PCE Instruments PCE-VC 21 User manual

PCE-VC 21Portable Shaker Vibration Calibrator

User Manual

User manuals in various languages (Deutsch,

français, italiano, español, português, nederlands,

türk, polski, русский, 中文) can be downloaded here:

www.pce-instruments.com

Last change: 23 August 2017

v1.0

English

Contents

1Safety notes....................................................................................... 1

2Specifications.................................................................................... 2

3System description ........................................................................... 3

4Purpose ............................................................................................. 3

5Properties.......................................................................................... 3

6Operation........................................................................................... 4

6.1 Attaching the Test Object .......................................................................................................4

6.2 Calibration ...............................................................................................................................5

6.3 Settings....................................................................................................................................6

6.4 Charging the Accumulator ......................................................................................................7

6.5 Reset .......................................................................................................................................8

7Calibration......................................................................................... 8

8Contact ............................................................................................ 9

9Disposal............................................................................................. 9

1 Safety notes

Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time.

The device may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments

personnel. Damage or injuries caused by non-observance of the manual are excluded from our

liability and not covered by our warranty.

The device must only be used as described in this instruction manual. If used

otherwise, this can cause dangerous situations for the user and damage to the meter.

The instrument may only be used if the environmental conditions (temperature,

relative humidity, …) are within the ranges stated in the technical specifications. Do

not expose the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme humidity or

moisture.

Do not expose the device to shocks or strong vibrations.

The case should only be opened by qualified PCE Instruments personnel.

Never use the instrument when your hands are wet.

You must not make any technical changes to the device.

The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use only pH-neutral

cleaner, no abrasives or solvents.

The device must only be used with accessories from PCE Instruments or equivalent.

Before each use, inspect the case for visible damage. If any damage is visible, do not

use the device.

Do not use the instrument in explosive atmospheres.

The measurement range as stated in the specifications must not be exceeded under

any circumstances.

Non-observance of the safety notes can cause damage to the device and injuries to

the user.

We do not assume liability for printing errors or any other mistakes in this manual.

We expressly point to our general guarantee terms which can be found in our general terms of

business.

If you have any questions please contact PCE Instruments. The contact details can be found at

the end of this manual.

2 Specifications

Vibration

frequencies

Vibration magnitudes (RMS values)

1 m/s²

2 m/s²

5 m/s²

10 m/s²

20 m/s²

15.915 Hz

40 Hz

80 Hz

159.15 Hz

320 Hz

640 Hz

1280 Hz

Accuracy of magnitudes

±3 % max. at 0 to 40 °C

±5 % max. at -10 to 55 °C

Accuracy of frequencies

±0.05 % max. at -10 to 55 °C

Harmonic distortion

<1 % (15.915 Hz: <5 %)

Level indicator

Percent value display, above ±3 % beep tone

Settling time

<10 s

Maximum weight of test object for stated accuracy in grams

f [Hz]

1 m/s²

2 m/s²

5 m/s²

10 m/s²

20 m/s²

15.92

500

159.2

500

250

320

500

200

640

500

400

100

1280

500

200

Vibration exciter

Dynamic force

10 N

Max. torque

2 Nm

Nominal torque

1 Nm

Max. transverse force

20 Nm

Transverse vibration

(14 mm above shaker)

15.92 / 40 / 80 / 159.2 / 1280 Hz: <10 %

320 / 640 Hz: <20 %

Mounting of test object

M5 tapped hole, 90° ± 0.5°, 7 mm deep

Clamping magnet

Adhesive

Operating temperature ranges for

3% accuracy

5% accuracy

0 … 40 °C

-10 … 55 °C

Humidity

<90 % at 30 °C, no condensation

Magnetic scatter field at shaker

<0.2 mT

Power supply

Built-in NiMH accumulator;

7.2 V / 1.6 Ah

Battery operating time

approx. 5 h with m = 100 g

Automatic shut-off time

1 to 30 min

Charge time of accumulator

3 h

Charge socket

DIN 45323 (5.5 / 2.1)

Positive terminal at center pin

Charge voltage

11 … 18 V DC

Charge current

<1 A

Protection grade

IP30

Dimensions

100 x 100 x 120 mm

Weight

2.2 kg

3 System description

4 Purpose

Easy and simple calibration of vibration metering, recording and control equipment.

Regular checks of such devices and installations.

Fault finding.

5 Properties

Handy and robust battery device for laboratory and filed use.

7 selectable vibration frequencies from 15.915 to 1280 Hz1.

Up to 5 selectable vibration magnitudes from 1 to 20 m/s2.

Load-independent vibration magnitude.

Suitable for test objects weighing up to 500g.

The vibration calibrator PCE-VC21 generates mechanical vibration with quartz stabilized

frequency and precisely controlled magnitude. Vibration sensors, including connected cables,

signal conditioners and readout instruments can be calibrated in acceleration, velocity or

displacement units.

Thanks to its lowest frequency of 15.915 Hz, the PCE-VC21 can also calibrate whole-body

vibration meters to ISO 2631 / ISO 8041 or building vibration meters to DIN 4150.

A reference accelerometer inside the shaker head and a control circuit keep the vibration level

constant and independent of the weight of the attached measuring object. A display indicates

the error in percent. There is an acoustical warning when he error limit is exceeded.

Because of its internal rechargeable battery, the PCE-VC21 is well suited for mobile

applications. The instrument features an automatic switch-off function preventing accidental

discharging. The display indicates the battery charging condition. The unit comes with an

external mains supply for charging.

The supplied plastic carrying case allows convenient handling and safe transport.

6 Operation

6.1 Attaching the Test Object

The vibration exciter of the PCE-VC21 has a tapped M5 hole with 7mm depth for the attachment

of the device under test. The supplied stud bolts and stud adapters or a climbing magnet can be

used for mounting.

The surface of the vibration exciter has been made extremely resistant by plasma nitride

coating.

For light transducers, adhesive wax or double sided adhesive tape can be used for mounting. A

flat surface for adhesive mounting can be obtained by using the M5 insulating flange Model 029

which is available from Metra.

Magnetic and adhesive attachments are only allowable for roughly estimated calibrations.

Accuracy is only guaranteed for screw attachment.

When mounting the specimen, pay attention to the symmetrical distribution of the object weight.

Otherwise, the vibrating system may be deflected from its main axis. When using coupling

structures for calibration of transducers, symmetrical attachment becomes especially important,

for instance, at the calibration of the x and y axis of a triaxial accelerometer. In the case, using a

balance weight as shown in the following illustration is recommended.

Figure 1: Load balancing

Please note that heavy connecting cables should be supported close to the test object.

However, an application of force via the cable must be avoided.

The maximum torque rating of 1 to 2 Nm at the vibration exciter must not be exceeded since

this may damage the instrument.

The PCE-VC21 should be placed on a rigid surface. Hand-held operation is not recommended

because of possible errors.

The supplied disk-shaped steel test piece is screwed onto the shaker head. It is made of

2CrMo4 which is the reference steel for sensitivity statements in the data sheets of proximity

probes. The sensor under test is screwed into the thread adapter and inserted into hole in the

slider. A fastening screw is provided for the thread adapter. Heavy or stiff cables are to be

supported so that no transverse forces act on the clamping device. After loosening two

fastening screws on the side, the slider can be shifted vertically to adjust the air gap between

the probe tip and the steel disk. The optimum air gap is reached when the DC output of the

sensor (or its oscillator) is approximately half its full-scale value (typically 10 to 12 V). A

thickness gauge can be useful to adjust the right gap. Now you can switch the PCE-VC21D on

to calibrate the proximity probe dynamically.

The calibration of proximity probes is performed at 159.2 Hz (radian frequency 1000 s-1). This is

the frequency where the magnitude value of acceleration in m/s2 are the same as the

displacement value in μm Hence the PCE-VC21D provides displacement magnitudes of 1, 2, 5,

10 and 20 μm RMS. Calibration at other frequencies is not recommended because the damping

elements of the clamping device have been optimized only for 159.2 Hz.

The clock output of Model PCE-VC21d is described in section.

6.2 Calibration

After attaching the device under test, switch the PCE-VC21 on by depressing the “On/Off”

button until the display lights up. Device information, such as hardware and software version

and the date of the last calibration, is displayed for a few seconds (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Version and calibration date

After short time the vibration signal becomes stable. The display shows the values of vibration

frequency and magnitude (Figure 4). Please note that these are not measuring values but only

nominal values.

Press the keys ”f+“ or “f-” to choose between the seven available frequencies. The magnitude

can be selected by the “a+” and “a-” keys. Depending on the frequency, up to five magnitudes

can be selected.

Note: At 159.2 Hz (radian frequency 1000 s-1) the unit of the magnitude alternates between

m/s2for acceleration, mm/s for velocity and μm for displacement. This is the frequency where

the magnitude values of acceleration in m/s-2 are the same as the velocity values in mm/s and

the displacement values in μm.

Example: 10 m/s2are 10mm/s and 10 μm.

In the upper right hand corner you will see the actual accuracy of the vibration magnitude in

percent. After short period of time the percent value should converge on zero.

If the absolute error exceeds 3%, the percent value will change to inverse characters and a

beep sound will be generated. In the case no calibration can be performed.

When the maximum weight of the test object is exceeded, instead of the percent value, an error

message “OVERL” will appear and the shaker will be switched off. To proceed with calibration,

first switch the calibrator off. Then reduce the weight of the test object and switch the calibrator

back on. The admissible weight is up to 500 grams, depending on the selected frequency. The

overload message can be eliminated by lowering the vibration magnitude.

The PCE-VC21 can be switched off by depressing the “ON/OFF” key for least one second.

Should this be omitted, a timer is provided which switches the calibrator off after a preselected

time from 1 to 30 minutes.

Caution: The vibration calibrator is not to be used in dirty and dusty environments. Particular

care should be taken that no ferromagnetic particles get inside of the instrument. They may

damage it within short time. Defects due to dirt and dust are not covered by the warranty.

6.3 Settings

Press the “Menu” key to enter the setup menu (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Setup menu

Select “1/2 Shut-off timer” by pressing the “On/Off” key. The time for automatic shut-off can be

entered between 1 and 30 minutes by means of the “a+” and “a-” keys.

Menu item “2/2: Calibration” is intended for factory calibration only. It is protected from

manipulation by a password.

6.4 Charging the Accumulator

The battery indicator is located in the upper left hand corner of the display. A full bargraph is

displayed when the battery is fully charged. Even if the bargraph is empty the instrument can

still be used within its specifications for a certain period of time. When the battery voltage drops

under a critical value, the PCE-VC21 is switched off automatically.

The instrument is equipped with a NiMH accumulator providing power for approximately 5 hours

of operation.

To charge the battery, connect the supplied mains plug adapter (15 VDC) to the DIN socket at

the side of the case. The unit should preferably be switched off during charging. Charging will

take about 3 hours. During the charging process the battery indicator will be continuously

moving (Figure 6).

Figure 6: Charging indication

During the charging process the PCE-VC21 can be used for calibration. However, this will

extend the necessary charging time.

The accumulator should be charged at room temperature. At higher temperatures charging can

be stopped before recharging the full capacity because of the build-in temperature sensor.

The battery has no memory effect. Partial charging is permissible.

Permanent connection of the main adapter is not recommended. This may lead to premature

wear of the battery. In order to avoid overcharging the battery, it is not recommended that you

disconnect and connect the main adapter immediately after charging is finished.

When the unit is not in use, the battery should be charged at least once a year.

The built-in battery is maintenance-free. Like all accumulators it has a limited number of

charging cycles. If the operating time with a fully charged battery becomes insufficient, the

battery should be replaced. In this case, the calibrator should then be returned to the

manufacturer. In addition to replacing the battery, the manufacturer will also test the accuracy of

the calibrator.

6.5 Reset

In the unlikely event that your PCE-VC21 cannot be switched on by the “On/Off” key, it may be

necessary to press the Reset button. This button is found on the bottom side of the case near

the key pad. Use a thin non-metallic object, such as a toothpick, to press the button inside the

hole. This will start the instrument. Pressing the Reset button has no effect on accuracy.

7 Calibration

The vibration characteristics of the PCE-VC21 are very stable even after intensive use. Typical

changes are below 1% per year. We recommend annual re-calibration. In case of shock load,

dropping the instrument, etc. immediate recalibration is advised.

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