Order tracking analysis software

measurementtrackingindustrial

Order Tracking is a general term describing a collection of measurement functions used for analyzing the dynamic behavior of rotating or reciprocating machinery for which the rotational speed can change over time. Unlike the power spectrum and other frequency-domain analysis functions where the independent variable is frequency, Order Tracking functions present the data against multiples (Orders) of the variable shaft running speed. The most useful measurements are Order Spectra and Order Tracks. An Order Spectrum displays the amplitude of the signal as a function of harmonic orders of the reference shaft’s rotation frequency. This means that a harmonic or sub-harmonic order component remains in the same analysis line (at the same horizontal position) regardless of the speed of the machine. The technique that observes the changes of a measured quantity at a given order vs. RPM is called tracking, as the rotation frequency is being tracked and used for analysis. Most of the dynamic forces exciting a machine occur at multiples of the rotation frequency, so interpretation and diagnosis is greatly simplified by use of order analysis. An Order Track is simply the history of measured amplitude at a single order versus the machine shaft speed (in RPM). There are other types of tracking functions. For example, you can track the FFT-based PSD spectra, a fixed band or an octave band versus RPM; all of these are tracking functions. Capabilities of the Spider The processing repertoire of Crystal Instruments’ Spider includes performing Order Tracking functions.