Panther – Field Data Vibration Test Replication Software
Panther Field Data Replication Control delivers precision and performance in time-domain waveform...
Spectral Dynamics · for Panther and Lynx controllers
ShakerScope: see what your shaker can really deliver.
ShakerScope characterizes the whole rig: shaker, amplifier, fixture, slip table and test article. One multi-channel sine sweep becomes a customer-ready report with the usable bandwidth, every significant resonance, and the likely cause behind each finding.
| Result | Measured | Rated |
|---|---|---|
| Optimal band | 14–2,860 Hz | |
| Usable band | 9–3,780 Hz | 5–4,500 Hz |
| Resonances | 1 · 589 Hz, fixture | |
| Min coherence | 0.97 | |
| Peak THD | 1.8 % at 9 Hz |
Usable band covers a 20–2,000 Hz profile. Fixture mode at 589 Hz: check bolt torque.
Why it matters
What a perfect controller can't fix
A test is only as good as the rig that runs it. A controller that closes the loop perfectly on its own reference still can't compensate for the physics underneath it.
FRF peak at test frequency
A fixture mode
The test article sees the mode, not the level you asked for.
coherence below 0.9
A loose bolt or damaged cable
A nonlinear sink. Drive energy goes everywhere except where you want it.
THD climbing in the top octave
An amplifier near clipping
You ask for a sine; the article sees harmonics.
band edge receding
A tiring shaker
Suspension stiffening raises the low end. Armature wear or amplifier aging pulls down the high end.
Many "controller is broken" calls turn out to be a rig asked to do something it physically can't, such as control near DC on a shaker that only responds above 5 Hz. ShakerScope settles the question with numbers.
The headline result
Usable bandwidth, in two numbers
ShakerScope normalizes the control channel's response to mid-band and shades two nested bands, each requiring coherence above 0.9. Lay your test profile over them: if the usable band is narrower, the shaker physically can't deliver it.
optimal · ±12 dB · 14–2,860 Hzusable · ±20 dB · 9–3,780 HzIllustrative trace
What it measures
Every channel, analyzed after the sweep
Up to ten channels from the customer's own Panther or Lynx. Electrodynamic, servo-hydraulic and piezo shakers.
| Result | Per | Points to |
|---|---|---|
| FRF magnitude | channel | How each point responds |
| Resonances | freq, Q | Fixture, suspension or armature modes |
| Coherence | channel | Loose mounts, cables, sensors at a node |
| THD | channel | Amplifier clipping, stroke limits, impacting |
| Cross-axis | 2 channels | Rocking, slip-table tilt |
| Mains pickup | channel | Ground loops, facility wiring |
What sets it apart
Findings you can act on
- Controller artifacts flagged separately. A closed loop can create a peak and notch pair that isn't in the structure. ShakerScope marks those, so nobody stiffens a fixture that doesn't need it.
- Measured against rated specs. Enter the datasheet and each rating is compared with what was measured, with the likely physical cause.
- Sine performance envelope. Stroke-, velocity- and force-limited regions, so you know where a profile meets physics.
- Accelerometer placement advice for this rig, before the sweep.
- Orbit Inspector plots the motion between two channels at any frequency.
- Secure sites supported. Export one package, carry it out, and generate the AI report elsewhere.
How it works
From cabled rig to report in one sitting
About 10 minutes the first time; the sweep runs 2–5 minutes. No need to open the full controller interface.
Describe the rig
Customer info and the shaker's rated specs. Ask the AI where to mount each accelerometer.
Set the channels and sweep
Role, position, axis and sensitivity per channel. Sweep beyond the test profile so roll-off is measured, not assumed.
Press Start
Pre-test checks, the sweep and a controlled shutdown run automatically through Panther or Lynx.
Deliver
Five-plot PDF on site, AI narrative when online, or an offline package to finish later.
ShakerScope – Diagnostic NarrativePage 2
Executive Summary
Verdict: PASS. The rig is in healthy condition. With the head expander it delivers a usable bandwidth of 9–3,780 Hz and an optimal band of 14–2,860 Hz against a rated range of 5–4,500 Hz. Coherence stayed at or above 0.97 on every channel. One fixture-class resonance at 589 Hz (Q 17) sits inside the optimal band.
Resonance Inventory
| Freq (Hz) | Q | dB rel | Channel | Class | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 589 | 17 | +4.5 | FrontLeft Z | Fixture | Head-expander mode; check bolt torque |
Physical-Setup Recommendations
| Priority | Action | Expected impact |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | Re-torque head-expander bolts and re-sweep | Confirms whether the 589 Hz mode is a mounting issue |
| Info | Save this run as the rig's baseline | Enables drift tracking at the next visit |
Sample report excerpt, illustrative values.
The report
A diagnosis the customer can read
A PDF the technician hands straight to the customer, in two forms.
Diagnostic report works offline
- Cover page: customer, shaker model and serial, fixture, rated specs, and the optimal and usable bands.
- Five plots: control and drive together; usable bandwidth with shaded bands; FRF with resonances marked; coherence with sub-0.9 regions shaded; THD with a 1 % reference.
AI diagnostic report
- Executive summary and a plain-language verdict
- Bandwidth verdict against rated range and test profile
- Resonance inventory with Q, class and interpretation
- Coherence and THD findings with likely causes
- Prioritized setup recommendations
- Performance vs rated specs and the sine envelope
Compare Systems
Track the rig year over year
Overlay a baseline run and today's run on all five plots, with channels matched by position and axis. The AI comparison report returns a verdict and lists what moved.
STABLEDRIFTEDDEGRADEDIMPROVED
New, lost and shifted resonances, bandwidth and coherence trends, and prioritized maintenance recommendations. The basis of an annual health check.
Where it earns its keep
Four jobs, one tool
- Commissioning: confirm a new install is level, centered, true and free of fixture modes.
- Support triage: separate the rig's physics from the controller, with numbers.
- Annual health checks: a drift report that supports a maintenance contract.
- New test programs: confirm the rig can deliver the profile before mounting the first article.
ShakerCheck
Before every test
Five minutes at low level. Are the channels, fixture and shaker right today?
ShakerScope
Before every program, and every year
The full characterization. What can this rig deliver, what limits it, and what has changed?
Questions
Frequently asked
How is ShakerScope different from ShakerCheck?
ShakerCheck is a five-minute low-level check before every test. ShakerScope is the full characterization before every program and every year: what the rig can deliver, what limits it, and what has changed.
Which shakers and controllers does it support?
Electrodynamic, servo-hydraulic and piezo shakers, with up to ten channels from the customer's own Panther or Lynx.
Can ShakerScope be used at a secure site?
Yes. The diagnostic report works offline, and the run can be exported as one package and carried out to generate the AI report elsewhere.
Know your rig before you test on it.
ShakerScope works with Spectral Dynamics Panther and Lynx controllers.
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