July 14, 2010

Recently, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB), a division of the renowned defense company, invested in multiple OROS analyzers and access to the latest vibration measurement technology: the VibeMaster™.

The Newport News based Northrop Grumman division has been designing, building, overhauling and repairing ships mostly for the US Navy and the US Coast Guard. They are primarily in charge of the maintenance on the aircraft carriers like the CVN77 (George Bush) and the CVN78 (Gerald Ford). Vibration analysis is one of the main challenges that the Test Engineering group has to deal with. The conditions of the in-field tests are harsh, with no room for cabling but a need to get accurate real-time data from a high number of sensors. Once again, OROS reaffirms its leadership in the defense and marine industry for vibration measurement by providing the best solution.

OROS has been designing and manufacturing dynamic signal analyzers for more than two decades. Benefiting from its experience, OROS developed a new and unique technology for real-time analyzing up to 320 channels: The VibeMaster™. The technology is based on linking multiple 3-series analyzers thus using all the capabilities of a single system. The scalable networking solution has the flexibility of using the analyzers separately for daily measurements as well as linking up to 10 analyzers for high channel count tests. In addition to a fully automated network configuration, OROS has designed a specific user interface that makes the set up easy, the monitoring clear and optimizes data management.

For Northrop Grumman’s needs, VibeMaster offered the perfect solution. An easy and quick way to set up the test, the ability to record data on a minimum of 64 channels (2 analyzers) and to monitor the spectral results on all channels at the same time through a simplified interface. An added benefit is the capability to use the analyzers independently for other field and lab tests. After successfully using a 32-channel analyzer onboard the CVN77 aircraft carrier, NGSB purchased, without hesitation, additional analyzers with the VibeMaster technology for use on the CVN78 carrier. NGSB now has the ability to link the analyzers for a larger channel system when needed.

The Marine and Vibration Test group was amazed by the real-time, multianalyzer capabilities of the VibeMaster system. “That was nice in that we could capture two FFTs, one low frequency and one high frequency with 2 different levels of resolution.  That was extremely handy when dealing with turbine, reduction gears and main shafting”, reported Frank K, a senior engineer at NGSB.

Note to Editors:

For a quarter century, OROS has been a trendsetter in noise & vibration instruments.  Specializing in multichannel, portable and real-time analyzers, OROS is the recognized leader and provider to the defense, power generation, aerospace and industrial markets.  Exponential growth and expanding market share have resulted in OROS products being distributed worldwide.