What Is Phase Telling Us ?

So far, nothing. The strobe light is being triggered by an internal trigger on either the analyzer or the light itself - it is acting exactly like a typical, hand-held strobe light. There is one final step which must be performed: A switch (or keystroke) on either the analyzer or the strobe can be activated which changes how the strobe is being triggered. Once this switch activated, the strobe stops to using its internal trigger to flash and starts to use the vibration sinusoid being detected. Therefore: Every time a peak signal is detected by the analyzer, it sends a signal to the strobe light to flash. The strobe light therefore flashes at exactly the frequency of the vibration being detected. If the vibration is being mechanically generated by the shaft (rotor), the strobe will flash at an exact harmonic of running speed (1x rpm in our example but it could be 2x, 3x or any higher harmonic) and the shaft (mark) will freeze under the strobe flash. If the vibration is being generated by some other source - any other source (bearings, electrical, other machines nearby, etc.), it will not flash at an exact harmonic of running speed and the shaft will (mark) will not freeze under the strobe flash. Let's look at a graphic example of how this process works and why it is important.