Installation

MEscopeVES™
Shape Table (SHP) Window

(April 30, 2020)

 Notice
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of
Vibrant Technology. Except as otherwise noted, names, companies, and data used in examples, sample outputs, or
screen shots, are fictitious and are used solely to illustrate potential applications of the software.
Warranty
Vibrant Technology, Inc. warrants that (a) the software in this product will perform substantially in accordance with
the accompanying documentation, for a period of one (1) year from the date of delivery, and that (b) any hardware
accompanying the software will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from
the date of delivery. During this period, if a defect is reported to Vibrant Technology, replacement software or
hardware will be provided to the customer at no cost, excluding delivery charges. Any replacement software will be
warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer.
This warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance by the customer, customer
supplied software or interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation outside of the environmental
specifications for the product, or improper site preparation or maintenance.
If the software does not materially operate as warranted above, the sole remedy of the customer (and the entire
liability of Vibrant Technology) shall be the correction or detour of programming errors attributable to Vibrant
Technology. The software should not be relied on as the sole basis to solve a problem whose incorrect solution
could result in injury to a person or property. If the software is employed in such a manner, it is at the entire risk of
the customer, and Vibrant Technology disclaims all liability for such misuse.
NO OTHER WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. VIBRANT TECHNOLOGY SPECIFICALLY
MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
THE REMEDIES PROVIDED HEREIN ARE THE CUSTOMER'S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES.
VIBRANT TECHNOLOGY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE FURNISHING,
PERFORMANCE, OR USE OF THIS PRODUCT, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY
OTHER LEGAL THEORY.
Copyright
The software described in this document is copyrighted by Vibrant Technology, Inc. or its suppliers and is protected
by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this
program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum
extent possible under the law.
You may make copies of the software only for backup or archival purposes. No part of this manual may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means for any purpose without the express written permission of
Vibrant Technology.
Copyright © 1992-2020 by Vibrant Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Vibrant Technology, Inc.

12835 E. Arapahoe Rd.
Tower II, Suite 600
Centennial, CO 80112 USA
phone: (831) 430-9045
fax: (831) 430-9057
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.vibetech.com
 Table of Contents
Installation..................................................................................................................................................................6
Computer System Requirements ............................................................................................................................... 6
Installing MEscope ....................................................................................................................................................6
Installing MEscope from the Installation CD ROM ..................................................................................................6
Installing MEscope from the Vibrant Web Site .........................................................................................................6
MEscope Security System .........................................................................................................................................8
If MEscope Won't Run ..............................................................................................................................................8
Help | About Box .......................................................................................................................................................9
If Some Fonts Are Too Large ....................................................................................................................................9
Installing the Vibrant License Server (VLS) ............................................................................................................ 10
Installing the VLS from the Installation CD ROM .................................................................................................. 10
Installing the VLS from the Vibrant Web Site ........................................................................................................ 10
Configuring the Vibrant License Server .................................................................................................................. 11
Configuring the Server Firewall (for Networks only) ............................................................................................. 12
Advanced Topics ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
Using the Vibrant License Server ............................................................................................................................ 13
Borrowing a License from the VLS ......................................................................................................................... 14
Installing an MEscope Data Viewer......................................................................................................................... 15
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 16
Animated Shape Display ......................................................................................................................................... 16
Observing Vibration in Slow Motion ...................................................................................................................... 17
Types of Measurements Imported ............................................................................................................................ 17
Time Domain Functions .......................................................................................................................................... 17
Frequency Domain Functions .................................................................................................................................. 17
Time-Based ODS Animation ................................................................................................................................... 18
Frequency-Based ODS Animation ........................................................................................................................... 18
Mode Shape Animation ........................................................................................................................................... 19
Documentation with Videos ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Projects, Data Files, and Windows........................................................................................................................... 20
MEscope Window ................................................................................................................................................... 20
Data File Windows .................................................................................................................................................. 21
Saving Data Files ..................................................................................................................................................... 21
Mouse Operations .................................................................................................................................................... 22
Window Operations ................................................................................................................................................. 22
Make a Window Active ........................................................................................................................................... 22

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Installation

Center the active Window in the Work Area ........................................................................................................... 22

Center the MEscope Window on the Desktop ......................................................................................................... 22
Move a Window ...................................................................................................................................................... 22
Resize a Window ..................................................................................................................................................... 22
Close a Window....................................................................................................................................................... 22
Maximize a Window ............................................................................................................................................... 22
Minimize (Icon) a Window ..................................................................................................................................... 22
Restore a Minimized Window ................................................................................................................................. 22
Tool Tips .................................................................................................................................................................. 23
Help | Show Tool Tips ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Command Toolbars .................................................................................................................................................. 23
Ribbon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Single Menu............................................................................................................................................................. 23
Window Menu ......................................................................................................................................................... 23
Toolbars ................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Moving a Toolbar ................................................................................................................................................ 24
Customizing Toolbars.......................................................................................................................................... 24
Adding a Tool to a Toolbar ................................................................................................................................. 24
Moving a Tool to Another Toolbar...................................................................................................................... 24
Repositioning a Tool on a Toolbar ...................................................................................................................... 24
Removing a Tool from a Toolbar ........................................................................................................................ 24
Creating a New Toolbar....................................................................................................................................... 25
Locking the Toolbars ........................................................................................................................................... 25
Hidden Floating Toolbars .................................................................................................................................... 25
Resetting the Toolbars ......................................................................................................................................... 25
The MEscope Window............................................................................................................................................. 26
Project Fly-out Panel ............................................................................................................................................... 26
Work Area ............................................................................................................................................................... 26
Project Folder Tabs .................................................................................................................................................. 27
Opening a Project from a Folder Tab ...................................................................................................................... 27
Moving a Fly-out Panel ........................................................................................................................................... 27
Creating a New Folder Tab...................................................................................................................................... 28
Opening a Previously Saved Project File................................................................................................................. 28
Creating a New Project ............................................................................................................................................ 28
Creating a New Data File ........................................................................................................................................ 28
Adding a File from Another Project ........................................................................................................................ 28
Importing a Data File ............................................................................................................................................... 28

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Installation

Structure (STR) Window ......................................................................................................................................... 29

Adding a Structure Model to a Project .................................................................................................................... 29
Creating a New Model ............................................................................................................................................. 29
Data Block (BLK) Window ..................................................................................................................................... 30
Adding a Data Block to a Project ............................................................................................................................ 30
Shape Table (SHP) Window .................................................................................................................................... 31
Creating a Shape Table ............................................................................................................................................ 31
Adding a Shape Table to a Project........................................................................................................................... 31
Time-Based ODS Demo .......................................................................................................................................... 32
Changing the Animation Speed ............................................................................................................................... 32
Quad View versus Single View ............................................................................................................................... 33
Active View ............................................................................................................................................................. 33
Zoom........................................................................................................................................................................ 33
Pan ........................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Rotation in the 3D View .......................................................................................................................................... 33
Geometric Interpolation ........................................................................................................................................... 33
Frequency-Based ODS Demo .................................................................................................................................. 34
Maximum MAC Comparison .................................................................................................................................. 34
Animating the ODS Dominated by a Resonance ..................................................................................................... 35
Display Formats ....................................................................................................................................................... 36
Mode Shape Demo ................................................................................................................................................... 37
Contour Colors ........................................................................................................................................................ 37
Acoustic Intensity Demo .......................................................................................................................................... 38
Videos Menu ............................................................................................................................................................ 39
Videos | Animation Frames ..................................................................................................................................... 39
Use Window Width and Height ............................................................................................................................... 39
Stop After Full Cycles of Animation ....................................................................................................................... 39
Restart Dwell Cycle ................................................................................................................................................. 39
Videos | MEscope Window ..................................................................................................................................... 39

5
 Installation

Installation
To enlarge this text, click on it, hold down the Ctrl key and spin the mouse wheel.
Computer System Requirements
• MEscope will run on both x86 (32 bit) and x64 (64 bit) versions of Windows.
• To use MEscope, your computer must have at least the following capabilities
• Microsoft Windows 10 or later, with the latest Service Pack installed
• A hard disk with at least 50 Gigabytes (GB) of available space
• Microsoft DirectX 11 compatible graphics hardware
• To use MEscope in a Virtual Windows system, on a Linux computer or on Apple computer, the system
must support DirectX graphics hardware
Installing MEscope
• MEscope cannot be run from its installation CD ROM or over a network
• MEscope must be installed on a computer hard drive and will only run on the same computer
Installing MEscope from the Installation CD ROM
• All files necessary to install MEscope on your computer are included on the Installation CD ROM.
• Verify that your computer hard disk has at least 50 GB of free space
• Terminate all other programs before starting the MEscope installation
• Insert the Installation CD ROM into the CD ROM drive of your computer
• Open Windows Explorer and display the CD ROM drive contents
• Double click on MEscope-Installer.exe to begin the installation
Installing MEscope from the Vibrant Web Site
• Execute Support | Software Downloads on the Vibrant web site; www.vibetech.com
• Double click on MEscope-Installer.exe on the Downloads page
• Double click on MEscope-Installer.exe in its folder on your computer and all the App to be installed
The following Installation window will open

6
Installation

MEscope Installation Dialog Box.

• Click on Next
The License Agreement dialog box will open next
• Check the check box in front of "I agree to these terms and conditions", and click on the Next > button
The following dialog box will open.
• Browse to a different Installation folder if necessary, and click on the Install button

MEscope Installation Options Dialog.

After the MEscope software has been installed, the following dialog box will open.

7
 MEscope Security System

Finish Installation dialog box.

• Click on the Finish button
• Execute Help | Manuals for list of operating manuals on your Internet browser
• These documents can be viewed with an Adobe Acrobat reader.
MEscope Security System
A complete MEscope installation consists of the following parts
• The MEscope.exe program and other software files
• A USB Security Key or the Vibrant License Server (VLS) software
• An MEscope license file named vtxxxxxx.vtl, where xxxxx is your unique license number
• For example, if your license number is 15125, your MEscope license file will be named vt015125.vtl.
If MEscope Won't Run
If you get an error message when you attempt to execute MEscope.exe, it could be due to one of the following
reasons
• Either the USB Security Key or the Vibrant License Server software is not properly installed and
functional
• The License file vtxxxxxx.vtl is missing or corrupted
• The vtxxxxxx.vtl license file does not contain your unique license number
• The MEscope.exe software is corrupted
• After checking the above items and reinstalling the software, if MEscope still does not run, contact Vibrant
Technology at [email protected] or call (888) 815-5067 for assistance

8
 Installation

Help | About Box

• The license file vtxxxxxx.vtl authorizes the operation of the MEscope Package & Options that you
purchased
• The Package & Options authorized by your license file vtxxxxxx.vtl are listed in the About box
• Execute Help | About in the MEscope window to open the About box

About Box.
If Some Fonts Are Too Large
There is a setting in windows that can make some of the text in MEscope appear to be too large. When that
occurs.
• Right click on the MEscope Icon on your desktop and select Properties from the menu
The Properties dialog box will open as shown below.
• Make the three selections shown in the figure below

9
 Installing the Vibrant License Server (VLS)

Installing the Vibrant License Server (VLS)

• The Vibrant License Server (VLS) is network-based software that can authorize multiple copies of
MEscope to run on a computer network
• The VLS must be installed on a computer that is connected to your local network, and must be accessible
by any copy of MEscope that needs authorization to run
Installing the VLS from the Installation CD ROM
To install the VLS software,
• Execute the following program; \Security Keys\Vibrant License Server\Vibrant License Server.exe
from the MEscope installation CD ROM
Installing the VLS from the Vibrant Web Site
• Execute Support | Software Downloads on the Vibrant web site; www.vibetech.com
• Double click on Vibrant License Server Installation on the Downloads page
• Double click Download NetworkServer.zip
• Follow the instructions to complete the program installation
• When the VLS has been installed, a window will display the Machine ID of the computer
• The Machine ID can also be obtained by executing Program Files | Vibrant License Server | Get Unique ID
from the Windows Start menu
• Email your License number and the Machine ID to [email protected]
• A VLS license file VNS_#####.Lic will be emailed back to you

It is recommended that the VNS_#####.Lic file be copied to the C:\ Program Files \ Vibrant License Server
folder on the VLS computer.

10
 Installation

Configuring the Vibrant License Server

• Execute Program Files | Vibrant License Server | LMTOOLS from the Windows Start menu
• Depending upon your computer security, you may need to right click on the program LMTOOLS and
execute Run as administrator.
• On the Service/License File tab, select Configuration using Services, as shown below
• After the Vibrant License Server has been activated on a computer, it cannot be activated on a different
computer.

• On the Config Services tab,

• Enter a Service Name, such as “Vibrant Server”
• Enter the Path to the lmgrd.exe file. (This will typically be found in the C:\ Program Files \ Vibrant
License Server folder)
• Enter the Path to the License file
• Check Use Services and then Start Server at Power Up

11
 Installing the Vibrant License Server (VLS)

• Click on the Save Service button

• In the Start/Stop/Reread tab, click on the Start Server button
• On the Server Status tab, click on the Perform Status Enquiry button
The status of the license server is listed, as shown below. The server port and server name are also listed. The
format port@server name is used to connect to the server.
• In the example below, to connect to this license server, enter 27000@vtserver when prompted.

Configuring the Server Firewall (for Networks only)

• The fire wall on the computer hosting the VLS needs to have inbound TCP exceptions set up allowing all
MEscope users access via the network
• The configuration will be dependent upon the firewall being used
• The following Firewall exceptions are needed,
• The port used by the VLS, which is usually a number between 27000 and 27009
• The daemon, VIBETECH.exe, which is typically found in the C:\Program Files\Vibrant License
Server folder
Advanced Topics
• A network server manual that addresses more issues is located at
http://files.vibetech.com/docs/FlexNetAdminGuide.pdf

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 Installation

Using the Vibrant License Server

• Start MEscope
• If the VLS is not found, the following dialog box will open.
• The port and server name for the Vibrant License Server should be entered using the format port@server
name, as shown below

• If you have difficulty connecting to the VLS, it may be that communication with the license server
computer is slow and it timed out
• To address this issue:
• Open the Windows System Control Panel and enter sysdm.cpl in Search Programs and Files
• Select the Advanced tab on the panel
• Execute Environment Variables
• Create a New environment variable named FLEXLM_TIMEOUT and a time out in microseconds. The
default time out is 100,000 microseconds (0.1 seconds)
• Reboot the computer to apply this change
• TIP: Pinging the server computer can show how long communications take with the server computer.
Ping will show the time to communicate in milliseconds (1 millisecond=1000 microseconds).
• Open the Windows Command line and enter cmd in Search Programs and Files
• Enter Ping followed by the server name, as shown below

13
 Installing the Vibrant License Server (VLS)

Borrowing a License from the VLS

• In order to run MEscope without being on the local network with the VLS, a license must be borrowed
from the VLS.
• A borrowed license is node locked to the MEscope computer, making that license unavailable to other users
until it is returned to the VLS, or 30 days has expired, whichever occurs first
To borrow a license,
• Run MEscope while connected to the VLS
• From the MEscope Help menu, execute Help | License Server
The License Server dialog box will open, as shown below.
• Click on the Borrow button to borrow a license from the VLS
• Click on the OK button to close the License Server dialog box, and continue using MEscope, either on the
local network, or using a borrowed license

14
 Installation

• If the date and time settings are not changed, the license will be borrowed for the rest of the day. The
License Server dialog box will change to the one shown below.

Installing an MEscope Data Viewer

• MEscope can be used as a Data Viewer by others who do not own a valid MEscope license.
• If your license is current on Software Maintenance & Support (SMS), you can share your Project VTprj
files with others who don’t have a valid MEscope license on their computer.
• After MEscope has been installed on a computer it can be used as a Data Viewer for displaying data from a
Project VTprj file.
• Send your VTprj file and a copy of your MEscope License (vt######.vtl) file to the person wanting to use
MEscope as a Data Viewer, along with the following instructions,
• Download http://files.vibetech.com/MEscope-Installer.exe
• Copy the attached MEscope License file (vt######.vtl) into the same folder as MEscope-Installer.exe
• Execute MEscope-Installer.exe to install MEscope and the license file
• Execute Start Menu | All Programs | Vibrant Technology, Inc. | MEscope Data Viewer

15
 Introduction

Introduction
MEscope is a series of software packages & options that makes it easier for you to acquire, analyze, observe and
document noise & vibration in mechanical structures and operating machinery. You can use MEscope for a wide
variety of engineering tasks.
• Vibration & Acoustic Data Acquisition
• Operating Deflection Shape (ODS) Analysis
• Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA)
• Operational Modal Analysis (OMA)
• Vibro-Acoustic Animation
• Vibration & Acoustic Signal Processing
• Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) Modeling & Simulation
• Structural Dynamics Modification (SDM)
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
MEscope can also be used as the "heart" of an acquisition & post-processing system for remotely monitoring,
analyzing, and diagnosing failures in operating machinery or in structures such as bridges and wind turbines.
When used together with its archival database and operator Console graphics software, MEscope can be used
for,
• Machinery Health Monitoring (MHM)
• Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)
• Environmental Noise & Vibration Monitoring
• Machine & Structural Qualification Testing

Animation of a Photo Realistic Model.

Animated Shape Display
All MEscope packages contain a state-of-the-art interactive display for animating spatially defined shapes on a
3D model of a machine or any test article. Shape data such as an operating deflection shape (ODS), mode
shape, acoustic intensity shape, or sound power through a surface can be displayed in animation on a photo
realistic model, like the one shown above. Displaying shapes in animation makes it easier to visualize and
analyze structural noise & vibration problems.

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 Installation

Observing Vibration in Slow Motion

By animating the spatial response of a structure in slow motion, you can view overall motion of a structure, and
the motion of one portion relative to another. Locations of excessive vibration or high noise levels are easily
identified.
• With interactive sweep animation, you can sweep through a set of time histories and observe the recorded
response of a structure, whether its vibration is sinusoidal, random, transient, linear, non-linear,
stationary or non-stationary
• With interactive dwell animation, you can dwell at a specific time in a set of response time waveforms, or a
set of frequency spectra, and display shapes using either sine dwell or stationary dwell
Types of Measurements Imported
Every MEscope package can import multi-channel data from a wide variety of third-party data files. File formats
used by all popular multi-channel data acquisition systems, analyzers, recorders, and data collectors are supported.
Most popular file formats are supported, including ASCII text spreadsheet, MATLAB, DADiSP, Microsoft WAV,
and Universal File Format (UFF). MEscope will recognize most popular kinds of time or frequency domain
measurement functions. The following types of measurement functions are recognized by MEscope.
Time Domain Functions
• Time Waveform (vibration, sound pressure, strain gauge, temperature, etc.)
• Auto Correlation
• Cross Correlation
• Impulse Response Function (IRF)
Frequency Domain Functions
• Fourier Spectrum (FFT of a sampled Time Waveform)
• Auto Spectrum
• Cross Spectrum
• Power Spectral Density (PSD)
• Frequency Response Function (FRF) (Response / Force)
• Transfer Function (Output / Input)
• Transmissibility (Roving response / Reference response)
• Coherence (Ordinary, Multiple & Partial)
• ODS FRF (Roving response Auto Spectrum + phase relative to a Reference response)
• Acoustic Intensity
• Sound Pressure Level

17
 Time-Based ODS Animation

Time-Based ODS Animation

With MEscope, you can animate time-based Operating Deflection Shapes (ODS's) directly from multi-channel
data that was acquired spatially from a machine or structure.
• Time-domain Sweep Animation is done by sweeping a cursor through a set of time waveforms.
You can stop the animation, back it up, and play it forward to observe in slow motion vibration phenomena that
may have taken place very quickly in real time. For example, you can observe in slow motion the run up, coast
down, or other transient behavior of a machine. During this transition period, the machine may pass through a
variety of vibrational states, due to resonances, unbalances, varying loads, fluid flow, etc.

Sweep Animation from Multi-Channel Time Responses.

Frequency-Based ODS Animation
With MEscope, you can animate frequency-based Operating Deflection Shapes (ODS's) directly from data that
was acquired from a machine or structure
• During Sine Dwell animation, the ODS at a specific frequency is displayed using sinusoidal modulation.
A frequency-based ODS allows you to see how a structure behaves at a single frequency. While dwelling at a
frequency, the ODS will show you where vibration levels are highest and will indicate loose parts and
connections. You can display order-based ODS’s and determine how resonances are participating in the overall
vibration.

Sine Dwell Animation of a Mode shapes and an ODS Near a Resonance.

18
 Installation

Mode Shape Animation

Modes of vibration are used to characterize resonant vibration in machinery and structures.
• All structures have specific natural frequencies at which they readily absorb energy
• When a resonance is excited, it can cause excessive noise and vibration, resulting in premature structural
failures
• Each resonance, or mode of vibration, is defined by its natural frequency, damping, and mode shape
• At or near a modal frequency, the response of a structure is usually dominated by the resonance
• A frequency-based ODS will often look like the mode shape of a nearby resonance, if the resonant response
dominates the ODS
However, mode shapes, along with their frequency and damping values, are more accurately obtained by curve
fitting a set of FRF measurements, or a set of Fourier spectra, Cross spectra or ODS FRFs calculated from
operating data.

Sine Dwell Animation of a Mode Shape.

Documentation with Videos

MEscope allows you to interactively record a video of any shape animation.
• A video is a sequence of animation frames saved into a video mp4 file
• Videos can be played back on any computer that can play an mp4 file
You can send videos to your clients, and they can view the animation just as it appears in MEscope. Videos can
also be embedded in Microsoft Power Point presentations or Word documents and played by clicking on them.
Individual frames can be cut from a video and pasted into documents, or annotations added to frames with a
graphics or text processor.

Dialog open while recording a video

19
 Projects, Data Files, and Windows

Projects, Data Files, and Windows

• All work in MEscope is done in the currently open Project file.
• Only one Project file can be open at a time in MEscope.
• A Project file (with file name extension .VTprj) can contain one (or more) of the following data files,
• Structure (STR) file
• Data Block (BLK) file
• Shape Table (SHP) file
• Acquisition (ACQ) file
• Report (RTF) file
• Script (VSL) file
• Added files
• All data in these files (except Added files), is contained within the Project file on disk.
• Added files are stored separately on disk and are opened from MEscope in a separate application
program.
MEscope Window
• The MEscope window is always open when MEscope is running

MEscope Window.

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 Installation

Data File Windows

A separate window is used to display and manipulate the contents of each data file within the currently open
Project. When a data file is opened, a copy of its contents on disk is put into RAM memory and displayed in its
own window. Each window name is preceded by its window type, followed by a colon
• A Structure file is displayed in an STR window
• A Data Block file is displayed in a BLK window
• A Shape Table file is displayed in an SHP window
• An Acquisition file is displayed in an ACQ window
• A Report file is displayed in an RTF window
• A Script file is displayed in a VSL window

MEscope with a Structure (STR) and Data Block (BLK) Window Open.
Saving Data Files
• When a file is saved in MEscope, its file contents in RAM memory replace the contents of the file in its
(VTprj) file stored on disk.
• If a Project is closed without saving changes to one of its data files, the file contents in memory will be lost
and the contents of that file on disk will not be changed.

21
 Mouse Operations

Mouse Operations
To enlarge this text, click on it, hold down the Ctrl key and spin the mouse wheel.
Many operations in MEscope require the use of the Windows mouse. Commonly used mouse operations include;
• Selecting by pointing & clicking with the left mouse button
• Displaying a context menu by pointing & clicking with the right mouse button
• Panning a View by dragging with the left mouse button
• Rotating the model in the 3D View or the Waterfall by dragging with the right mouse button
• Zooming the graphics or scrolling a spreadsheet by spinning the mouse wheel
Other special mouse operations are performed in each data file window.
Window Operations
• More than one data file window can usually be open for use in MEscope
• Learning how to open, close, move, arrange & re-size windows is important for effectively displaying
them together in the Work Area
Make a Window Active
• Click anywhere within a window to make it the active window.
• The title bar of the active window is darkened or colored.
Center the active Window in the Work Area
• Execute Display | Center Window in the active window
Center the MEscope Window on the Desktop
• Execute Display | Center MEscope Window on the upper tool bar
Move a Window
• Position the mouse pointer over the title bar (on the top of the window)
• Click & drag the window to the desired position
Resize a Window
• Hover the mouse pointer over one of its edges so that the mouse pointer changes to a double arrow.
• Then click & drag the edge
Close a Window
• Click on the close button in the upper right corner of the window
Maximize a Window
• Click on the maximize button in the upper right corner of the window
Minimize (Icon) a Window
• Click on the minimize button in the upper right corner of the window
Restore a Minimized Window
1. Double click on its Icon in the Work Area
2. Or double click on its file name in the Project Panel
3. Or click on its file name in the Open Windows list in Window menu in the MEscope window

22
 Installation

Tool Tips
Each command in MEscope has a Tool associated with it.
• A Tool is a graphical button that accompanies the command in its menu
• A Tool Tip is a brief description of a command (typically its menu location and name)
Help | Show Tool Tips
When this command is checked, the display of Tool Tips is enabled.
• Click on a window to make it active
• Hover the mouse pointer over any Tool on a Toolbar or the Ribbon to display its Tool Tip

Structure Window Showing a Tool Tip.

Command Toolbars
• Most MEscope commands are contained in menus
• Commands for each window can be displayed differently by choosing one of three styles.
• One of the three styles is chosen on the Display tab in the Project | MEscope Options box
Ribbon
• A Ribbon of commands for the active window is displayed together with the MEscope window commands
at the top of the MEscope window
Single Menu
• A Toolbar of commands for the active window is displayed together with the MEscope window commands
at the top of the MEscope window
Window Menu
• This Toolbar of commands is displayed in each window
Toolbars
• Any command can be added to the command Toolbar for that window
• Any command can be added to an existing Toolbar, or a new Toolbar can be created
• Toolbars can be floated or attached to one of the four sides of the MEscope window

23
 Command Toolbars

Moving a Toolbar

• Place the mouse pointer over the beginning area on the (left or top) of the Toolbar
The mouse pointer will change to crossed arrows.
• Drag & drop the Toolbar to anywhere inside the MEscope window
Customizing Toolbars
• Position the mouse pointer in the menu or in the Toolbar area, right click, and execute Customize from
the floating menu

• Or click on the More Tools command at the end of a Toolbar and execute Add or Remove Tools |
Customize
• The Toolbar Customize dialog box will open, as shown below

Toolbar Customize Dialog Box.

Adding a Tool to a Toolbar

• Open the Customize dialog box
• Click on the Commands Tab in the Customize dialog box
• The menus for the window will be displayed in the Categories list
• Click on the menu name in the Categories list to display the commands in that menu
• Click & drag a Tool from the Commands list onto the Toolbar (until an I beam is displayed), and drop it
Moving a Tool to Another Toolbar
• Open the Customize dialog box
• Click & drag a command Tool from the Toolbar and drop it onto another Toolbar
Repositioning a Tool on a Toolbar
• Open the Customize dialog box.
• Click & drag a command Tool from its position and drop it into its new position on the Toolbar
Removing a Tool from a Toolbar
• Open the Customize dialog box
• Position the mouse pointer on the Tool and click & drag it off the Toolbar

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 Installation

Creating a New Toolbar

• Open the Customize dialog box
• Click on the New button in the Customize dialog box
• Enter the name of the new Toolbar in the dialog box that opens
• The new Toolbar is displayed in the Toolbar area at the top of the window
Locking the Toolbars
• Right click in the menu or in the Toolbar area, and execute Lock the Toolbars
• If Lock the Toolbars is checked, the Toolbars are locked in position.
Hidden Floating Toolbars
• Floating Toolbars will become hidden behind other windows whenever their window is not the active
window.
• To make floating Toolbars visible, click anywhere on a window to make it the active window
Resetting the Toolbars
• Execute File | MEscope Options in the MEscope window to open the Options dialog box
• On the Display tab, press Toolbars in the Clear User Settings section

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 The MEscope Window

The MEscope Window

• The MEscope window is always open when MEscope is running
• Click on its close button to terminate the operation of MEscope
• The MEscope window contains a Command Menu, a Ribbon or Toolbar, a Project tab, and File Folders
tabs, all normally located at the top of the window, as shown below
• The Work Area is in the center, and the Status Bar is located on the bottom left of the window
Project Fly-out Panel
• The Project fly-out panel contains two panes, separated by a moveable red splitter bar.
• One pane lists the data files in the currently open Project file, and the other pane lists the Project (VTprj)
files in the current disk folder.
• Hover the mouse pointer over the Project tab to display the Project fly-out Panel.

Project Fly-out Panel.

Work Area
• The center of the MEscope window is called the Work Area
• All data file windows in the currently open Project are opened into the Work Area
• Execute one of the commands in the Window | Arrange Windows menu to arrange the open windows in
the Work Area
• Right click in any window and execute Display | Center Window to center it in the Work Area

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 Installation

Project Folder Tabs

• In addition to the Project tab, several default Project Folder tabs are added to the MEscope window when
it is installed
• Click on a Project Folder Tab will open the fly-out panel containing all of the MEscope Projects in that
folder
Opening a Project from a Folder Tab
• Hover the mouse pointer over each Project thumbnail (picture) on the panel to display its name
• Double click on any Project in a fly-out panel to open the Project
• Move the mouse pointer off a fly-out panel to close it

Demos Folder fly-out panel.

Moving a Fly-out Panel
• Hover the mouse pointer over a Folder Tab to open its fly-out panel
• Click on the pin icon in the upper right corner to pin the fly-out panel open, as shown below

Pinned Folder Fly-out panel.

• Drag the pinned fly-out panel into the middle of the Work Area
Notice that four arrow icons appear near the top, bottom & sides of the Work Area.
• Drag the pinned fly-out panel onto an arrow icon to attach it to the top, bottom or a side of the Work Area

27
 Project Folder Tabs

• Click again on the pin icon in the upper right corner to un-pin the fly-out panel
Creating a New Folder Tab
• Any Folder of Project files on your computer disk can be added as a fly-out panel to the MEscope window.
• Hover the mouse pointer over the Project tab to open its fly-out panel
• Right click on a Folder in the (right or bottom) pane in the Project fly-out panel
• Select Show Folder as Tab from the menu

Right Click to Create a New Folder Tab.

Opening a Previously Saved Project File
There are several ways to open a previously saved Project
• Execute Project | Open in the MEscope window
• Select the Project from the list of Recent Projects in the Start Page window
• Double click on the Project file name in the (right or lower) pane of the Project fly-out panel
• Right click on the file in the (right or lower) pane of the Project Fly-out Panel, and select Open from the
context menu
Creating a New Project
• Execute Project | New in the MEscope window.
• If another Project is already open, you will be asked to save the current Project file before creating a new
Project.
Creating a New Data File
• Execute one of the commands in the File | New menu in the MEscope window
Adding a File from Another Project
1. Double click on the file from another Project in the (right or lower) pane of the Project fly-out panel
2. Or right click on the file in the (right or lower) pane of the Project fly-out panel, and select Add from the
context menu
Importing a Data File
• Execute one of the commands in the File | Import menu in the MEscope window

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 Installation

Structure (STR) Window

• A Structure (STR) file contains a 3D geometric model of a test article or acoustic surface on which shape
data will be displayed in animation.
• Each structure model is defined using Points, Lines, and Surfaces (Triangles or Quad Surfaces)
• A Structure window is used for several purposes,
• Drawing a 3D model of a test machine or structure
• Animating deflection shapes (ODS's, mode shapes, or acoustic shapes), or displaying scalar engineering
data using color contours
• Creating an FEA model by attaching FEA Objects (FEA elements) to the geometric model
• SDM & FEA commands use FEA Objects
• FEA Objects are provided when the VES-6000 & VES-8000 options are licensed in your software.
Adding a Structure Model to a Project
• There are several ways to add a structure model to a Project;
• Execute File | Import | Structure, and import the model from an external source such as a CAD
program or spreadsheet file
• Double click on a Structure (STR) file in the (right or lower) pane of the Project Fly-out Panel
• Right click on a Structure (STR) file in the (right or lower) pane of the Project Fly-out Panel and select
Open from the menu
Creating a New Model
• Execute File | New | Structure in the MEscope window, and create the model using the drawing tools in
the new Structure window.

Structure Window in Quad View.

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 Data Block (BLK) Window

Data Block (BLK) Window

• A Data Block (BLK) file contains one or more time or frequency domain measurements
• A measurement is a trace of uniformly sampled time or frequency data
• All measurements in a Data Block have the same time or frequency axis values
• Each measurement has a unique measurement number (M#), based in its row in the measurement
properties spreadsheet
• Time-based or frequency-based ODS's, mode shapes, acoustic shapes, or engineering data shapes are
interactively displayed on the structure model in a connected Structure window, using measurement values
at the cursor position in a Data Block window
Adding a Data Block to a Project
• There are several ways to add a Data Block to a Project,
• Execute File | Import | Data Block and import measurements from a third-party data file
• Double click on a Data Block (BLK) file in another Project, listed in the (right or lower) pane of the
Project Fly-out Panel
• Right click on a Data Block (BLK) file in another Project, listed in the (right or lower) pane of the
Project Fly-out Pane, and select Open from the menu
• There are several ways to create a new Data Block in a Project
• Execute File | New | Data Block in the MEscope window and create a Data Block with synthesized time
waveforms in it
• Use an Acquisition window to acquire measurements from a third-party acquisition front end, and save
them into a Data Block

Data Block Window Showing Four M#s in Row Column Format.

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 Installation

Shape Table (SHP) Window

• A Shape Table (SHP) file contains multiple time-based or frequency-based ODS's, mode shapes, acoustic
shapes, or engineering data shapes
• A "shape" is defined as any data from two or more measurements made at different points & directions
on a test article.
• Each shape can be displayed in animation directly from a Shape Table, on the structure model in a
connected Structure window.
• Each shape has one or more shape components, defined in the M#s spreadsheet
• Each shape component has a unique measurement number (M#), defined by its row in the M#s
spreadsheet
Creating a Shape Table
• A Shape Table (SHP) file can be created in several different ways,
• By saving shapes from a Data Block window during animation or curve fitting
• By saving shapes from an SDM or FEA calculation
• By saving shapes from a Sinusoidal ODS calculation in a Data Block or Shape Table
• By executing File | New | Shape Table and manually entering data into the empty Shape Table
Adding a Shape Table to a Project
• There are several ways to add an existing Shape Table (SHP) file to a Project
• Execute File | Import | Shape Table and import shapes from a third-party data file
• Double click on a Shape Table (SHP) file in another Project, listed in the (right or lower) pane of the
Project Fly-out Panel
• Right click on a Shape Table (SHP) file in another Project, listed in the (right or lower) pane of the
Project Fly-out Panel, and select Open from the menu

Shape Table Containing Mode Shapes.

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 Time-Based ODS Demo

Time-Based ODS Demo

• Click on the Machinery tab to display the Machinery Fly-out Panel
• Position the mouse pointer over the Gould Pump Demo, and double click to open its Project

Machinery Tab with Mouse Over Gould Pump Demo

• Sweep animation will begin using ODS data from the Data Block on the right
• The Data Block has 12 time waveform measurements (12 M#s) in it
• Notice that a Line cursor (vertical red line) is sweeping through the M#s in the Data Block window
• The model is being deflected by the ODS (M# data) at each cursor position
Changing the Animation Speed
• The animation may be too fast or too slow, depending on the speed of your computer
• Click in the Structure STR window to make it active
• Locate the Animate | Speed | Increase Speed (rabbit) and Animate | Speed | Decrease Speed (turtle) Tools

• Click on the Turtle Tool to decrease the animation speed

• Click on the Rabbit Tool to increase the speed

Time-Based ODS Demo Showing Sweep Animation.

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 Installation

Quad View versus Single View

• The Structure window can display a single View of the structure model, or four Views together in a Quad
View format.
• 3D View (upper right quadrant)
• Z Axis View (upper left quadrant)
• X Axis View (lower left quadrant)
• Y Axis View (lower right quadrant)
• To change between the Quad View and one of the four Views,
• Double click on a single View in the Quad View to display that View
• Double click on the single View to display the Quad View
• When the Vertical Axis is changed on the Display tab in the File | Structure Options box, the labeling of
the three 2D Views will also change.
Active View
• When the Structure window is in Quad View, the active View is indicated by the yellow box in the Display
| View button.
• Click on a View to make it active

• When the 3D View is active the upper right quadrant of the Display | View button is yellow
• In Quad View, click on each View to make it the active View and turn it yellow on the Display | View
Tool
Zoom
• Click in a View to make it active and spin the mouse wheel to Zoom the structure in that View
Pan
• Hold down the Left mouse button and drag the mouse pointer to Pan the structure model in the active
View
Rotation in the 3D View
• Hold down the Right mouse button and drag the mouse pointer in the 3D View to rotate the structure
Geometric Interpolation
• Execute Animate | Using Interpolated Links in the STR window to disable and enable animation of the
un-measured DOFs on the machine using geometric interpolation
• When Animate | Using Interpolated Links is un-checked, the deflection of the Gould Pump machine
model is created using only data from 12 Time Waveforms (3D motion at only four Points) in the Data
Block
• When Animate | Using Interpolated Links is checked, the deflection of each unmeasured point of the
Gould Pump is being interpolated from the motions of its nearby measured points and also taking into
account the fixed DOFs of the points on the base
• Deflection of the 12 measured DOFs is defined using Measured Links in the STR window
• Geometric interpolation of the un-measured DOFs is defined using Interpolated Links

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 Frequency-Based ODS Demo

Model Showing Four Labeled Test Points

Frequency-Based ODS Demo
• Hover the mouse pointer over the Demos tab to display the Demos fly-out panel
• Move the mouse pointer over the Jim Beam Demo, and double click to open its Project
Maximum MAC Comparison
• Notice that a MAC bar is also displayed in the STR window
• The animation has been setup to display the ODS from the Line cursor (vertical red line) in the Data
Block (lower right) that has the maximum MAC value (best correlation) with the mode shape being
displayed from the Shape Table (upper right)
• Sinusoidal modulation of is used to create the sine dwell animation of both the mode shape and the ODS
• The Data Block contains 99 FRF measurements (99 M#s) that define the 3D motion at 33 test points on the
Jim Beam
• Likewise, each mode shape in the Shape Table has 99 DOFs (99 M#s) that define its 3D mode shape at the
same 33 test points
• To view each FRF measurement, drag the vertical scroll bar on the right side of the graphics area in the
Data Block (BLK) window

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 Installation

Sweep Animation at a Resonance Peak.

Animating the ODS Dominated by a Resonance
• The peaks in the FRF measurements are evidence of structural resonances, or modes of vibration
• At or near a resonance peak, the ODS (values of the FRFs) is being dominated by the mode shape (with
maximum MAC value) associated with that resonance
• For lightly damped structures, the ODS at or near a resonant frequency will closely approximate the mode
shape and the maximum MAC value will be at or near “1”
• To correlate each mode shape more closely with each ODS,
• Right click in the BLK window and execute Format | Overlaid from the context menu
• Right click in the BLK window again and execute M#s | Imaginary to display the Imaginary parts of the
FRFs in Overlaid format
• Click on any shape in the SHP window
The Maximum MAC between each mode shape and it corresponding ODS in the Data Block is very close to “1”
for all pairs. This shows that the Imaginary part of the FRFs (with g’s as the numerator units) is a very good
approximation of a mode shape.
• Another way of interpreting the close pairing between each mode shape and each ODS is that each ODS is
being dominated by the participation of a mode shape.

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 Frequency-Based ODS Demo

Animation at a Resonance Peak.

Display Formats
There are several different formats for displaying M#s (measurements) in a Data Block (BLK) window
• To display M#s in a Row/Column format
• Execute Format | Rows Columns in the Data Block window
• A graphical array of rows & columns will be displayed on the graphics.

Data Block window with Rows & Columns selection box.

• To display 2 rows and 2 columns, choose 2, 2 from the array of rows & columns
• Try the other commands in the Format menu, Strip Chart, Waterfall, and Contour Map

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 Installation

Mode Shape Demo

• Click on the Demos tab to display the Demos fly-out panel
• Double click on the Vibrant Beam Demo to open its Project
• Execute Draw | Animate Shapes in the Structure (STR) window
Sweep Animation will begin in the Structure window displaying mode shapes from the Shape Table. In the
(upper) Shapes spreadsheet in the Shape Table window on the right. Notice that one of the Select Shape buttons
is depressed (with a green Select Shape button). This indicates the mode shape currently being displayed in
animation on the structure model
• Because Sweep animation is enabled, the mode shape display will automatically increment to the next
shape
• Execute Animate | Dwell | Sine Dwell to change the animation from Sweep to Sine Dwell
• Click on a Select Shape button in the Shapes spreadsheet to display its shape in animation
Contour Colors
• Many display functions in the Structure window toggle between checked (meaning they are enabled) and
un-checked (meaning they are disabled)
• Contour colors can be displayed on structure model surfaces to show areas of high versus low shape values
• The colors used for the color contour map are specified in the File | Options box of the Animation Source
window, in this case a Shape Table window
• Execute Animate | Deflection | Contour Colors in the STR window to display contour colors on the
surfaces of the structure model
• Execute Animate | Deflection | Contour Colors again to disable the contour fill display

Mode Shape Animation Showing Contours.

37
 Acoustic Intensity Demo

Acoustic Intensity Demo

• Click on the Demos tab to display the Demos fly-out panel
• Double-click the Intensity Demo to open its Project
• Execute Draw | Animate Shapes in the Structure (STR) window
Sweep Animation will begin from a Data Block of Acoustic Intensity measurements acquired from in front of a
speaker
• The acoustic measurements in the Data Block (BLK: Intensities) are displayed in an octave band format
(1/3 octave in this Data Block), and that a (vertical red line) Line cursor is sweeping through the M#s in
the Data Block window
• The color contours on the acoustic surface in front of the speaker are indicating levels of intensity at the
cursor position
• Arrows are also being displayed to indicate the magnitude & direction of the acoustic intensity.

Acoustic Intensity Animation.

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 Installation

Videos Menu
The commands in the Videos menu are used to record two different types of videos
• Each video is saved as a MP4 file
Videos | Animation Frames
Records the animation frames in the active Structure (STR) window
• When this command is executed the Record Video dialog box will open, as shown below

Make Video Dialog Box.

Use Window Width and Height
If checked, the video will be the size of the graphics area, either the Structure (STR) window or the Work Area
• If un-checked the Width and Height can be entered their respective boxes
Stop After Full Cycles of Animation
If checked, video recording will stop after (N) animation cycles are completed
Restart Dwell Cycle
If checked, video recording will start at the beginning of an animation dwell cycle
• While a video is being recorded, you can change the 3D View Rotation, Zoom, Pan, display Points, Lines,
Surfaces, etc.
• Press the Start button to start recording a video
• Press the Stop button to finish recording the video, and open it in your attached Windows MP4 player
• The Videos tab in the File | Structure Options box contains controls for changing the video Quality and
Frames per Second
Videos | MEscope Window
Records a screen capture of the MEscope window

39