MTI Instruments, a US-based manufacturer of advanced test and measurement equipment, has announced the introduction of its Accumeasure Wireless Gap Measurement Probe System. The system consists of up to four, battery-powered, wireless capacitance probes paired via Bluetooth to their receiving device.
The wireless capability and compact form factor of the battery-powered probes are designed specifically to measure gaps in difficult-to-reach or inaccessible locations. Unlike eddy current probe systems, capacitance probes are not susceptible to temperature drift, have built-in calibration, and are immune to magnetic field interference.
The capacitance probes transmit displacement (gap) readings ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 mm from fixtures to the rotating machine surface. Measurements are optimized for machines with a surface velocity of 6,000 SFM. Data from the receiver via RS-485 Modbus RTU interface protocol can be used for real-time monitoring of vibration and bearing health.