How to NOT mess up vibration testing

1. Choose the correct shaker considering:

  • Maximum payload of the shaker 
  • Maximum test acceleration
  • Shaker displacement in the range

2. Don’t overload the shaker

The maximum object mass parameter is normally shown in the shaker’s passport and set in the shaker’s settings window. During the test you need to enter your object’s mass in the special window and this parameter will be checked during the test setup.

3. Check shaker’s fixture

During the preparation for the vibration test you must be sure, that the shaker is fixed properly. Due to the vibrations shaker may move on the surface and even fall down. If your shaker is small, screw it to the stand or place on rubber mats. If your shaker is big, it must be screwed to the pneumatic pads.

4. Enter shaker paraments correctly according to the shaker’s passport

With TestUp you don’t need to enter shaker paraments every time you start a new test profile because our software has shaker data base.

5. Check for shaker limits after profile setup

During the profile setup the software will calculate the maximum profile values of acceleration, velocity and displacement. If these values are greater than the shaker limits, you will receive a warning message, and the test won’t start.

6. Enter sensor and channel paraments carefully. Make sure that the sensors are connected to the right channel according to the specified sensor type.

Example: If you have an IEPE sensor with sensitivity of 10 mV/g and mistakenly set the type as linear, the required voltage won’t be driven. If, in this case, you try to increase the level, the shaker will be damaged.

7. Check the grounding

Make sure that the laboratory has secure grounding. All parts of your vibration set must to be grounded: the shaker, the controller, the amplifier. RULA vibration controllers have a special ground screw and it’s used for removing the 50 Hz noise.

8. Run diagnostics

TestUp has Diagnostics option. Using Oscilloscope, Voltage and Frequency you can set the required values, the system will generate the specified signal and you will see the data. By changing the channels displayed, you can see if all sensors or outputs are working properly. In case if you don’t know what your problem is, you should double check all your channel outputs using this feature.

9. Always allow emergency stop and feedback options during the test

In our software we have the emergency stop and feedback options. Emergency stop is enabled automatically. If the test limits are exceeded or there’s a fault in the controller functionality, the signal will be cut off and an emergency stop will happen. We highly recommend keeping these features enabled during the tests.

10. If you have any trouble with the input signal, double check the integrity of the sensor cable. 

Learn more about SignalUp.

If you have any questions, contact our 24/7 technical support per email or call +371 6610 2166.