Stroboscopes

Stroboscopes, commonly referred to as strobes, use a flash lamp driven by an oscillator to inspect or measure the rotational speed of spinning objects. The oscillator activates the lamp at a steady state which can be set at rates from a flash every few seconds to hundreds of flashes per second. The flashing light creates the perception of stop-motion which is ideal for diagnostic inspections of moving machinery and can also be used as a measuring instrument for determining cyclic speed as measured in rotations per minute (RPM).

The ability to visually “stop and start” a spinning piece of machinery or adjust its rotational speed and direction is an important inspection and troubleshooting tool. Technicians can identify damage to gears, shafts, pulleys, and belts without having to stop the machinery. Additionally, any wobbles or alignment problems can be quickly noticed before the problem becomes severe.