Product Guide

IoT HUB Product Guide v.1.0
Lasted Edited: 05/04/2020
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1 Product Overview
1.1 Introduction
The HUB is the central part of a product system that is designed to meet the following needs in
the industries we serve:
• Fill the gap where deploying KCF’s wireless vibration sensors is not feasible due to
access, size, environment, etc.
• Update the KCF’s General Input Nodes’ capability to ingest standard, 3
rd
-party
transducer data into SMARTdiagnostics
®
• Extend our monitoring capability with the ability to collect data at the same time across
multiple sensors
• Extend our monitoring capability with the ability to “trigger” data collection so that we
can collect data when it matters- when a machine is running or at specific times during
a machine’s cycle
1.2 How It Works
The HUB controls up to seven (7) sensors that are connected to the HUB with a cable. In this
way, the HUB can both power the sensors and control how and when those sensors collect
data. When data is collected, it is transferred from the sensor to the HUB over-the-wire. The
HUB subsequently transmits that data wirelessly to a base station or repeater (using
DARTwireless™) which then sends it to SMARTdiagnostics
®
software for analysis. While the
sensors can be installed on multiple or single assets, the ability of the HUB to
coordinate/synchronize data collection across multiple sensors on a single asset allows for fully
understanding of the asset’s overall health.
1.3 Applications
The HUB was designed to address several unique challenges. A few of these are discussed
here.
KCF’s Wireless Vibration Sensor has a wide operating temperature range that is limited
primarily by the battery that powers it. Some industrial applications require sensors that can
operate at even more extreme temperatures. Rated for -40ºC to 125ºC, the vibration sensor in
The HUB ecosystem can withstand some of the harshest environments.
Many assets are either partially or fully enclosed in shielding for safety reasons. This can
present an installation issue of the space where the sensor needs to be installed is not large
enough for a wireless sensor to fit. Safety enclosures can also be an issue for wireless
connectivity and battery maintenance. The HUB’s vibration sensor is a much lower profile and
smaller footprint than its wireless counterpart, making it ideal for such locations.
Collecting data on a timed interval, such as what KCF’s Wireless Vibration Sensors do, is a
great way to continuously monitor equipment that is running all the time. For machines that
operate intermittently, such as conveyors or other machines on a fixed cycle, a sensor operating
on a timed interval may collect data even when the machine is not running and will collect data