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USB stick measures machine vibrations

02 November, 2010

A US company has announced a high-speed vibration recorder in the form of a USB stick that can measure acceleration in three axes. The Slam Stick, from Boston-based Midé Technology, provides a quick and easy method of characterising g-levels and measuring vibrations in machinery.

The rechargeable device is first attached to a vibrating surface, and is then plugged into a PC’s USB port for on-the-fly configuring, charging and downloading of data. Simple software allows users to tailor the device to their needs and to derive vibration data such as frequency and amplitude

Midé specialises in technologies for converting vibrations into energy, to power devices such as sensors. It originally launched the $200 Slam Stick to measure the frequency and amplitude of the vibration of objects, to determine whether they are suitable for powering energy-harvesting devices.