11VM-57 Vibration Level Meter The VM-57, which was released on July 17, 2024 as the successor to the VM-55, meets all requirements speci-fied for “Vibration level meters” and “Vibration level meters—Measuring instruments used in transaction or certification” under the Measurement Act and the Japan Industrial Standards. As its predecessor model, it is equipped with functions for measuring and displaying the maximum and minimum values of vibration levels, instantaneous values of vibration acceleration levels, and hourly rate levels simultaneously in three directions. In addition, it offers a new function for easy calculation of the VC value used to evaluate the VC curve.Please visit our website for more information on the product.Taking measurements using the vibration level meterVC valueThe display screenWhat kind of product is the VM-57?Nagahama: VM-57 is a vibration level meter, a device that mea-sures ground or floor vibrations. Consisting of a main unit and a 3-axis accelerometer, it measures vibration levels with corrections being made for human perception. While shaking motion is a strictly physical phenomenon, a physical vibration of let’s say 100 may not actually be perceived as 100 by humans. Our perception varies depending on frequency. If you evaluate vibrations solely in terms of physical quantities, there would be discrepancies between the measured results and how people sense the vibration. To address this issue, we calculate a value corrected to account for subjective human perception, called the vibration level. Rion holds the leading market share for such meters.Where are they being used?Nagahama: The most common sites are factories where manufac-turing machines that generate vibration, like presses, are used and at construction sites. They’re also used in settings involving environmental vibration—such as the vibrations generated by railways and roads. In the case of factories, for example, regu-lations require you to measure vibration levels if you operate metal processing machinery. In the case of construction sites, you’re required to keep vibration below the designated level if you’re driving piles. So, measurements have always been made in places where these regulations apply. Other applications include measuring blast vibration levels when explosives are used to drill into mountains at drilling sites for tunnels or in quarries.So they are legal requirements, are they?Nagahama: Yes. There’s a law called the Vibration Regulation Law, which sets strict regulatory values for different areas and time periods. There’s one for noise called the Noise Regulation Law. That’s why vibration level meters and sound level meters are often used together. Recently you may often come across construction sites with electronic screens displayed showing “Current noise level: XX dB, vibration level: XX dB.” These devices incorporate both sound level meters and vibration level meters. Demand for these devices is growing because the display of monitored values at all times assures residents that the work is being carried out responsibly, with due consideration for local citizens.Who buys your products?Nagahama: Environmental departments at local government offices, general contractors, and environmental consultants who offer environmental measurement services. In the last four or five years, we’ve also seen growth in demand from businesses who install semiconductor manufacturing equipment and other precision processing machinery. Ground vibrations will affect work involving precision machinery or electron microscopes, so there’s a growing need to measure vibrations in places where such machinery is installed.In your view, what advantages does the VM-57 offer?Nagahama: In addition to the corrections made for human vibra-tion perception mentioned earlier, I think it would be the func-tion for calculating the VC value. There is an evaluation method called the VC curve for setting vibration standards, which may say something like “when installing this precision machine, it is recommended that the VC value be less than so-and-so val-ue.” And we have been experiencing an increased demand for measuring vibrations before new factories are built. Before, you needed large-scale equipment to perform the measurements, and it took another step to convert the results. The compact VM-57 vibration level meter gives you the VC values instantly. This new function, I think, is one product strength. The function is available on an optional SD card, and you only need to insert the SD card with the app on to install it. Other really convenient features include a LAN port equipped for enhanced connectiv-ity with communication devices and a USB Type-C connector which makes it possible to power the VM-57 from a mobile battery. This allows use over extended periods in places without electrical outlets.Even though it was released only in July 2024, it’s already been received quite well, especially for the feature that lets users see the VC value instantly.With each passing year, precision machinery, including the machinery used in semiconductor manufactur-ing and processing, continues to grow ever smaller and more precise, resulting in ever greater processing accuracy. For this machinery, the presence of even the slightest vibrations can dramatically affect product quality and work efficiency. This makes measurements of the vibration of the floor on which the machinery stands essential. In recent years, the VC curve used for identifying the environmental vibration thresholds has become a common method to ensure the proper operation of the machinery.The VM-57 calculates the VC value (evaluation value for VC-A to VC-G) using the VC curve, which encom-passes vibrations ranging from levels perceivable by humans to minute vibrations that affect precision machinery. In the user interface screen above, you can see that the X and Y axes correspond to VC-A and that the Z axis corresponds to VC-B.
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