NI Introduces Sound and Vibration Tools for Interactive, Configurable Data Acquisition and Analysis

The Sound and Vibration Assistant is designed to simplify the process of acquiring and analysing noise and vibration signals by offering a stand-alone, interactive analysis and acquisition environment. The stand-alone software offers a way to continually interact with varying data analysis settings while logging data to disk for more analysis later. For example, engineers can vary the weighting and bandwidth of an octave spectrum while recording sound-level data or adjust the window applied to a power spectrum while recording overall vibration readings. In addition, the Sound and Vibration Assistant makes it possible to share acquired signals and analysis results with other applications through universal file format (UFF) file I/O support.

The Sound and Vibration Assistant includes analysis features for NVH, MCM and audio test applications. The assistant also provides analysis functions such as power spectrum, octave analysis, frequency response, sound and vibration level, tachometer processing, order analysis and order tracking. Engineers can use the Sound and Vibration Assistant in the measurement of commercial audio devices including cell phones and speakers. Maintenance engineers can also use the Sound and Vibration Assistant in MCM applications in industries including power generation and oil and gas.

The Sound and Vibration Measurement Suite 6.0 extends the analysis functionality of NI LabVIEW software with torsional vibration and human vibration weighting filter LabVIEW VIs. Torsional vibration is a common phenomenon for rotating machinery such as engines, compressors and turbines. Rotating components, such as shafts and couplings, rotate when torque is applied. Monitoring these torsional vibrations in a rotating system helps to ensure that the system operates properly. Human vibration refers to the effects of mechanical vibration on the human body. Measuring and analysing human vibration signals can help control the negative effects of mechanical vibration in applications that are rigorous on the human body.

The PXI-4495 is a high-accuracy, DC-coupled data acquisition module specifically designed for high-channel-count sound and vibration applications such as structural health monitoring, electrical power measurements and MCM. With 16 simultaneously sampled channels in a single PXI module, the PXI-4495 is twice the density of any other simultaneously-sampled DSA device from NI. Engineers can use the NI PXI-4495 in an 18-slot PXI chassis to synchronise up to 272 channels. The module saves application development time by reducing the need for code generation because it is programmed with NI-DAQmx featuring DAQmx Channel Expansion functionality, allowing data acquisition code to be the same for one channel, 16 channels or 272 channels. The PXI-4495 module features a maximum sampling rate of 204.8 kS/s per channel.