2013 r3 release notes 2013...if you own a vbseries instrument (vb5 ®, vb6 ®, vb7 ®, vb8 ®,...

Release 2013 R3 — Ascent & vbSeries Updates

GE Measurement & Control

Notes for Release 2013 R3

Release 2013 R3 — Ascent & vbSeries Updates


Contents

Release Overview ......................................................................................................................................................... 2

vbSeries changes .......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Remote Comms functionality .......................................................................................................................................................3

Receive Data from Remote Comms Server ........................................................................................................................... 3

Send Data from Instrument to Remote Comms Server .................................................................................................... 4

Wi-Fi ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................5

Set up wireless network ............................................................................................................................................................... 5

Connect instrument to wireless network ............................................................................................................................... 6

Specify preferred wireless connection ................................................................................................................................... 7

Using Wi-Fi with your smart phone ......................................................................................................................................... 8

UFF Export ...............................................................................................................................................................................................9

General vbSeries Enhancements ................................................................................................................................................9

vbSeries Resolutions ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Deactivate Saving Waveform Data for Coast-down/Run-up Measurement ....................................... 10

Ascent changes ........................................................................................................................................................... 11

Remote Comms Functionality in Ascent .............................................................................................................................. 12

Receive data from Remote Comms server into Ascent ................................................................................................. 12

Send data from Ascent to Remote Comms Server .......................................................................................................... 13

Tach pulses in Ascent .................................................................................................................................................................... 14

User Permission Levels .................................................................................................................................................................. 15

Example workflow for setting up user permissions ........................................................................................................ 16

Set up user account ................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Log on to Ascent ......................................................................................................................................................................... 19

Log out of Ascent ........................................................................................................................................................................ 19

General Ascent Enhancements ................................................................................................................................................ 20

Ascent Resolutions ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20

Index .............................................................................................................................................................................. 21

Release 2013 R3 — Ascent & vbSeries Updates 2


Release Overview

The 2013 R3 release of Ascent® and the vbSeries® instrument firmware includes exciting new features as well as enhancements to existing functionality.

If you own a vbSeries instrument (vb5®, vb6®, vb7®, vb8®, vbBalancer®, or vbBalancer+®) we encourage you to upgrade your instrument to the available 2013 R3 firmware. Doing so gives you free access to some new features and further enhances the stability of your instrument. You also have the option to purchase some exciting new features via the Flex licensing system.

MORE: The latest Reference Guides are available at http://www.commtest.com/downloads.



vbSeries changes

This section lists the new instrument features available by default or for purchase. It also details the general enhancements included in the R3 instrument firmware.

NOTE: Some of the new features are available via the Flex licensing system.

The 2013 R3 instrument firmware release includes the following new features:

• Remote Comms functionality — You can exchange data between your instrument and the Remote Comms service. This enables you to exchange routes and recordings between Ascent and a remote vbSeries instrument without having to connect them both directly. The Remote Comms system is a Flex feature.

• Wi-Fi — In addition to the existing USB and Ethernet options, you can now also use a supported USB Wi-Fi dongle to connect your vbSeries instrument to an available 802.11b/g Wi-Fi network, and send and receive data from Ascent. Wi-Fi functionality is supported by instruments with a serial number of 45 000 or higher. Earlier instruments are unable to supply the power required by the USB Wi-Fi adapter. A supported USB Wi-Fi adapter is required (available separately) and Wi-Fi functionality is available for purchase via the Flex licensing system for compatible vbSeries instruments.

• UFF export — You can specify the specific contents of the UFF file when exporting data from your instrument to external software packages such as ME’scope. For example, you can specify if you want the file to include just FRF and coherence data, or if full waveform data should also be included.

• General enhancements — As well as the features mentioned above, several general enhancements have been made in the 2013 R3 version of the instrument firmware.

Remote Comms functionality

Once you have completed the initial setup requirements for the Remote Comms system, you can exchange data between Ascent and a remote instrument using the Remote Comms server.

MORE: See the Remote Comms Reference Guide on the Commtest website.

Receive Data from Remote Comms Server

To receive data from your Remote Comms server onto your instrument:

1. Press Remote Comms > Wait while your instrument connects to the server.

2. Press Receive Folder or Sync with Server.

NOTE: The option displayed depends on whether Sync is enabled under the settings for Remote Comms on your instrument.

3. Select the folder containing the data you wish to receive > Press .



Receiving data from your Remote Comms server onto your instrument

Send Data from Instrument to Remote Comms Server

To send data from your instrument to your Remote Comms server:

1. Press Remote Comms > Wait while your instrument connects to the server.

2. Press Sync with Server or Send Folder.

NOTE: The option displayed depends on the settings you specified for Remote Comms on your instrument.

3. Select the folder you wish to send the data to > Press . 4. Take EITHER of these actions:

• Press Delete if you wish to delete the folder you have just uploaded.

• Press Continue if you wish to retain the folder you have uploaded to the server.

Sending data from an instrument to a Remote Comms server



Connect to Wi-Fi Network

Connecting your instrument to a Wi-Fi network enables you to use any Ethernet networking infrastructure you have access to. In order to use Wi-Fi networking, you must have:

• An instrument with serial number 45000 or higher • A suitable USB-Wi-Fi dongle (available from your local Commtest distributor) • Wi-Fi capability unlocked on your instrument through the use of the Flex licensing system

Set up wireless network

When you connect your instrument to a wireless network for the first time, you will need to enter the relevant connection details. Your instrument will retain these automatically the next time you connect. You will also need to specify your region and preferred network.

To connect to a wireless network for the first time:

1. Apply your Flex licence in Ascent. 2. Insert your Wi-Fi dongle in the USB port of your instrument.

NOTE: Wi-Fi networking requires the use of a specific USB dongle. These are available for purchase separately from your local Commtest distributor.

3. Press Options — Wi-Fi is listed as not connected beside the Comms button.

4. Press Comms.

5. Press Wi-Fi.

6. Press to select your region:

a. Press Continue to acknowledge the legal warning.

b. Select your region > Press .

7. Select the required network > Press .

TIP: Press if the network you wish to connect to is not listed > Press Create Wi-Fi Connection.

8. Enter the required details.

TIP: Contact your IT professional if you are unsure of these details.

9. Press .

Selecting your Wi-Fi region



Creating a Wi-Fi connection

Connecting to your preferred Wi-Fi network

Connect instrument to wireless network

Once you have set up your preferred wireless connection, your instrument retains these details, enabling you to connect quickly and easily whenever required.

To connect your instrument to the wireless connection you have set up, simply insert your Wi-Fi dongle into the USB port of your instrument — Your instrument will automatically connect to your preferred network.

To preserve battery power, we recommend you remove your Wi-Fi adapter from the USB port when you have finished communicating. This also applies when the instrument is switched off.

NOTE: The IP65 environmental sealing certification for the instrument is only met when the rubber cover for the connectors is in place. This is particularly important if you are working in a wet or dusty environment.

TIP: If the LED light is off and your Wi-Fi dongle is not working, the over-current protection of the USB port might have tripped. You will need to remove and re-insert the instrument battery to resolve this.



Specify preferred wireless connection

If you have connected to more than one wireless connection, you can specify you preferred default connection. To do this:

1. Insert your Wi-Fi dongle in the USB port of your instrument.

2. Press Options.

3. Press Comms.

4. Press Wi-Fi.

5. Press Preferred Wi-Fi Networks.

6. Select your preferred network > Press — A ± icon displays beside your selection.

Specifying your preferred Wi-Fi network



Using Wi-Fi with your smart phone

You can use Wi-Fi to connect your vbSeries instrument to your smart phone. To do this you will need to set up a personal hotspot (iPhone), a portable Wi-Fi hotspot (Android), or internet sharing (Windows phone).

MORE: See the Apple User Documentation for information on personal hotspots.

Once you have set up a Wi-Fi hotspot or internet sharing on your smart phone, you can use its cellular data connection to access the internet. This is especially useful if you need to connect your instrument to a Remote Comms server that is available via the internet — You will be able to upload and download data using this connection.

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Setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot on an iPhone



UFF Export

Different data is required for different types of analysis in ME'scope. To cater for this, you can specify the kind of data you wish to send when exporting UFF files from your instrument:

• When you are doing Modal Impact Testing you can export all data or only FRF and Coherence data.

• When you are doing a Cross Channel Spectrum you can export all data or only Cross Channel Spectrum data.

Choosing to include only FRF and Coherence data in the UFF file

Only FRF and Coherence data is imported into ME’scope

General vbSeries Enhancements

In addition to the new features mentioned, the following general enhancements have been made in the 2013 R3 version of the instrument firmware:

• Added language support — vbSeries firmware is now available in English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese.

• Support for up to 40 kHz Fmax when doing Modal Impact Testing — Previously the maximum threshold was 10 kHz.

vbSeries Resolutions

The following occurrences were noted in particular circumstances:

• Spectrum charts displaying Y axis incorrectly — In spectrum charts, the Y axis was displaying too high up on the instrument screen. This has been resolved.

• Inability to take balance measurements if tach signal exceeds 999Hz — This was occurring on vb8 instruments running firmware version 13.3.0 and has been resolved.

• Coast-down/Run-up recording now saves waveforms — Coast-down/Run-up functionality now saves waveform data along with spectrum data. However, this means the pace at which you can take these recordings is slower. If you do not need to collect the waveform data, we recommend you specify this when setting up the recording. Doing so will enable you to take recordings much more rapidly during the machine coast-down/run-up.



Deactivate Saving Waveform Data for Coast-down/Run-up Measurement

Waveform data will automatically be saved when taking coast-down/run-up measurements. To deactivate this option and ensure only spectrum data is saved:

1. Press or Measure.

2. Locate and select the Coast-down/Run-up measurement type > Press .

3. Press Spectrum Waveform.

4. Press Spec Wfm repeatedly to toggle between EITHER of these options: • Spec + Wfm — Spectrum and Waveform data will be saved when you take a coast-down/run-up

measurement. • Spectrum — Only Spectrum data will be saved when you take a coast-down/run-up

measurement.

5. Press to confirm your selection.

Choosing to save only spectrum data when doing a

coast-down/run-up recording



Ascent changes

This section lists the new features available in Ascent, as well as the general enhancements implemented for the existing functionality.

MORE: You can download the latest Reference Guides at http://www.commtest.com/downloads.

Ascent 2013 R3 includes the following new features:

• Remote Comms functionality — You can exchange data between Ascent and the Remote Comms service.

• Tach Pulses — When taking order-tracked recordings, you can also receive the tach pulse data you have collected on the instrument into Ascent for review. This tach data displays as dots on the Ascent Orbit and Waveform charts using the Bently Nevada ‘Blank-Bright’ convention.

NOTE: Tach triggered Orbit Plots are included in the Bently Nevada pack, which is available via the Flex licensing system.

• User Permission Levels — The user permissions system in Ascent has been enhanced. This feature is particularly useful for larger organisations that have staff with different roles accessing databases that are stored on a network.

• General enhancements — As well as these new features, a number of general enhancements have been made in the 2013 R3 version of Ascent.



Remote Comms Functionality in Ascent

Once you have completed the initial setup requirements for the Remote Comms system, you can exchange data between Ascent and your Remote Comms server.

MORE: See the Remote Comms Reference Guide on the Commtest website.

Receive data from Remote Comms server into Ascent

To receive data from your Remote Comms server into Ascent:

1. Open Ascent. 1. Click Receive. 2. Select Remote Comms Server in the Comms Method field. 3. Select the server in the field provided. 4. Expand the relevant item in the site tree > Select the folder containing the data you wish to receive. 5. Tick the checkboxes beside the data you wish to receive. 6. Click Receive. 7. Select an existing site or click New Site to create a new one > Click OK.

Preparing to receive the selected data from the Remote Comms server into Ascent



Send data from Ascent to Remote Comms Server

To send data from Ascent to your Remote Comms server:

1. Open Ascent. 2. Click Send. 3. Select Remote Comms Server in the Comms Method field. 4. Select the server in the field provided. 5. Tick the checkboxes beside the folders you wish to send. 6. Click Send.

Sending data from Ascent to the Remote Comms server



Tach pulses in Ascent

When taking order-tracked recordings, you can send the tach pulse data you have collected to Ascent for review. Tach pulses display as dots in the Ascent charts.

Viewing tach pulses on an orbit plot chart

Viewing tach pulses on an orbit plot chart



User Permission Levels

The user permissions system in Ascent has been enhanced. This feature is particularly useful for larger organisations that have staff with different roles who access databases that are stored on a network.

NOTE: If you are the only person in your organisation using Ascent, the user permissions system will not be particularly relevant to you.

The following user levels are available:

• No Access — User has no access. This level is automatically assigned to a user until you specify a different level for them.

• Read Only — User can view data, including reports, charts, and various settings in Ascent but cannot change the content of the database. However, they can create their own database and modify that as required.

• Update — User has Read Only access but can load new data from the instrument into Ascent. The user has the same access as Read-Only users, with the added ability to manage devices, and send or receive data between Ascent and one or more instruments. Update users cannot change the existing database folder structure.

• Power User — User has full control over the database. They have similar access as a SYSDBA user. However they cannot query or modify the security database. They also do NOT have access to back up and restore or rebuild a database.

• SYSDBA — User has full control, including the ability to set up users and change the default SYSDBA password (if required).

TIP: If you change the default SYSDBA password, ensure you make a note of your new password as this is not easily recoverable if you forget it.

The user permissions system caters for varying access to each database. This means the system administrator in your organisation can grant a user full access to a particular database and restricted access to another database.

NOTE: A user with limited access can still create their own database and modify this as required.



Ascent user permission levels

Example workflow for setting up user permissions

Here is an example of a typical workflow for setting up user permissions:

1. The SYSDBA user in your organisation creates user accounts for each person using Ascent.

TIP: Contact Commtest Support if you do not know who this is.

2. The SYSDBA user in your organisation assigns appropriate permission levels to each user for each database: • A Read Only user might be a Machine Operator or Plant Manager. • An Update user might be a data collector. • A Power user might be a vibration analyst.

3. The SYSDBA user in your organisation gives all users their login details. 4. The Power user in your organisation creates a database to monitor a site. 5. Each user logs into Ascent and operates according to the permission level specified for them for each

database.



Set up user account

When you a create user account, it will be available regardless of the database you select. However, you can specify the required permission level for each database. For example, John might have Read Only access to one database, but Update access to another.

To set up users with different permissions for a database:

1. Open the required database. 2. Select File > Database > User Management. 3. Click Add User. 4. Enter a username and password for the user in the fields provided. 5. Click OK. 6. Select or right-click a user you have created > Click ONE of these buttons to specify the permission

levels for the selected user: • Read Only • Update • Power User

7. Click Close when you have finished applying permission levels to the user accounts you have created — Your changes are automatically saved.

Adding a user



Specifying the appropriate permission level for the selected user



Log on to Ascent

If your administrator has created a user account for you, you will need to log in and out of Ascent. When you do this, your login details and permission level will display in the bottom right corner of the main Ascent window.

Seeing which user is logged into Ascent

To log into Ascent:

1. Open Ascent. 2. Use EITHER of these methods to log on:

• Select File > Database > Log On.

• Click the arrow beside the Database button > Select Log On. 3. Enter your username and password in the fields provided.

TIP: Contact your system administrator if you do NOT have these details.

4. Tick Remember password if you do NOT wish to re-enter your login details the next time you open Ascent.

NOTE: If you log out of Ascent, rather than close it, you will need to enter your login details the next time you open Ascent.

5. Click Log On. 6. Open or create a database as required.

Logging into Ascent

Log out of Ascent

To log out of Ascent:

1. Open Ascent. 2. Use EITHER of these methods to log off:

• Select File > Database > Log Off.

• Click the arrow beside the Database button > Select Log Off.



General Ascent Enhancements

The following general enhancements have been implemented in the 2013 R3 version of Ascent:

• Added language support — Ascent software is available in English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese.

• OnlineManager — General enhancements have been made to improve the performance of OnlineManager.

• New Asset ID field for machines — You can now manage the value of this field when you select Machine > Edit. The information you enter here displays on the Machine Structure report. This is useful if your company uses another software system to track the cost or performance of its assets. For example, each of your company’s assets might have a unique “Asset ID” number. You can now specify this in Ascent to make these easier to identify.

Using the Asset ID field

Ascent Resolutions

The following occurrences were noted in particular circumstances:

• Templating — Duplication of alarm threshold values has been resolved. • Speed improvements — Ascent 2013 R3 is runs faster than previous 2013 versions of the

software. • Updating thresholds when selecting a template — In some situations, alarm bands were missing

thresholds. A user would update alarm thresholds based on the alarm templates. When attempting to retrieve the alarm band data, Ascent was incorrectly reporting a lack of data and not updating the thresholds. This has been resolved. Ascent now supports creating records that store the state. It will set the state (or severity) as unknown. An alarm without thresholds will still display in grey.

• Alarm thresholds displaying in Band editor — When editing a Band Alarm, the thresholds now show. This is the case for independent alarms and where thresholds are based on templates.

• Import / restore database — The performance for this process has been improved. • Changing databases in Ascent — When changing databases, the associated advanced reporting

database was not changing. This has been resolved. You no longer need to remap the database each time you start Ascent.



Index

Ascent changes ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Ascent Resolutions ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Connect instrument to wireless network ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Example workflow for setting up user permissions ....................................................................................................................... 16 General Ascent Enhancements ................................................................................................................................................................. 20 General vbSeries Enhancements ................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Log into Ascent .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Log out of Ascent .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Receive data from Server to Ascent ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Receive Data Remotely on Instrument from Ascent......................................................................................................................... 3 Release Overview ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Remote Comms on your Instrument ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Send data from Ascent to Server ............................................................................................................................................................. 13 Set up user account ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 Set up wireless network ................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Specify preferred wireless connection ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Tach pulses in Ascent ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 UFF Export ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 User Permissions ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 vbSeries changes ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 vbSeries Resolutions .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Wi-Fi for SCOUT ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

2013 r3 release notes 2013...if you own a vbseries instrument (vb5 ®, vb6 ®, vb7 ®, vb8 ®,...

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