What are you looking for?
This course is appropriate for those who are new to machinery vibration analysis, as well as those who wish to gain awareness of the technology. Whether you will be collecting and analysing data, managing people who do, or simply want to understand what vibration is all about – this course is for you.
Anyone may take the course and exam but 6 months experience is required for certification. This course meets and exceeds the requirements for ISO 18436-2
Certification opens up new career paths Learn to collect and validate vibration data Learn basic analysis Learn why machines fail Ensure employees have the competency to do their jobs
“Alan is an expert at explaining technical concepts to non-technical people. He takes the time to make sure everyone's questions are answered. Ample animations and videos make the concepts easier to understand. You will be surprised at how much you learn in this course!”
Master the fundamentals of vibration analysis at your own pace with this comprehensive ISO 18436‑2 Category I online training program. Designed for maintenance, reliability, and condition monitoring professionals, this course meets and exceeds all ISO 18436‑2 Category I requirements and prepares you to confidently pass the Category I certification exam.
What is ultrasound? How is ultrasound measured? (airborne, structure-borne). What can you find with ultrasound? How to detect air and steam leaks. Acoustic emission and electrical faults. Acoustic emission and bearing lubrication. How can it be used to detect bearing faults? How does it compare to vibration analysis?
Reactive maintenance. Run to Failure maintenance. Preventive (calendar based) maintenance. Predictive (condition based) maintenance. RCM / FMECA. P-F Interval. Key performance indicators. Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Proactive (reliability centered) maintenance. What causes machines to fail? Using criticality analysis and FMECA to define condition monitoring program.
How is it different from used oil analysis? What mechanical faults can you find?
How to analyse vibration spectra? Data presentation. Intro to trending and alarms.
Introduction to vibration/ Overview. What is it? How is it measured? What can it find? Amplitude: RMS, peak and peak-peak. Frequency Hz, CPM, Orders. Phase: What is it? How is it measured? What is it used for? Units of vibration (displacement, velocity, acceleration) ISO RMS overalls and alarms. Complex vibration, Time waveform. Introduction to the vibration spectrum and FFT. Benefits of the spectrum. Forcing frequencies introduction. Orders and order normalisation. Calculating forcing frequencies, relating vibration to machine components. Intro to resonance.
How does your analyzer work? What are the common settings you need to be aware of? Fmax, lines of resolution (LOR), Averaging, ICP power etc. Importance of test configuration.
Diagnosing common machine faults. Unbalance, Misalignment, Looseness, Rolling element bearing wear, Electric motor faults, Pumps, fans and compressor faults, Belts and gearbox faults etc.
Motor current signature analysis (MCSA). Electrical signal analysis (ESA). Motor circuit analysis (MCA). Vibration analysis of motors (introduction)
What is thermography? Detecting faults in mechanical and electrical equipment. Emissivity. Accuracy of the measurements. How can measurements be misinterpreted? Key qualities of thermal imaging cameras.
How is vibration measured? Sensor types: Proximity probes, velocity probe, accelerometer, MEMs sensors, wireless sensors. Where to take readings on the machine and why it matters. Mounting the accelerometer. Dealing with difficult situations. Test point naming conventions. Vibration routes: Downloading and following routes. Field observations and defect detection. Recognising bad data (and getting good data).
Common tests: viscosity, cleanliness, particle count etc. Collecting good samples
ISO standards for setting alarms; use and limitations. Mask Alarms, Band alarms etc.
This self‑paced format is ideal for individuals and teams who need flexible, on‑demand training without sacrificing depth or quality.
The exam is delivered online, monitored by video and secure browser, or you may sit the exam in person following a live course. The exam is 2‑hour in duration, 60 multiple‑choice questions with a 70% or above required to pass.
Enrol in VCAT I Vibration Training and open the door to new opportunities in condition monitoring. Take the first step toward certification as a vibration analyst while building the skills to detect faults early, minimise downtime, and improve overall asset reliability.
What are you looking for?