MONARCH INSTRUMENT Instruction Manual Nova-Strobe vbx Vibration Battery x Strobe Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2009 Monarch Instrument, all rights reserved 1071-4220-111R 1209 15 Columbia Drive Amherst, NH 03031 USA Phone: (603) 883-3390 Fax: (603) 886-3300 E-mail: support@monarchinstrument.com Website: www.monarchinstrument.
Safeguards and Precautions 1. Read and follow all instructions in this manual carefully, and retain this manual for future reference. 2. Do not use this instrument in any manner inconsistent with these operating instructions or under any conditions that exceed the environmental specifications stated. 3. Use of this product may induce an epileptic seizure in persons prone to this type of attack. 4.
10.0 OPTIONS AND ACCESSORIES C-4027 Set of mating 1/8 inch (3.5mm) stereo phone plugs (to provide TTL signal and sensor power) CA-4044-6 6 foot (1.8M) input / output cable, 1/8 inch (3.5mm) male phone plug to male BNC connector CA-4045-6 6 foot (1.8M) input / output cable, 1/8 inch (3.5mm) male phone plug to 1/8 inch (3.5mm) male phone plug for daisy chaining strobes together CA-4046-6 6 foot (1.8M) Accelerometer input cable, 1/8 inch (3.
.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Tachometer Mode - External Input Required ............ 11 External Delay Modes (Phase Shifting) .................... 12 Lock Modes - Accelerometer Input Required .......... 12 Power Up Features .................................................... 14 5.0 APPLICATIONS .................................................................... 15 5.1 Using the Stroboscope to Measure RPM ................. 15 5.2 Balancing and Phase Measurement ......................... 17 5.3 Phase Analysis .........
9.0 SPECIFICATIONS 1.0 OVERVIEW Internal Mode: Flash Range Flash Rate Accuracy Flash Rate Resolution The Nova-Strobe vbx is a truly portable, battery-operated stroboscope that is suited for a wide range of industrial, institutional, and educational applications, and is able to interface with several of the Vibration Data Collectors that are currently available. Several interface cables are available.
7. All applications suited to a general purpose, phase shifting stroboscope (Nova-Strobe pbx) The Nova-Strobe vbx can also be used as a highly accurate, remote electronic digital tachometer for direct measurement of RPM/RPS (speed) without special reflective tape or markings. RPM results are updated and displayed approximately every ½ second on the LCD display. 1.
The enclosure contains control electronics to properly and safely charge the batteries. Never remove the batteries from the enclosure and attempt to charge externally. Only use the recharger supplied (PSC-pbxU). 8.1 Low Battery Indication When the batteries are charged, there will be no battery indication. When the batteries are low, the Low Battery icon will blink in the display. The strobe may still be used for a short time.
In Internal Mode, toggles between normal flash rate adjust and “phase” delay adjust In External and Lock Modes, cycles through External only (no delay), Phase, Time and Auto (VRPM) ALT Function – In Lock Mode, toggles Filter tracking The ALT FUNCTION button toggles ALT. in the display. When ALT. is displayed, the buttons will perform their secondary function listed in the lower section of each button. It also changes how the tuning knob works. 2.
To change the lamp: 1. Push apart the two tabs on the side of the reflector housing and remove the lens using a small screwdriver to help pry one tab and lift the lens. Take care not to pry the tab any more than is necessary to free the lens. The reflector is held in place by the front lens and will come loose, but it is not necessary to remove the reflector. 2. Hold the lamp with a cloth between your forefinger and thumb and rock it back and forth gently while pulling out.
NOTE: When using external sensors that are powered by the NovaStrobe vbx, e.g. Remote Optical Sensor (ROS-P), the sensor must be plugged in before the stroboscope is turned on, or the remote sensor may not be powered up. The input jack (S pointing into socket) enables an external signal to trigger the strobe. The strobe must be placed in the External Input Mode by pressing the INPUT button on the display panel. When in External Input Mode, EXT will be shown on the display.
For these tests the strobe light should be set on a tripod. A long cable will be needed for the sensor. The sensor should be mounted on a magnetic base. 5. 6. Follow the same 5 steps outlined in the previous section for General Preparation for phase analysis, and then follow these steps: 7. 8. 1. Mark the piping system off in given intervals and note the location of supports or hangers. For example, use 6-foot intervals. Draw a simple diagram on paper. 2.
user to vary the stopped motion image at any point in the cycle without having to move the trigger source location. The Lock modes use the signal from an accelerometer/input source. 4.1 To change the flash rate: With the power on, turn the knob counter clockwise to increase the flash rate and clockwise to decrease it. The knob is velocity sensitive. Turn the knob slowly to have each “click” is equal to 0.01 FPM. Turning the knob more quickly will adjust the FPM by larger steps.
This section outlines the preparations and use of the strobe light in order to be assured the measurements you are making are correct. NOTE: A data collector or vibration analyzer is not needed in order to do phase analysis. You do need a method of powering the vibration transducer, you can use a self-generating velocity transducer to “drive” the strobe light, or you can set ANALZ to NO in the menu and the strobe will power the vibration transducer (accelerometer).
6. 7. Once the desired memory location is displayed, press the MEMORY button to store the current flash rate in that location. Press any other button to cancel. DONE will be displayed. Internal “Phase” Delay / Jog Once the flash rate has been adjusted to give a stopped motion image, the PHASE DELAY button may be used with the knob to increase or decrease the phase of the reference mark location. Use the PHASE DELAY button and knob to bring a reference mark, such as a key way, into your line of sight.
Connect the proper interface cable between the strobe and the data collector or analyzer. See wiring diagram to build the cable. The Input (Up Arrow) and Output (Down Arrow) jacks are located on the left side of the strobe. Connect the vibration transducer (this may be a separate cable or an integral cable) to the strobe cable. NOTE: The vibration transducer provides the signal the strobe uses as a phase trigger source and therefore is the input to the strobe.
4.5 External Delay Modes (Phase Shifting) There are three External Delay Modes: Phase Delay, Time Delay, and Auto (Virtual RPM). In the External Phase Delay Mode the flash is triggered 0.1 to 359.9 degrees after each external signal pulse. The knob sets the amount of delay in degrees. In the External Time Delay Mode the flash is triggered 0.01 to 1000 milliseconds after each external signal pulse. The knob sets the amount of delay in milliseconds.
Stopped Image Flash Rate (FPM) 1/4 times 1250 1/2 times 2500 1 time 5000 2 times 10000 3 times 15000 4 times 20000 Example: Object Rotating at 5000 RPM If the speed is outside the full scale range of the stroboscope (50,000 FPM), it can be measured using the method of harmonics and multipoint calculation. Start at the highest flash rate and adjust the flash rate down. You will encounter multiple images so be aware of these.
After the image has been locked and the Narrow or Wide Bandwidth has been optimized for the speed and/or background noise on the sensor signal, the Phase knob can be used to adjust the phase of the output pulse (and image) - refer to the Phase Analysis section later in this manual for adjusting the Phase Angle control. After you have the unit in either the wide or narrow lock mode and you have a steady RPM, you can turn on tracking.
