VibraQuest Pro

Quick Start

Copyright 1995 - 2017 – All Rights Reserved

SpectraQuest, Inc.
8205 Hermitage Rd.
Richmond, VA 23228

(804) 261-3300
(888) 773-2877 Toll Free
(804) 261-3303 Fax

www.spectraquest.com
VibraQuest Pro is a powerful DAQ (data acquisition) and data analysis software system
designed to allow easy data collection, analysis, and report generation for engineering
and scientific disciplines. All operations are coordinated through the main menu. This
structure expedites learning and maneuvering within the software. Windows or panels
solicit the necessary User information for the DAQ setup to perform steady state,
shaker, transient, and data streaming operations. Internal crosschecks minimize the
possibility of conflicting instructions. The software is specifically designed to permit
easy comparisons of time and frequency domains. Reports can be quickly prepared
within the program as the data analysis progresses and then directly transferred to
Microsoft Word for final editing and printing.

The Quick Start section assumes that the User is familiar with vibration terminology,
analysis procedures, and Lab View graphics/controls. If the User is not entirely
comfortable with some issues, then refer to the detailed manual and on-line help system.

Minimum PC requirement:

• Pentium III 700 MHz, 256 MB RAM, 50 MB hard drive space, 32 MB video
RAM.

Users with previously installed VibraQuest software and fundamental

preparation:
Sometimes demo software or previous copies of the software have been installed on the
computer system.

To make sure that VibraQuest Pro will run properly, a few things must be completed.

1. Previous VQ installation must be uninstalled first by using Windows

Add/Remove Programs function. After that you can reinstall the program. You
can keep the usernames and passwords by clicking on NO button while
installation asks you if you want to overwrite previous settings. The data folder
will not be deleted unless the user deletes it.

2. You will need to install the USB security key. The installation program should be
under folder “USBKeyInstaller” on the CD. Make sure the USB key is not
plugged in while you run the installation. After installation finished, you can plug
it into the USB port. If Windows still looks for the driver, you can select
“automatic search” option, and Windows will finish the installation for you.
Restarting the computer is recommended.

Locate the USBKey Installer folder on the CD. Double-click on Install.exe file.
Make sure the key is not plugged in at that time.
 Choose the “KEYLOK 2 (USB w/Driver)” and “Standalone” Option to Install.
Plug the USB key and the system will detect and let it install the driver
automatically.

3. Install DAQ driver. The installation package is under CD folder

“DAQDriversetup”. Run the “Setup.exe”. Select “Install From CD”, and “Install
Required Software”. Follow the recommended settings to finish the setup. After
the device driver is installed, user can plug the device into any USB port of the
computer. The computer will notice the connection and just let the computer
install the driver automatically.

Installation:
1. Insert the CD (disk) into the drive. It will auto start and lead the User through the
installation process. Please refer to user’s manual section 1.1 for more details.
2. Plug the security key into the USB port.
3. After starting VQPro, a login screen will appear. It requests the User name and
password. The first time User must click on “Login as Administrator”. Enter the
password as “password” and press enter. The Administrator can change the
password later as described in Section 7 of the user manual.
VibraQuest WTS Program:

1. The Main Panel appears immediately. The User can access all program functions
from this panel.
The whole program is layered by User-> Project -> Test (or collected data). Each
user can have unlimited projects. Under each project, user can also have template
files that help user to start data acquisition quickly. Each user can have multiple
projects, and one project can have sub projects, unlimited data files and report
files.

The Main Panel consists of a menu bar, information bar, projects explorer,
tests explorer, test review, and analysis buttons.

The Menu Bar is structured as follows:

• User
o User Info
o Logout—exits VQPro to User Login Panel
o Exit—exits VQPro entirely
• Project
o New Project—use to start a new Project
o View Settings—view test setup summary
o Update Settings—make changes to test setup
• Data
o Setup DAQ—use to start setup of DAQ process
o Import—provides a method to import a file
o Generate—provides a dummy input signal to the DAQ
channels for proving the system or educational purposes
• Analyze
o Analyze—data analysis mode
o Nyquist—plot
o Bode—plot
o Orbit—plot
o Harmonics—automatic harmonic detection with table
o Waterfall-plot
o Sideband—automatic sideband detection with table
o Advanced—(Fault Set and Order Analysis pending)
• Report
o New Report—use to setup a new report
o Open for Append—use to edit an existing report
o Review Report—use to view a report
o Add Summary—use to add a summary to a report
o Save and Close
• System Manager
o System Preferences—use to edit field sensor setup table
o User Accounts—use to setup, edit, delete User Accounts
and revise passwords
• Help
o Contents
o Search
 o About VibraQuest Pro

The information bar displays the User Name, Active Project, Active Report and
the Add to Report (“Go Report”) button.

The Project Explorer displays all the projects created by the current User. The
“root” represents the working path, which can be found in User Info.

The Test Explorer displays all the tests under the Active Project.

The Test Review displays the settings of the selected test.

The Analysis buttons provide an alternate method to the Menu Bar to access the
analysis functions.

The Administrator must establish any additional Users under Section 7 (System
Manager) before they can enter the program.

2. Start a new project by clicking on “Project” in the Menu Bar and then “New
Project”. The Project Objective Panel will appear.
3. Enter data as prompted by this panel. The Project Name is whatever very brief
label identifies the project. For example, HRE 1 could stand for hypersonic ramjet
Project 1. The Objective should describe the fundamental purpose of the test or
experiment conducted under this project. For example, “steady state baseline
vibration characteristics of test engine at ignition”. User 1 should be the name of
the primary User or test engineer. User 2 should include the name of any
associated party. The Customer is self-explanatory. The Location is self-
explanatory. The Test Nature is any qualifying information that may be of value.
For example, one could enter the test engine identifier or serial number. When
finished, click on “Next”.

4. The Test Parameter Panel will appear.

The purpose of this panel is to provide a concise list of all pertinent

parameters/conditions associated with the Test. The User may select “None” to
omit this list. Otherwise, the User should select an appropriate template by
clicking on the list of available templates. The existing templates can be edited as
required. It is also possible to create a new template if desired. To create a new
template, cancel out of the current window and click on the appropriate project
from the Project Explorer window. You may have to click on the root to reveal
the list. Then click the “Template” button, and the Template Manager window
will appear. Click on “New”. Create the new template. Please observe that
Measurement and DAQ Setup templates can also be created. When complete,
click on Save and Return.

Template Manager
 You can create new template or edit existing template file. The template file can
be used to go data acquisition directly from main panel.

When finished, click “Next”.

5. The Measurement Setup Panel will appear. It enables the User to establish the
hardware settings for each channel.

The parameters are as follows:

• On/Off—use to turn a channel On/Off as necessary to support the Test
• Channel Number
• Coupling—AC suppresses the DC component of the signal. DC
permits the DC component to pass through. Use DC coupling for
proximity probes.
• Legend—the assigned name for a channel such as “motor outboard
vertical”, “motor outboard horizontal”, “motor inboard vertical”, etc.
• Volts/Unit—the conversion of field sensor output to the desired
engineering units. Please refer to the sensor data for appropriate
information.
• Units—Selection of the appropriate field sensor establishes this value.
• ICP—“On” provides power from the computer board to the field
sensor. “Off” terminates power from the computer board to the field
sensor. The sensor will require an external power supply as necessary.
 • Sensor Type—select the appropriate field sensor from the list. Only
the System Administrator can edit or add to this list.

The Panel includes a switch for English or Metric units and a replicate channel
feature to expedite setup.

When finished, click “Next”.

6. The Data Acquisition Panel (DAQ) will appear. The DAQ panel requests the
appropriate information to collect the data.

7. Click on the box below “Test Type” and make the appropriate choice. Under
“DAQ Controls” enter the appropriate information. “DAQ Information” will
display the results of the control settings.

When finished, click “Next”.

8. The “Project Setup Summary” Panel will appear.

9. The next step involves actual collection of the data. Please refer to Section 3 of
the User Manual for the general DAQ.

10. After data collection, the data file will appear in the test explorer. User can select
and highlight the test, and click on function buttons to analyze the data. Below is
the 1-graph analysis panel, which can be accessed by clicking on the “Analyze”
button.
This panel is the main panel for user to review, analyze the data. User has access to most
of the analysis functions available in VQ Pro.

For details of the display controls, please refer to user manual section 5.1.

For details of report creation, please refer to user manual section 6.