Some jobs are simply impossible without the right tools. Just as an architect cannot map out the construction of a building without the right software, you may not be able to get the results you desperately need without the specific pieces of equipment.
No matter what it is you’re going to be measuring – from temperature to electronic signals, or sound levels to surface roughness – you need to have the correct devices on you. Seeing as oscilloscopes and vibration meters are two of the most common pieces of equipment used for measuring, as well as scale calibration weights, here’s why you should consider not only getting your hands on them as soon as possible, but also renting them from a test and measurement hire company on a weekly basis.
There are many hireable meters out there for the professional out on the job – from power meter hire to sound meter hire. But no matter if you work in maintenance or manufacturing at your business, in production or the lab, a very important tool to have on you is a vibration meter. Vibration meters are used in many, many installations and machines to measure intricate, slight oscillations and vibrations. Whatever you’re testing out, these meters pick up everything, including the three main aspects of vibration: vibration acceleration, vibration velocity, and vibration displacement. If any type of vibration needs to be checked and monitored, a vibration meter reads results with great precision. Thanks to the internal, constant accelerometer, accurate measurements are taken and recorded, and can be read easily on their colourful, bright screens. There’s also the ability to store the results internally, so you don’t have to write down the details immediately before taking the next reading or vibration sample. The usefulness of vibration meters doesn’t end there either. Seeing as the devices are portable, it means that you can carry it easily around on-site or from job to job. Considering these are small digital tools that fit into the palm of a hand, they are quite expensive. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to rent the equipment rather than owning them yourself. Have you considered measurement equipment hire instead of owning? You may find it to be a significantly cheaper option.
Oscilloscopes, which were previously known as oscillographs, are devices for viewing oscillations via the waveform of electronic signals. If you are a professional working full-time in laboratory analysis or research, you may already know the ins and outs of oscilloscopes. But if you need to use one for a job and haven’t had much experience with this kind of measurement equipment, then it’s time to understand them in layman’s terms.
So what does an oscilloscope actually do? They display common waveforms, like the sine wave and the ramp wave, on the screen after electronic signals have been analyzed. There is a whole range of jobs and professions where the electrical signal needs to be read over time, and oscilloscopes deliver the results instantaneously. Typical high-end oscilloscopes are handheld digital devices that are easy to use – and have many functions too. For instance, there’s the storage of waveform results for future reference, which is a huge help if you can’t note down the results as soon as they appear. Other features include the displaying of several waveforms simultaneously so the results can be cross-examined.
