In the demanding world of vibration testing, shakers play a crucial role in simulating real-world conditions for components ranging from aerospace parts to consumer electronics. As test labs increasingly operate under tight deadlines and high equipment utilisation, the XPA-K Remote Diagnostics feature is a vital tool to ensure the reliability, availability, and performance of LDS V8000 shaker systems, while remaining fully compliant with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which is set to become law for Europe and the UK in 2027.
XPA-K Remote Diagnostics involves monitoring and analysing a shaker’s performance data in real time from a remote location. It allows service engineers and maintenance personnel to detect issues, perform root cause analysis, and recommend corrective actions – often without setting foot in the test lab. In more than 50% of cases we will be able to avoid an on-site investigation before the repair visit. We, HBK, can then ensure that the correct parts and service are defined prior to any physical visit.
This capability is enabled through a combination of on-board sensors , system logs, data acquisition tools, secure connectivity, and analytics platforms that track shaker health parameters such as:
As test environments grow more complex and demand for uptime intensifies, remote diagnostics for shakers is becoming an indispensable capability. It empowers organisations to safeguard equipment investments, optimise uptime, and deliver reliable test results – without sacrificing efficiency, security or response time.
Embracing this technology positions test labs to stay competitive, responsive, and ready for the future of intelligent testing systems.
This overview introduces the basics of vibration, key measurement parameters like acceleration, velocity and displacement, and the types of accelerometers used across various applications. Understanding these concepts is crucial for effective vibration analysis and troubleshooting.
Disponibles avec des puissances de sortie allant de 88 à 128 kVA *, ces amplificateurs de puissance à découpage sont utilisés pour alimenter le plus puissant des vibrateurs électrodynamiques dans sa catégorie, le modèle V8900, d’une force nominale de 80 kN.
It is possible to use a 4G router connection to the HBK VPN, removing the need to connect to your local network.
The system offers automated data download (locally and remotely) to assist with fault finding and diagnostics. The HBK service team have a dashboard for remote solution finding, providing assistance that may prevent a visit to site, and the associated costs and time.
The XPA-K Remote Diagnostics employs firewalls, VPN tunnelling, encryption, and role-based access control to protect sensitive test data. It is aligned with IEC 62443 and ISO 27001 frameworks and futureproofed for compliance with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which will come into force across Europe and the UK in 2027.
Parameters recorded from shaker and amplifier such as:
allow analysis of system conditions and anomalies before, during, and after an issue occurs. It is also possible to review system settings and recommend adaptions.
Standardised evaluation tests run monthly or quarterly as part of the user’s preventive maintenance schedules can help analyze the system health.
No, we cannot draw conclusions about test objects or detailed test parameters. The recorded performance data allows us to understand system demands. However, similar to data recorded in cars – which doesn’t reveal who was driving, what was transported, or where the journey started or ended – the amplifier data doesn’t provide information about the specimens or how they are tested.
The VPN router requires an internet connection. That can be a connection via LAN (10/100Mbit), WLAN (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz) or LTE (4G, EMEA standards or North America standards).
If the XPA-K amplifier connection is established through your company network, that network is used only for the VPN tunnel, which doesn’t permit any interaction within the company network.
The router connects to the VPN Server and doesn’t allow any other interaction with your company network.
HBK does not store your test data. HBK only records and stores shaker/amplifier performance data together with interlock data.
All data in the VPN tunnel is transferred in encrypted form.
No. This would pose many safety risks and concerns for those near the machine. It is possible for the customer to remotely control the shaker if the control room is located away from the amplifier and vibrator. This is a software add-on for the XPA-K system.
No, the diagnostic dashboard is used by the Technical Support team and they will contact you if any anomalies or concerns arise. You can also receive a monthly system usage report for your shakers.
The sample rate of the system is 10 seconds. That’s sufficient to obtain information about the system conditions but doesn’t allow drawing conclusions about the test.
Not exactly. The system will report on interlocks and shutdown when the test exceeds certain parameters. We are working on data analysis for important components that will allow predictive maintenance in the future.
When our Technical Support team is informed about a potential anomaly or issue, they will review the data and decide on the next steps. If they identify an issue or a potential upcoming issue, they will contact you.
Remote Diagnostics is part of our service contracts for the XPA-K series systems. If you are unable to sign up for a service contract, please contact our service team in your region to discuss options for taking advantage of Remote Diagnostics without a service contract.
The system uses built-in firewalls, VPN tunnelling, and encryption protocols to ensure secure communication, compliant with IEC 62443 (Industrial Cybersecurity standard) and ISO 27001 frameworks. The system offers role-based access control and audit trails for traceability and accountability.
