SKF Microlog Analyzer AX (CMXA 80) Vibration Data Collector

Overview

The SKF Microlog Analyzer AX (model CMXA 80) is a portable, four-channel data collector and FFT analyzer built for route-based condition monitoring of rotating machinery. SKF positions the AX as the large-screen flagship of its Microlog family: it captures dynamic vibration data and static process values from handheld or magnetically mounted accelerometers, permanently installed sensors and online monitoring systems, and it can record temperature through a non-contact infrared sensor or a contact probe. Measurements span DC to 80 kHz, and bearing condition is assessed with SKF Acceleration Enveloping (gE), the demodulation technique SKF developed to expose early bearing and gear-mesh defects long before they show up in overall velocity readings.

Seven Star LLC supplies the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX, its sensor kits and its accessories to reliability teams across the Sultanate of Oman and the wider GCC, backed by regional stock and engineering support in Muscat. Typical buyers are predictive-maintenance groups at oil and gas processing plants, power and desalination stations, refineries, cement works and the industrial estates of Sohar, Duqm and Salalah, where a single technician often walks a route of hundreds of pumps, fans, compressors and gearboxes every month and needs a rugged instrument that works in heat, dust and direct sunlight.

Measurement Principle of the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX

Each input channel of the instrument accepts ICP-type accelerometers as well as AC or DC voltage signals up to ±25 V. The analog front end uses high-resolution sigma-delta conversion (a 24-bit converter with a dynamic range above 90 dB) followed by digital signal processing, so the analyzer can calculate overall values, spectra and time waveforms quickly while preserving amplitude accuracy of ±2.5% of full scale. FFT resolution is programmable from 100 to 25,600 lines, with Hanning, flat top, Hamming and rectangular windows, and time blocks from 256 to 65,536 samples. Up to 255 time averages or 4,096 spectral averages can be applied, using RMS, time, peak-hold or exponential averaging.

For rolling-element bearings the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX applies its enveloper (demodulator) with four selectable band-pass filters – 5 to 100 Hz, 50 Hz to 1 kHz, 500 Hz to 10 kHz and 5 to 40 kHz. The filter removes the dominant low-frequency running-speed vibration, and the repetitive impacts generated by a spall or a lubrication problem are rectified and displayed as a gE value and an envelope spectrum. The practical consequence is earlier warning: a defect frequency can be trended for weeks before it becomes audible or raises bearing temperature, which gives planners time to order parts and schedule the repair during a planned stop.

Engineering Design of the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX

The SKF Microlog Analyzer AX is built into an EN 60529 IP 65 case that is dust-tight and protected against water jets, weighs 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and measures 220 × 220 × 71 mm. It has been drop-tested from 1.2 m to MIL-STD-810F with the stand retracted. The 6.4-inch VGA (640 × 480 pixel) transflective colour TFT screen is designed to remain readable both indoors and under bright outdoor light, a real advantage on an open plant in the Gulf summer. Navigation uses four arrow keys, two Enter keys for right- or left-handed use, four function keys and hot keys for peak find, harmonics and expand.

Connectivity is arranged on four Fischer connectors: CH1 and CH2 (six-pin) for signal inputs, strobe output and a +5 V tachometer supply; a seven-pin connector that adds a further input, USB host and audio output; and a seven-pin connector for USB device communication, the charger and an external trigger. The tachometer input accepts TTL or programmable analog signals to ±25 V over 1 to 99,999 RPM, and over-voltage protection is rated at ±50 V peak AC and ±50 V sustained DC. A Li-ion battery of 6,600 mAh with integral gas gauging delivers at least eight hours of continuous collection, 120 MB of internal memory stores roughly 4,000 spectra, and an SD slot accepts cards up to 16 GB.

Key Features

The main characteristics that make the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX a common choice for plant-wide vibration programmes are listed below.

• Simultaneous triaxial or four-channel measurements shorten the time spent at each machine compared with single-channel collectors.
• Frequency coverage from DC to 80 kHz (10 to 4,800,000 CPM) suits slow-speed rolls as well as high-speed gearboxes and compressors.
• SKF gE enveloping with four filter bands detects bearing and gear-mesh faults at an early stage.
• Measurement types include overall, spectrum, time waveform, cross-channel phase, orbit and shaft centreline plots.
• Multi-point automation lets the technician collect up to 12 pre-configured measurements at one location with a single button press.
• One- and two-plane balancing, data recording and run-up/coast-down analysis are available in the same handheld instrument.
• Overall, spectral and exponential alarms, plus up to 12 fixed or order-based spectral bands, flag problems directly in the field.
• CSA Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D (T4 at Ta 50 °C) certified kits are available for classified areas when the CSA-approved CMSS 793-CA sensor is used.

Analysis Modules and Software

Every SKF Microlog Analyzer AX ships with the full Microlog module suite installed: Route, Balancing, Data Recorder, FFT Analyzer, Conformance Check, Run Up Coast Down, Frequency Response Function, Spindle Test, SKF Idler Sound Monitor and Sensor Setup. In Route mode the host software builds an ordered list of measurement POINTs, so the technician simply presses Enter to move through every point; coded notes, manual process entries and speed tagging are stored with the data. Results are uploaded to SKF @ptitude Analyst for trending, alarm management and reporting, which makes the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX a natural fit for sites that already run SKF software or plan to standardise on it.

Industrial Applications

In the Gulf the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX is typically used on monthly vibration routes covering crude transfer and water-injection pumps, gas compressors and their gearboxes, cooling-tower fans, seawater intake pumps for desalination, boiler feed pumps and induced-draft fans in power plants. On the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX, the run-up/coast-down and frequency response modules help diagnose resonance on vertical pumps and large motors during commissioning, while two-plane balancing allows the same technician to correct fan unbalance on the spot instead of calling a separate service crew.

Seven Star LLC supplies the analyzer to operators, maintenance contractors and inspection companies in Muscat, Sohar, Duqm and Salalah and across the GCC, together with accelerometers, magnetic bases, cables and laser tachometer kits. For facilities that already rely on SKF bearings such as the SKF 6206-2RS1 deep groove ball bearing, a route-based programme built around the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX links bearing selection, lubrication and condition data in one maintenance workflow. Many sites pair it with permanently installed sensors such as the Bently Nevada 330500 Velomitor on critical machines and with infrared surveys using the FLIR E96 thermal imaging camera.

Technical Specifications

The table below summarises the main SKF Microlog Analyzer AX specifications from the SKF Microlog series catalogue; confirm kit contents and part numbers with Seven Star LLC when ordering.

Call To Action

To specify an SKF Microlog Analyzer AX kit, send your formal RFQ to Seven Star LLC with the number of machines on your route, the sensor types you prefer and whether you need hazardous-area certification. Our instrumentation division in Muscat can configure the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX and advise on accelerometers, magnetic bases, the laser tachometer kit and spare batteries, and the SKF Microlog Analyzer AX datasheet (SKF Microlog series catalogue) is available for download on this page. Regional stock and engineering support in Muscat help keep vibration programmes running across Oman and the GCC.