A new segment will be starting from this episode.
This session will explain in an easy-to-understand way why measurement is necessary, what kinds of measuring instruments are used, and more, for those who are just starting out or are about to become involved in the field of measurement.
Our sales team members take turns writing the articles. We aim to provide helpful information for those new to measurement, offering a sales perspective rather than technical expertise.
We live surrounded by a variety of sounds and vibrations. These sounds and vibrations have a wide range of sources and come in a variety of pitches (these are called frequencies).
If we can organize these complexly mixed sound and vibration components by frequency, we can not only determine their magnitude but also, in some cases, identify their source.
Decomposing complex time signals such as sound and vibration into their frequency components is called frequency analysis, and a measuring instrument called an FFT analyzer is generally used for this purpose.
So, to begin with, why is it necessary to analyze sound and vibration?
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First, let's consider vibration.
For example, in machinery, vibration is one of the important pieces of information that represent the state of the machine.
When abnormal vibrations occur in a machine, it can not only prevent it from functioning properly, but it can also lead to metal fatigue and potentially cause the machine to break down.
Metal fatigue caused by vibration is extremely dangerous and has been a cause of accidents in aircraft and trains, among other things.
Therefore, it is necessary to measure vibrations at every stage, from the development and design of machinery to manufacturing, quality control, and maintenance.
Furthermore, in the case of vehicles such as automobiles and trains, excessive vibration can trigger unpleasant physical reactions such as motion sickness, and therefore should be reduced as much as possible.
For workers using tools that produce strong vibrations, prolonged exposure to vibrations from tools such as hand hammers and rock drills can have adverse effects on the human body; therefore, the less vibration, the better.
While it's generally believed that less vibration is better, there are actually practical applications for it.
For example, by applying vibration to injected concrete before it hardens, it can be made to harden more firmly.
Vibration massage is effective in maintaining the health of bones, tendons, and muscles, and is even used by NASA to minimize the negative effects of weightlessness on the bones of astronauts.
Vibration is also used to speed up chemical processes.
Powdered materials in manufacturing lines can be transported by vibrating a belt.
Vibration is used for sieving and sorting products of various shapes and sizes.
In addition, dentists use ultrasonic vibrations to remove plaque.
Vibrating tools are used in many industrial processes, such as concrete chipping, material drilling and cutting, and surface cleaning.
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Next, let's consider sound.
Just like vibrations, we live surrounded by a variety of sounds.
Humans, as well as many other living creatures such as animals and insects, use sound as a means of communication.
Unlike sight, hearing can perceive sounds from all directions, 360°, so in dark places and
It plays an important role as a warning system that can detect danger even while you're sleeping.
Furthermore, unlike light, sound is a wave that propagates long distances underwater, making it essential for many marine creatures, researchers who conduct seabed mapping surveys, divers and fishermen, and navies around the world.
Doctors use stethoscopes to assess the condition of our hearts and lungs, so it can be said that sound is an important factor in medical diagnosis.
In the world of music, although not yet fully understood, it is known that sound can have psychological and emotional effects.
While sound possesses many convenient and excellent characteristics, excessive exposure to loud, jarring, or unpleasant sounds can have undesirable effects on both mind and body.
Noise is a factor that affects quality of life and health, especially in densely populated areas. Therefore, in addition to mechanical noise, it is necessary to measure and evaluate undesirable sounds that interfere with daily life, such as environmental noise (aircraft noise, automobile noise, everyday noise, etc.) and residential noise (conversation, music, and other sounds inside buildings), and to explore approaches to reduce them.
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Recently, there has been increasing demand for high efficiency, high output, lightweight design, and low cost in various industrial products.
Achieving these goals simultaneously while reducing noise and vibration is an eternal challenge, precisely because they involve conflicting trade-offs.
Amidst these challenging issues, the FFT analyzer is a measuring instrument that allows for accurate measurement of sound and vibration.
Our current lineup of FFT analyzers is as follows:
If you're interested, please take a look.
Osolution DS-5000 Sound and Vibration Analysis System
CF-9000 Series Portable FFT Analyzer
(Excerpt from the email newsletter issued on August 25, 2021)
