Test and measurement distribution company Comtest, a distributor of Fluke electronic test equipment, is seeing continual growth in sales of the Fluke 810 mechanical vibration tester, owing to its ease of use and cost efficiency.

The Fluke 810 tester is used in all industries that require mechanical maintenance, especially in the mining industry where constant analysis of rotary machines is required. It was introduced onto the South African market in 2010 and has shown solid sales figures.

“The tester is designed specifically for maintenance professionals who need to troubleshoot mechanical problems and quickly understand the root causes of equipment problems,” says Comtest Fluke vibration specialist Darius Opperman.

The handheld Fluke 810 is designed and programmed to easily measure and diagnose the most common mechanical problems, such as unbalance, looseness, misalignment and bearing failure. The tester can be used for various rotary machinery, including motors, pumps, fans, blowers, belts, gearboxes, compressors and spindles.

“Fluke’s three-step measurement procedure enables maintenance teams with mini- mal training and experience to evaluate a machine’s health and determine the required maintenance without any machine history,” states Opperman.

Further, he says many facilities do not have the time and resources to develop a strong maintenance team and suffer from regular mechanical breakdowns. He believes that the Fluke 810 can reduce consulting costs by putting the expertise in technicians’ hands.

“Using vibration testing to evaluate a machine’s health has many benefits and, with advances in measurement and diagnosis technology, vibration analysis has become available to virtually everyone. These advances have enabled companies to diagnose common machine faults with- out having to buy expensive equipment, hire expert operators or pay for expensive training,” emphasises Opperman.

When a fault is detected, the device identifies the problem, its location and its severity, which assists maintenance workers in priori- tising the required maintenance. The device also recommends repairs and uses context-specific on-board help to provide guidance and information for users in real time.

“This precision allows maintenance teams to act when necessary and keep mechanical equipment in peak condition, and ensures the machinery remains continuously productive,” concludes Opperman.