In industrial automation, unplanned downtime often stems from hidden signal anomalies in core equipment. The Economy Benchtop Digital Storage Oscilloscope emerges as a budget-friendly solution, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to diagnose PLCs, inverters, and sensors with reliable precision.
PLC Control Loop Calibration: Ensuring Logical Accuracy
PLCs serve as the “brain” of automation lines, and their signal stability directly impacts production logic. Technicians use the oscilloscope to verify two critical signal types. First, it checks analog signals from 4-20mA pressure sensors or 0-10V level transmitters, capturing waveform drifts that cause parameter deviations. Second, it analyzes digital timing signals, measuring rise/fall times of solenoid valve commands to fix action asynchrony.
Most economy models offer 50-100MHz bandwidth, which fully covers PLC signal frequencies. Their built-in automatic measurement functions also simplify operations, letting non-experts quickly obtain amplitude and frequency data.
Inverter and Motor Drive Troubleshooting: Tracking PWM Waveforms
Inverters (VFDs) are vital for motor speed control, but their PWM outputs easily distort under load changes. The oscilloscope’s digital storage capability captures three-phase inverter waveforms, allowing technicians to compare normal and abnormal patterns. Distorted waves may indicate faulty IGBT modules, while voltage spikes often point to failing freewheeling diodes.
When paired with current probes, the device monitors motor startup and running currents. A persistently high current waveform signals mechanical jamming, prompting timely maintenance to prevent motor burnout—a common and costly issue in factories.
Sensor and Actuator Signal Integrity: Safeguarding Production Precision
Photoelectric sensors, encoders, and proximity switches directly influence production accuracy. The oscilloscope targets specific sensor issues: it detects signal jitter in photoelectric sensors caused by dust or misalignment, and analyzes encoder A/B phase pulses to identify positioning errors from missing pulses.
For actuators like solenoid valves, the device verifies if control signal on-off times match PLC commands. This prevents material delivery errors or equipment collisions that arise from signal delays, enhancing workshop safety.
Industrial Power Supply Monitoring: Eliminating Ripple Interference
Stable power is foundational for automation equipment. Excessive ripple in DC power supplies triggers PLC malfunctions. The oscilloscope connects to power outputs, capturing AC ripple waveforms and measuring amplitudes. If ripple exceeds limits, technicians can promptly repair filter circuits or replace power modules.
It also validates new power supplies during equipment upgrades, ensuring compatibility and avoiding batch failures—a crucial step for cost-conscious maintenance teams.
Core Value: Balancing Cost and Reliability
High-end oscilloscopes are often unaffordable for small workshops, but the Economy Benchtop Digital Storage Oscilloscope delivers essential functions at a fraction of the cost. Its compact design suits on-site use, and USB data export enables remote technical support by sharing fault waveforms.
As industrial automation shifts toward efficient, low-cost maintenance, this device evolves from a simple tool to a “signal diagnostician,” minimizing downtime and boosting production continuity for enterprises worldwide.
Jetronl Instruments Co., Ltd. has specialized in the electronic measurement field for 35 years, covering various measurement needs across the entire electronic industry chain and providing precise measurement support.