High Performace Test & Measurement Solutions for INSIDER …dataphysics.com/newsletters/insider/2014/12_December/... · 2014-12-19 · This seminar will focus on the basics of frequency

High Performace Test & Measurement Solutions for Noise & Vibration Applications

High Performace Test & Measurement Solutions for Noise & Vibration Applications

Data Physics Corporation(408) 437 0100 | www.dataphysics.com

High Performace Test & Measurement Solutions for Noise & Vibration Applications

High Performace Test & Measurement Solutions for Noise & Vibration Applications

INSIDERW E lCo m E to t h E I N S I D E RThe Data Physics Internal Newsletter

Dec. 2014 | Vol. 8 – Num. 10 - Issue 61

Happy Holidays across the planet as we close out 2014! This edi-tion of the Insider includes our upcoming tradeshows list for 2015. We have a seminar in early January and we plan to keep them roll-ing throughout the year with some new topics too. This month’s edition mainly includes orders and lessons learned. One shaker article that is more technical covers some questions and answers about moisture and magnesium.

Please send your thoughts and suggestions to sales@dataphysics.com and bourke.macdonald@dataphysics.com.

Corporate News

Corporate News, Upcoming Events, Web Seminars and Tradeshows

SignalCalc & SignalStar

Guidance Navigation in UK Favors DP System for Testing Electronics

Alliant Energy Chooses Data Phys-ics SignalCalc Turbo for Power Plant Diagnostics

SignalCalc Turbo – Monthly Sales Record for October 2014

SignalForce & SignalSound

Sagem in France Buys New DP Shaker Equipment

Thermal Conditions and the Effect of Moisture on Magnesium

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Events

Web Seminars

Fundamentals of Frequency Analysis on Thursday, January 8

Derek Bridgford, SignalCalc Analyzer Product Manager, will present.

This seminar will focus on the basics of frequency analysis and signal analysis, and is geared toward those who are working to gain a basic intuitive understanding of what is going on when capturing data for anything from basic vibration to more complex structural analysis and beyond.

Derek Bridgford graduated from Michigan Technological University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, as well as an MBA from Ohio State University, and has over 10 years of experience in the Vibration Industry, including time since 2010 at Data Physics Corporation, where he is the Product Manager for Signal Analyzers.

DSP Topic to be determined in February 2015

Tom Villano, Senior Applications Engineer, will present.

mailto:bourke.macdonald@dataphysics.com

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Register for upcoming Data Physics Web Seminars.

Recent web seminars recordings available by playback:

• Rotational Vibration Measurements for Hard Disk Drive Applications (December 11)• Phase Measurement Applications on Turbomachinery (December 09)• Vibration Testing and Introduction to Shakers (November 20)• Orbit and Shaft Centerline Analysis on Turbomachinery (September 30)

View Recordings of past Data Physics Web Seminars.

Request a PDF of web seminar PowerPoint slides.

tradeshows

Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) in Pune, India on January 21 to 24, 2015

Data Physics (Bharat) Pvt. Ltd. will exhibit at SIAT 2015 in Pune, India on January 21 to 24, 2015. The event occurs every other year and this year’s theme is “Towards a Safer, Cleaner and Quieter World”. The focus of the event revolves around exhibitors presenting their products for enabling safer, cleaner, and quieter automobiles. Technical papers will cover topics such as transport and vehicle engineering, NVH, safety, infotainment, and structural and vehicle dynamics alter-nate fuels.

SEM IMAC in Orlando, Florida on February 2 to 5, 2015

Data Physics will exhibit at the annual International Modal Analysis Conference (IMAC) in Florida. This year’s theme at this structural dynamics conference and expo is “Balancing Simulation and Testing”. The Society for Experimental Me-chanics (SEM) has the mission of furthering research, development, education and engineering solutions on the behav-ior of materials, structures and systems.

EPRI Turbine Generator User Group Workshop in Amelia Island, Florida on January 19 to 23, 2015

This is the first time that Data Physics will exhibit at the EPRI Turbine Generator User Group Workshop. The goal for this meeting is to establish peer-to-peer industry and OEM/Vendor contacts and share lessons learned. The workshop will better prepare participants to resolve operational and maintenance issues which may arise at their plants. Attendees may include: utility members, steam turbine-generator original equipment manufacturers and vendors offering services and equipment to the electric steam turbine-generator industry. SignalCalc Turbo will be in the building.

http://www.dataphysics.com/news-and-events/seminars.htmlhttps://dataphysicsevents.webex.com/ec0701l/eventcenter/recording/recordAction.do?siteurl=dataphysicsevents&theAction=archivemailto:bourke.macdonald%40dataphysics.com?subject=https://siat.araiindia.com/http://www.sem.org/CONF-IMAC-TOP.asphttp://www.cvent.com/events/2015-epri-turbine-generator-user-group-generator-workshop/event-summary-da42cca0c5f0409ebf4d6c6c3a7c900d.aspx

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Visit the Data Physics website for a complete list of tradeshows.

Instrumentation, Analysis and Testing Exhibition at Silverstone Race Track, UK on March 17, 2015

Data Physics (UK) Ltd. will exhibit at the Instrumentation, Analysis and Testing Exhibition event which showcases in-novations in measurement analysis and testing technology in aerospace, automotive, motor-sport, rail, off-highway, mechanical handling, industrial and power generation industries. The event is put on by Engineering Integrity Society. Forums include: 3D printed components - use in stress analysis and as structural components; future challenges in ve-hicle dynamics; the effect on component life and performance of manufacturing induced residual strain; and gearbox noise and life monitoring.

Guidance Navigation in UK Favors DP System for testing Electronics

The Marine division of Guidance Navigation, located in Leicester, UK, purchased a GW-V400LT/DSA5-10k shaker system, with Scalar 4 Channel, Sine and Tracked Resonance Dwell from Data Physics UK. The firm makes local position sensing systems, for ships, and the application here is to test their electronics sub-assemblies. Guidance Marine has owned a SignalCalc 350 controller since October 2003. At that time they had a second hand shaker system so DP was unable to attain that sale. Ten years later Guidance Marine is ready to replace all of their equipment. They came to Data Physics and did not entertain any competition. Why? They were very content with the support that Data Physics has provided during that time. Support is and can be a strong selling point or key differentiator for Data Physics.

Guidance Marine is a leading developer and supplier of local position reference sensors for dynamic positioning and other vessel control systems. Their products accurately measure the relative position of the target in relation to the sen-sor to enable the vessel to hold position and operate safely in close proximity to an installation, immune from GPS errors caused by shadowing or reflections.

http://www.dataphysics.com/news-and-events/tradeshows.htmlhttp://e-i-s.org.uk/instrumentation-analysis-and-testing-exhibition-2015/

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Alliant Energy Chooses Data Physics SignalCalc turbo for Power Plant Diagnostics

This past summer Data Physics met with the Alliant Predictive Maintenance team at their Madison, Wisconsin headquar-ters for a dedicated demonstration. Two members from Madison and two members from Cedar Rapids, Iowa were pres-ent. Robert Bloomquist, Product Manager for SignalCalc Turbo, constructed the rotor kit and performed a live compre-hensive demo of SignalCalc Turbo’s capabilities and features. Of particular interest was the handling of proximity probes mounted at varying angular positions on one of their GE turbines. The analysis systems are used for turbine startup and shutdown diagnostics, and balancing.

When year-end funds became available this fall, Data Physics provided a number of SignalCalc Turbo Mobilyzer and ACE proposals for their consideration. The initial response was not positive due to a higher price than expected. They currently own three ZonicBook systems and IOtech was offering free software. Despite price concerns and their current instrument experience, DP was successful at Alliant Energy due to the software ease-of-use and hardware expandability of SignalCalc Turbo.

Alliant Energy is a Midwest energy company that provides electric and natural gas services to customers and communi-ties throughout Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Alliant Energy is comprised of:

Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL): A public utility that generates and distributes electricity, and distributes and transports natural gas in Iowa and southern Minnesota.

Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL): It provides similar services in southern and central Wisconsin.

Alliant Energy, a regional power company in the USA Mid-west, recently ordered a 24-channel SignalCalc Turbo ma-chinery vibration analyzer. The relationship began at the EPRI Conditioned Based Maintenance Meeting in Baltimore in 2013. The initial interest was to compare their current Bently ADRE and IOtech ZonicBook analyzers to SignalCalc Turbo.

The Data Physics’ customer base of SignalCalc Turbo users at power generation companies continues to grow. Data Physics recommends investigation of power and utility companies in your area to locate the experts who perform vibration analysis on turbines and other large machinery in their facililities. Your Data Physics Regional Sales Manager, Turbo Product Manager, and Application Engineers are here to help with correspondence and demonstration for this application.

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Alliant corporate headquarters are located in Madison, Wisconsin. General offices are located in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque, Iowa. Utility operation facilities are located in communities throughout the service territory providing elec-tricity and natural gas to more than 1.4 million customers. A combination of fossil, natural gas and wind energy plants are utilized. Nearly 3,900 employees are working across the service territory.

Alliant's Edgewater Generating Station, a coal power plant in Sheboygan, Wisconsin

SignalCalc turbo – monthly Sales Record for october 2014Contributing to a strong finish at the end of the 2014 fiscal year, a new mark was set in October 2014 for monthly SignalCalc Turbo sales. A total of seven SignalCalc Turbo sales opportunities were closed in October, originating from customers on three continents – North America, South America, and Europe. It is no coincidence that these sales repre-sent key segments of the SignalCalc Turbo target market. It also should be noted that in all cases the sales and support personnel leveraged know-how of SignalCalc Turbo solutions along with understanding of the customer’s market and user requirements to close the deal.

turbomachinery manufacturing

Major manufacturers of rotating machinery comprise the largest segment of the SignalCalc Turbo user base. In October 2014, TECO Westinghouse, purchased two SignalCalc Turbo systems, a 24-channel and 16-channel SignalCalc Turbo system, each with Throughput to Disk, Advanced Reporting, and Calibration Software.

TECO Westinghouse is a manufacturing facility for large electric motors in Austin, Texas, USA. SignalCalc Turbo, along with Data Physics General FFT applications for impact hammer testing and modal analysis, are used in the factory environment for testing and in the field at end-user facilities for machinery vibration analysis and troubleshooting.

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Power Generation

The Power Generation utility end-user market continues to be a major growth segment of the SignalCalc Turbo busi-ness. In October 2014, the corporate predictive mainte-nance team for Alliant Energy, based in the Midwest of the USA, purchased a 24-channel SignalCalc Turbo system. The group supports turbine startups, balancing, and turboma-chinery troubleshooting projects throughout their port-folio of fossil-fuel generating facilities (see “Alliant Energy Chooses...” article for more details about Alliant Energy).

oil and Gas Industry

Given the high concentration of large, critical rotating machinery in the oil and gas industry service, end-users and spe-cialists supporting this industry are often in need of advanced, portable machinery diagnostics analysis instrumentation.

TurboCare C.A., located in Maracaibo, Venezuela, provides after-market maintenance and repair services for turbines, motors, gen-erators, and compressors of any make and model. TurboCare sup-ports the oil producing region of Venezuela as well as customers from other regions in South America. In October 2014, TurboCare C.A. purchased a 16-channel SignalCalc Turbo system for use in their repair facility and for troubleshooting and vibration analysis of large rotating machinery in place at end-user facilities.

Flint Hills Resources operates the Corpus Christi oil refining complex in Texas, USA. Like most oil refineries and chemi-cal processing facilities, this site employs large centrifugal compressors, pumps, and fans which are central to plant processes. Flint Hills Resources purchased two SignalCalc Turbo systems in October 2014, an 8-channel system with Abacus and a 4-channel system with Quattro, for vibration analysis and troubleshooting on their critical rotating ma-chine trains.

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Universities

In addition to alignment of these customers with key target market segments, each of the October 2014 SignalCalc Turbo sales share another noteworthy characteristic. Each sale required a demonstration of SignalCalc Turbo, along with an intimate understanding of the customer’s market and application needs. A variety of sales and support staff assumed lead responsibility in this regard, including:

• Data Physics Regional Sales Manager• Data Physics Product Manager• International Distributor• USA Domestic Representative

Where the sales manager with account responsibility did not play a lead role in the technical discussion, additional personnel were leveraged as sales support to fulfill the technical requirements of the demonstration and to assist with matching the Data Physics solution to meet customer needs.

Academic institutions also continue to benefit from Sig-nalCalc Turbo, particularly facilities with rotor dynamics research and development capabilities. In October 2014, Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg purchased an 8-channel Abacus hardware unit with SignalCalc Turbo and Rotating Machinery packages. BTU Cottbus plans to use the system for development of a gas turbine.

Sagem in France Buys New DP Shaker EquipmentSagem, a defense electronics multinational headquartered in France, is an existing Data Physics customer that uses an old LE D300 shaker with an old amplifier. Sagem upgraded their DP equipment by purchasing a LE-DSA/100K amplifier with a LE-300 Field Power Supply. DP was selected thanks to the commercial relationship between Actidyn and Data Phys-ics, quality support, and a long history of servicing and maintenance on their 3 Ling and LDS shakers. DP also nurtured the relationship by consistently following up with Sagem. Competitors for this sale included LDS, Dongling and ETS. DP won because we answered their primary need - maintenance. DP helped reduce the cost of repair and maintenance and lengthened the life of their old Ling 8024/14 amplifier.

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thermal Conditions and the Effect of moisture on magnesiumHere are some questions and answers concerning thermal barriers:

A frequently asked question about systems utilized in an environmental chamber is: “Do we really need to utilize a ther-mal barrier with the system?” The answer has always been yes. We should utilize a thermal barrier on a system that is going to be used in an environmental chamber. This seems like a very expensive option and an overly cautious stance, especially when the competition is not offering the same.

Internally we need to ask: “If the customer has taken the necessary precautions, are we being overly safe by recommend-ing that they utilize a thermal barrier with the system?” The answer is no, it is not overly cautious and as a matter of fact it is a great opportunity to educate the customer on the effects that water has on magnesium. This is an opportunity to take the place of or usurp a higher knowledge of the application than the competition. Furthermore, it will also demon-strate a higher level of concern for the customer and should make them think, “Why did the other company not precau-tion me about this?”

Another question that pops up frequently is:“If the Head Expander has a thermal barrier, is that sufficient for the shaker armature?” No is the typical answer. “Why is that not the case?” The simple answer is: “The thermal barrier protects our interests. Many customers remove the head expander from the shaker. When that happens, then the shaker’s armature is exposed to the varying temperature changes of the environment chamber, including condensation.”

Extreme heat can be an issue for the armature if the temperature exceeds the armature’s coil bonding capacities. How-ever the real danger is condensation and water. On the smaller air-cooled systems, magnesium is used for the armatures because of its lightweight and high damping characteristics. Magnesium has the tendency to oxidize and when it is ex-posed to water or damp air, it oxidizes at an accelerated rate. Please see the photo below of a magnesium plate that has been exposed to room temperatures for approximately 1 month.

Sagem, a Safran high-tech company, holds world or European leadership positions in optronics, avionics, electronics and critical software for both civil and military markets. Sagem produces Flight Control and Navigation systems for the Defense Industry. Sagem is the top company in Europe and number three worldwide for inertial navigation systems (INS) used in air, land and naval applications.

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Condition of magnesium exposed to ambient air

Notice that the exposed areas of mag-nesium are a different color and texture than the areas that were covered. If you look closely, then you can see that the magnesium has already started to oxidize and corrode in some areas. The plate will require sanding and cleanup prior to shipment to a customer. This is an example of the effects of ambient air on magnesium.

The exposure of magnesium to moisture or pools of water is considerably bad. If the water is not wiped from the magnesium, the magnesium sur-face can begin flaking within the same day of the exposure. Take every precaution possible to avoid having moisture contact magnesium.

The photo is the typical result from a customer not taking all possible precautions to avoid mois-ture contacting the magnesium surface. Please notice how the surface of the magnesium is pit-ting and separating from the insert material. Al-most the entire surface of the plate is experienc-ing oxidation and corrosion. Also notice how the inserts are losing their structural integrity. That requires the inserts to be removed and replaced, resulting in a much larger insert or special inserts. That is a very costly fix compared to the price of a thermal barrier.

Keep these questions and answers in mind when educating a customer about thermal barriers and harmful effects of moisture on magnesium.

Water damaged magnesium

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ContributorsChristopher mills, Data Physics UK (“Guidance Navigation in UK Favors DP System for Testing Electronics Sub-Assem-blies”)Jim Prange, Business manager, US Central Region (“Alliant Energy Chooses Data Physics SignalCalc Turbo for Power Plant Diagnostics”)Robert Bloomquist, Product manager, SignalCalc turbo (“SignalCalc Turbo – Monthly Sales Record for October 2014”)George Sanchez, Data Physics (France) S.A., Regional Sales manager (“Sagem in France Buys New DP Shaker Equip-ment”)Alfred Johnson, Shaker Applications Engineer (“Thermal Conditions and the Effect of Moisture on Magnesium”)Editor and Producer: Bourke macDonald, marketing Communications SpecialistEditor: Kevin mcIntosh, Director, Product management, SignalForce and SignalSoundEditor: thomas Reilly, Director, Product management for SignalCalc and SignalStar

Please send suggestions and comments to Editor Bourke MacDonald.