted to the respective target applications using the corresponding system command. In the event of a limit value being exceeded, a detailed root cause analysis is possible, even without moneo, thanks to the integrated BLOB ring memory. Up to 12 seconds of raw data can be made available automatically if required. In addition, the sensor has an internal characteristic value history that provides an overview of the last nine days.

Condition monitoring enables early-stage detection of damage to pumps, fans, geared motors, vacuum pumps and other rotating machines. This ensures that maintenance work can be planned cost-effectively and in line with requirements, maximising machine availability. Where vibrations in machines have an impact on quality, condition monitoring also helps to improve production processes.