Helicopter vibration problems can quickly become an inconvenience for the flight crew and a costly problem for technicians. If unchecked, the excess vibration can reduce the lifespan of instruments and mechanical components. As such, accurate and quick vibration analysis is essential in determining the causes of vibration and how it will get fixed. This article will review various features of high-quality portable vibration balancing equipment, which makes it useful for vibration analysis.
What causes vibration?
There are many causes of helicopter vibration. For instance, imbalanced discs can lead to periodic vibrations, which occur during the revolutions. Some of the vibrations may not be a sign of problems—they may be part of the usual mechanical operating conditions. Because of this, it’s essential to determine the cause of the vibration and avoid unnecessary repairs and avoid overlooking severe malfunctions. You need vibration analysis equipment to help you evaluate the possible sources and causes of vibration before planning for routine maintenance.
How does vibration analysis work?
Vibration analyzers use sensors to measure frequency, amplitude, and vibration through a DC signal. The signals received from the measurement undergo fine-tuning to make sure that you receive accurate vibration readings that determine maintenance needs.
Which are the main vibration analyzer features?
1. Number of input channels
Different types of vibration analyzers have different sets of input channels, but the most familiar brands have 2 or 4 channels. Two-channel recording portable analyzers are enough to perform function phase analysis, balancing, and Bode Graph work. The four-channel input option works for two-simultaneous plane balancing and triaxial accelerometers. Single-channel input analyzers aren’t typical because they can’t perform some necessary functions for some common faults, including balancing and misalignment.
2. Resolution and lines of resolution
The count of resolution lines (R.L) determines how many points can integrate into the spectrum. The lines of resolution don’t differentiate between short or broad frequency ranges. Portable vibration balancing equipment has a low-frequency range that shows better resolution and a high range with the same count of lines.
3. Frequency range
The frequency range of portable vibration balancing equipment depends on the most significant frequency measured by the accelerometer and the highest sample rate from the analyzer. The sample rate denotes the number of measurements, which an analyzer system can conduct per second. This measure implies that the most significant frequency, which this analyzer detects will be half of the sampling rate.
4. Sensor types plugged into the portable balancing machine.
An ideal vibration analyzer should have the capacity to connect to other kinds of sensors. For instance, it should be able to connect to velocimeters, accelerometers, and displacement probes. These sensors should also have filters to filter out noise and amplifiers to amplify measurements.
5. Technical support availability
The best portable vibration balancing equipment should have a support system. These gadgets are sometimes very technical, and you may need help from a pro who understands their complex nature. As such, you will need a direct link to the manufacturer or distributor of the portable vibration balancing equipment. Essential considerations for technical support include:
- The time it takes to get a response from a support agent
- The possibility of communicating by phone
- The costs you’ll incur when communicating with support.
- The shipping time for parts
Contact ACES Systems for Your Portable Vibration Balancing Equipment
The global sales of commercial helicopter units have reached approximately $5 billion. This sales rate implies that there will be a significant increase in the demand for portable vibration balancing equipment. This equipment is essential for helicopter technicians and flight crews as they can diagnose any excess vibrations resulting from malfunctions.