Wireless hardware for online asset CM

15/08/2019

National Instruments (NI), the provider of a software-defined platform that helps accelerate the development and performance of automated test and measurement systems, has announced new wireless monitoring hardware for InsightCM, an open solution for online condition monitoring with full access to data and customisation with the InsightCM Software Development Kit. The new wireless devices automate the otherwise manual process of route-based data collection, so reliability engineers can spend more time analysing data and solving problems and less time climbing stairs with instrumentation and personal protection equipment to collect data.

With InsightCM and the new wireless devices, plant maintenance teams that rely on manual route-based data collection for plant assets can now achieve daily visibility into machine health. Unlike many wireless devices on the market, the new NI wireless devices transmit diagnostic quality waveform data back to the InsightCM server so as subject matter experts can immediately respond to alerts with a laptop rather than making a trip to the plant.

This wireless hardware helps plant owners connect a greater percentage of their assets to IT networks by drastically reducing the costs associated with installation: conduit, cabling and plant design work.

Ian Fountain, Director of Marketing for Industrial IoT Applications at NI, said: “The new wireless hardware transmits data with the quality needed by maintenance engineers and lowers the cost of installation, compared to wired monitoring systems, helping to reduce the time needed to recoup project costs during a digital transformation.”

The new wireless monitoring hardware encompasses two separate devices with support for InsightCM. The NI Wireless Vibration Measurement Device connects 12 standard piezoelectric accelerometers, or ±30 V sensors such as proximity probes, and is ideal for hard-to-access equipment that already has sensors installed. The monitoring device connects to the sensor junction box, which would otherwise be used for hand-held route instrumentation. AC, DC and battery-powered options are available. The battery-powered NI Wireless Vibration Sensor has an on-board microelectromechanical system (MEMS) triaxial accelerometer with a temperature sensor. Maintenance teams install the wireless sensor with the same installation methods used for piezoelectric accelerometers: magnetic mount accessory or epoxy pads.

ni.com/insightcm

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