Motion Amplification: Seeing is Believing

Imagine if you could visualize faults in machinery.

Now you can!

Motion amplification allows a vibration analyst to see minute amounts of machine movement that would ordinarily be invisible to the naked eye.

Using Iris M, a revolutionary video-processing and software package developed by RDI Technologies, our analysts use a high speed, high definition camera to collect video data. The software and processing algorithms detect subtle motion and amplify it, essentially converting every pixel into an independent sensor, creating millions of data points in a matter of seconds.

For example, in the video below taken recently while on a job site, the image on the left is what one would see when looking at the fan on the shop floor. The image on the right is what that same fan looks like with its motion amplified.

While there are tools that exist to magnify an image or to offer point measurements on a machine, being able to see what is happening over the entire asset enables a more targeted and cost-effective approach to fault analysis.

Benefits of Using Motion Amplification

Accelerometers, strain gages and modeling software are all still valuable tools to diagnose issues with machinery and/or a piece of infrastructure. Motion amplification is another resource for getting to the root cause of a problem – and it does have its advantages:

• It’s quick and easy – There is very little set up involved and the capture process takes mere seconds.
• It’s safe – Since the analyst taking the measurements doesn’t have to actually touch the machine, there is much less risk of injury or even death as compared to traditional data collection methods (vibration, phase analysis, and ODS.)
• Reduced unplanned downtime – Motion amplification makes it incredibly easy to see faults in a machine so corrective actions can be more accurately planned and executed.
• Provides actionable information – The results of motion amplification are so easy to see in standard video format that it makes communicating machine condition with facility personnel fairly simple.
• Diverse application – Motion amplification can be used on a wide variety of equipment including rotating machines, pumps, structures, process lines, piping, etc.
• Compliments root-cause analysis activities – The root cause of a machine issue is often visually apparent.

When Would You Use Motion Amplification?

There are many situations in which motion amplification can be utilized:

• Diagnosing common vibration faults such as misalignment, imbalance, and looseness
• Identifying resonance, structural cracks, and soft foot
• Troubleshooting mechanical seals (something not possible using traditional vibration contact techniques)
• Measuring displacement
• Used in conjunction with traditional vibration monitoring techniques. For example, accelerometers have trouble detecting machine faults in the low-frequency end of the spectrum, whereas motion amplification can see motion down to 0.0 Hz

Certain machine conditions can be troublesome and time-consuming to pinpoint using vibration analysis, phase reading, and operating deflection shape (ODS) testing. Motion amplification is a valuable tool that enables analysts to visualize the complete movement of a machine in minutes.

When maintenance professionals can see faults in machinery, they’re empowered to take corrective action.

For more information on how IVC Technologies can us motion amplification to diagnose your machine issues, click here.

Up next: Part 2 of Motion Amplification: The Value of Visualizing Machine Faults, we’ll take a deeper dive into how motion amplification masterfully combines the benefits of the traditional technologies for machine troubleshooting – vibrations, phase analysis, and ODS.