VCAT-IV Vibration Analyst

The topics are roughly broken into two parts:

1. There is an entire course that could be called “Category III on steroids”. Many of the topics you covered in Category III are covered again but we go into more detail. Those topics include signal processing, dynamics, ODS, modal analysis, and so on.
2. And then the course goes into overdrive. Now you get into the topics that are unique to Category IV. You will learn about fluid film bearings and flexible rotors, including measurements with proximity probes, diagnosing a variety of fault conditions, and even balancing flexible rotors.

Part 1 consists of:
52 hours of online learning
Analyzer demonstrations
Animations
Simulators

Part 2 consists of:
5-day in-person classroom learning
Worked examples
Animations
Simulators
Optional certification exam

Category IV does cover a lot of practical content, but there is a good dose of theory as well. It is the theory and the calculations that can intimidate many vibration analysts. But we have done our best to make it all understandable and achievable. We provide you with a long list of worked examples with clear explanations on how to perform the calculations. But we also have animations and simulations that let you understand exactly what is going on. Rather than abstract concepts that only PhDs feel comfortable with, you will be able to connect theory with reality because you will see it right there on the screen.

Once you complete the training, you can take the exam with confidence, and become certified to ISO 18436-2 Category IV via the internationally respected Mobius Institute Board of Certification™ [MIBoC]. The MIBoC certification is accredited to ISO/IEC 17024 – there is no higher standard. You will join thousands of other Mobius™ certified analysts around the world.

There are three major reasons why over 4,000 vibration analysts choose Mobius Institute every year:

1. We make complex topics simple with amazing 3D animations and simulations that make you say, “Ah, now I get it!”
2. We use anonymous, stress-free polling throughout the course, so you know if you truly understand each topic, and the instructor knows not to move on to the next topic – no student is left behind.
3. Our Vibration Analysis training is ISO/IEC 17024 and ISO 18436-2 accredited and is globally recognized through the Mobius Institute Board of Certification (MIBoC).

We offer the ultimate flexibility:

PART 1: 

• ONLINE LEARNING: You have four months access for the ultimate in flexibility of viewing the online videos of the course. You can watch it multiple times at your pace! You can place your order here.

PART 2:

• PUBLIC: You can take the public, instructor-led course with other people like you. You can find a public course here.
• ON-SITE: You can invite the instructor to your site and save yourself the cost and hassle. You can find partners who can deliver the course here.

This course is intended for the vibration analyst who will:

• You have a minimum of five years of experience
• Have a senior role in the condition monitoring team but you want to go beyond and truly reach the peak of the vibration world
• Be able to understand the measurements associated with critical turbomachinery and other fluid-film bearing machines
• Be able to do everything the Category III can do – only better!

Duration:

• 82 hrs total:
  Part 1: Online Distance Learning
  Part 2: 5-day in-person course with optional exam

Format:

• Course is two parts:
  Part 1: You will have 4-month access to online course videos and study materials
  Part 2: In-person classroom learning: 5-day course with optional exam

Compliance:

• Training: ISO 18436-2
• Certification: ISO 18436-2, ISO/IEC 17024

Exam:

• 5 hours
• 60 multiple-choice questions, with calculations required
• 70% passing grade
• Can be taken online or in-person at the course

Certification requirements:

• Training course completed
• 60-months of practical vibration analysis work experience, verified by supervisor/manager
• Pass the exam
• Valid for 5 years
• Have previously been VCAT-III certified by a MIBoC approved certification body

Post-study:

• Continue learning for free on Mobius CONNECT® via www.mobiusconnect.com 
  with online forums, webinars, tutorials, etc.

There is a great deal to learn, but it will help you to perform your role with confidence. The topics covered in this course include:

• Advanced signal processing
• Cross channel measurements
• Dynamics (mass/stiffness/damping, natural frequencies, modes)
• Resonance testing (run-up/coast down tests, impact tests, ODS, modal analysis)
• Corrective action (flow control, resonance correction, isolation, and damping)
• Proximity probe and casing measurements
• Orbit and centerline plot analysis
• Rotor dynamics (natural frequencies, modelling)
• Journal bearings (design, fluid film instabilities)
• Flexible rotor balancing
• Torsional vibration

The key is that on the VCAT-IV course you will transition from being a very good vibration analyst to a vibration super-hero!

• You should be recognized for your achievements; not everyone is up to the challenge of understanding vibration analysis, let alone successfully collecting data and utilizing it
• Being certified by an accredited certification organization is a major step up from simply passing a test. Yes, the process is a little more complicated and stricter, but that is for very good reasons
• The educational process is extremely valuable, but being certified tells an employer (or a consulting client) that you are capable of doing an important job

Mobius Institute has certified more vibration analysts than any other organization and we have only been offering certification since 2005. Almost 40,000 vibration analysts around the world, just like you, chose Mobius Institute for a good reason.

You will receive a digitally encrypted certificate, an ID card, and a personalized logo that you should use in email signatures and elsewhere that you want people to know about your achievements.

In order to be certified you must:

• Complete a MIBoC approved training course (click here for a list of approved courses).
• Achieve 70% or higher on the certification exam (100 multiple choice questions, duration 5 hours).
• Have sixty (60) months of practical vibration analysis work experience, verified by supervisor/manager
• Have previously been VCAT-III certified by a MIBoC approved certification body.

Certification is valid for 5 years.

If you do not have the experience, you will still receive a certificate, but you will not be officially certified. When you pass the 60-month milestone, please contact MIBoC to be upgraded to full certification.

You can learn more about the certification process here or download our Vibration Analysis Certification Guide here.

Here are the main topics covered on the VCAT-IV course:

• Principles of vibration
  • Vectors, modulation
  • Phase
  • Natural frequency, resonance, critical speeds
  • Force, response, damping, stiffness
  • Instabilities, non-linear systems
  • Torsional vibration
  • Instrumentation
  • Proximity probe operation, conventions, glitch removal
  • Shaft and casing measurements
• Signal processing
  • RMS / peak detection
  • Analog/digital conversion
  • Analog sampling, digital sampling
  • FFT computation
  • Filters: low pass, high pass, band pass, tracking
  • Anti-aliasing
  • Bandwidth, resolution
  • Noise reduction
  • Averaging: linear, synchronous time, exponential
  • Dynamic range
  • Signal-to-noise ratio
  • Spectral maps
• Fault analysis
  • Spectrum analysis, harmonics, sidebands
  • Time waveform analysis
  • Orbit analysis
  • Shaft centerline analysis
  • Transient analysis
  • Unbalance, bent shaft, cracked shaft, eccentricity, rubs, instabilities
  • Resonance and critical speeds
  • Turbomachinery
• Phase analysis
  • Transient analysis
  • Enveloping
  • Electric motor defects
  • Flow-induced vibration, aerodynamics, and liquids
  • General fault recognition
• Rotor/bearing dynamics
  • Rotor/bearing dynamics
  • Rotor characteristics
  • Rotor modeling (rotor, wheels, bearings, aerodynamic effects)
  • Bearing characteristics (fluid film bearings, housing, and supports, seals, couplings)
• Corrective action
  • Flow control
  • Isolation and damping
  • Resonance control
  • Low and high-speed shop balancing
  • Field balancing (single plane, two plane, static/couple, flexible rotor)
• Equipment testing and diagnostics
  • Impact testing
  • Forced response testing
  • Transient analysis
  • Transfer functions
  • Damping evaluation
  • Cross channel phase, coherence
  • Operating deflection shapes
  • Modal analysis
• Fault severity determination
  • Spectrum analysis
  • Time waveform analysis, orbit analysis
  • Severity charts, graphs and formula
• Reference standards
  • ISO
  • IEC
  • Relevant national standards