Design of a Low-Cost Data Acquisition System for Rotordynamic Data Collection

Author

Gregory S. Pellegrino, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2019.12
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1978

Date of Award

3-2019

Degree Name

MS in Mechanical Engineering

Department/Program

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor

Xi Wu

Abstract

A data acquisition system (DAQ) was designed based on the use of a STM32 microcontroller. Its purpose is to provide a transparent and low-cost alternative to commercially available DAQs, providing educators a means to teach students about the process through which data are collected as well as the uses of collected data. The DAQ was designed to collect data from rotating machinery spinning at a speed up to 10,000 RPM and send this data to a computer through a USB 2.0 full-speed connection. Multitasking code was written for the DAQ to allow for data to be simultaneously collected and transferred over USB. Additionally, a console application was created to control the DAQ and read data, and MATLAB code written to analyze the data. The DAQ was compared against a custom assembled National Instruments CompactDAQ system. Using a Bentley-Nevada RK 4 Rotor Kit, data was simultaneously collected using both DAQs. Analysis of this data shows the capabilities and limitations of the low cost DAQ compared to the custom CompactDAQ.