The traditional vibration analysis methods used accelerometers to detect and assess the conditions of an electromechanical device through data processing. 

It analyzed the vibration signal patterns in machinery, component, or structure to find abnormal vibrations and assess the condition of the asset. However, with the advent of vibration motion magnification technology, the periodic evaluation of machines, troubleshooting and maintenance have gone easier than before. In this blog, let’s discuss vibration motion magnification, its operations, and working in detail.

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Vibration Motion Magnification – A Historical Perspective

The magnification of motion is a process used to magnify the tiny, microscopic form of motion that the naked eye couldn’t capture, with the help of a video sequence. 

This is a significant technique to see the vibratory motion in static components like foundations and piping and machinery. 

It gives the diagnostician a 360-degree visual understanding of the motion of the machines. 

The term came into existence in 2005, when researchers at MIT leveraged pixel-level evaluation to magnify the motions that our eye can’t capture naturally. 

For instance, this could be determining the breathing of babies, analyzing a person’s pulse, etc. 

The concept slowly moved toward the machinery, where vibration turned out to be a crucial diagnostic tool that used ODS. 

ODS or Operating Deflection Shape can understand the vibration of objects through exaggeration of motion where you correlate the vibration data to visual models. 

The magnification technology evolved with a similar ecosystem, however, it treats every pixel as a sensor and offers a great data canvas to analyze and magnify the vibrating motion. 

Growing Significance of Vibration Motion Magnification 

Magnification denotes the technique that considers the visual aspect of technology to understand the vibrations of equipment. 

For example, this is similar to the use of magnifying glass to let you see what your eyes can’t. 

With vibration motion magnification, you use image processing and video processing to identify the subtle motions and interpret the results to analyze the causes that create these movements.

When the machinery, industrial equipment, and various components function, they make tiny movements and vibrations. 

Since they are too small, they need technology to detect and analyze. The vibrations can indicate misalignment, imbalance, cracking, loosening and any serious conditions too. 

These movements gradually minimize the efficiency of the equipment which results in catastrophic damage. 

However, with motion magnification software technology, you can keep an eye on these movements and closely observe their effects. 

The technology uses digital image and video processing to extract motion pixel by pixel, and scale the data to obtain a complete visual representation to interpret the movements better. 

With the live video feed, you can process the pixels to reveal how movements and vibrations impact the entire system and supporting structures in real time. 

You can record and process the movements to create powerful visual representations of subtle movements with video vibration motion magnification. 

This is also a cost-effective technique compared to conventional vibration analysis methods. 

How do Vibration Visualizations work?

It uses a patented camera and digital technology software to transform the camera pixel view into a sensor. 

This measures and records the motion and vibration analysis with great accuracy. 

The video processing algorithms augment the identification of feeble movements and enlarge them to let users analyze them with the naked eye. 

With this visualization, you can easily understand all the underlying faults in machinery and industrial equipment. 

As mentioned, the conventional vibration analysis relied on tools such as accelerometers, strain gauges, and modeling software to measure the vibration problems. 

But the advanced magnification technique uses software to conduct high-speed video analysis of the machines and devices. 

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What can you Measure?

Vibration motion magnification software throws light on how damaging inaccurate machine movement and vibrations can be.

With the technology, you visualize, quantify and evaluate the motion of structural assets. 

It measures the physical characteristics of the machinery, such as vibration and movement, deflection, and displacement. 

Let’s take a glance at these terms for more understanding. 

Movement and Vibration

When an object oscillates, it vibrates. The motion magnification using high-speed cameras records a vibrating device, making every pixel an independent sensor. This produces numerous data points quickly.

The vibration data points gathered are further processed to determine the vibration of a structure or a component. 

This video processing method understands and measures very small displacement, velocity, frequency, and also time waveforms to make everything well visible. 

The consequences of movements and vibrations could be dangerous— these can affect the lifespan of equipment and induce noise, energy concerns, serious equipment damage, and an unsafe working environment. Hence, movements and vibrations matter a lot. 

Deflection

Deflection is an angle or specific distance to which an object bends from its actual position with the application of a force. Deflection is too tiny to be visible with our eyes. 

To detect and analyze the deflections, the ODS technique can help with the direction and depth of the structural movement. 

The magnification technique portrays the real-time visualization of the movements without using any interpolation method or attached sensors. 

The video visualizes the exact metrics without any assumptions about what occurs between the sensor points. 

Displacement

The distance to which an element moves from the actual location is called displacement. You can measure this in terms of rotation and distance. 

Once displacement happens in machinery and industrial equipment, it can cause an imbalance or loosening of the machine. 

This condition is most prevalent once the vibrations happen at comparatively low frequencies– here the displacement decreases with an increase in vibration frequency. 

Hence accelerometers cannot measure displacement, since they don’t make the best instruments to measure displacement. Even though eddy current probes are another option, this also makes measurement difficult.

In this case, motion magnification is used since it is well-known for the precision and visual capabilities it offers. With this technology, you can effectively detect the occurrence of displacement and measure the extent of displacement with ease.

Technomax Approach to Trigger Vibration analysis

Now that you have understood all about vibration magnification and the way it works, let’s know more about the reliable and advanced approach Technomax takes in understanding the vibration motions of machinery. 

The speedy, easy, and flawless diagnosis of system dynamics helps to pinpoint the problems and their root causes with more accuracy. 

It eliminates the burden of maintenance engineers and helps them to identify the major causes, minimize the maintenance costs, lower the problem resolution time, and reduce the plant or machine downtime.

Technomax works on Motion Magnification technology with a combination of software and hardware solutions that help you detect the following:

• Understand whether any misalignments exist;
• detects vibration anomalies that an unbalanced rotor functioning makes;
• Analyze the defects in the journal and anti-friction bearings;
• Manage the logistics of the spare parts;
• Isolate the faulty components;
• Schedule the maintenance appropriately;
• Detect the concerns with gears;
• Address the electrical issues with AC or DC motors;
• Diagnose the root causes of equipment failure.

Wrapping Up

Vibration Motion Magnifying capabilities can help you analyze the extent of deterioration and machine breakdown. 

This supports planning predictive maintenance, reactive maintenance, and preventive maintenance for equipment that cuts downtime and additional costs. 

With an experience of over a decade, Technomax builds constructive partnerships with various manufacturers and service providers to deliver vibration analysis and magnification services to various sectors, like Petrochemical, Power, Oil & Gas, to name a few.