Triggered Data Collection with Piezo Sensing

Trigger on what matters. Ignore what doesn’t.

Piezo Sensing initiates data collection based on vibration amplitude, enabling you to focus on meaningful machine behavior and avoid disruptive noise for more consistent, actionable data.

The challenge

Timed sample intervals do not always match how the equipment actually operates. On assets with variable cycles, intermittent duty, or strong impact events, time-based collection can capture data at inconsistent points in the operating cycle. The result is data that is harder to compare and trend, and more likely to produce nuisance alarms or misleading conclusions.

Figure 1. Corrugator case study: A corrugator trend collected at timed intervals shows noise caused by roll insertion impacts, making the data difficult to analyze. Process impacts exceeding 20 g also obscure the bearing signal, preventing meaningful bearing analysis.

The solution

Piezo Sensing now supports threshold-based triggering. Users select one triggering port and define an amplitude threshold in g. When vibration on that port exceeds the threshold, the Piezo triggers a collection and records data across all configured ports.

Users can also apply a collection offset to capture data at the most useful point relative to the event, whether that means collecting just before the trigger point or delaying collection until after a harsh impact has passed. This gives analysts a simple way to align collections to a repeatable point in the machine cycle and to focus on the portion of the waveform most valuable for analysis.

Figure 2. Corrugator case study: Triggered collection filters out disruptive process noise, enabling users to focus on the signal that matters most for bearing analysis.

Why it matters

More consistent, apples-to-apples comparisons

Collect data at a repeatable point in the equipment cycle rather than relying on arbitrary time intervals. This is especially valuable for machines that start, stop, index, or operate under changing load conditions.  

Capture behaviors of interest

Trigger collections based on events such as startup, engagement, or meaningful vibration signatures so the data accurately reflects operational behavior. 

Ignore noise and harsh temporary events

For applications with significant impacts or brief disturbances, combining triggering with a collection delay lets you bypass disruptive events and focus on capturing clean, analyzable waveforms. 

Improve data quality for analysis

Collecting cleaner time waveforms leads to more insightful trends, actionable spectral data, and stronger input for detecting and diagnosing faults. 

One event, full machine context

A threshold crossing on a single selected port triggers data collection across all ports for that Piezo, enabling cross-comparison of monitoring points and making it easier to understand what the machine was doing as a system during the event. 

How it works

Piezo Triggering is designed to be powerful for analysts while staying simple to configure.

• Select one port as the triggering port.
• Define a trigger threshold in g
• Set a collection offset or delay to capture data before or after the threshold event.
• When the threshold is exceeded, Piezo collects data on all configured ports.

Piezo Triggering helps you collect the right data at the right time. Instead of collecting whatever happens to be occurring at a scheduled interval, you can align collections to purposeful machine behavior, reduce noise, and improve the usefulness of every sample. With Piezo Triggering, Piezo Sensing becomes more than a time-based collection device. It becomes a smarter data collection tool that helps ensure you capture the important moments.