Material handling equipment (MHE) maintenance must be efficient to avoid expensive, unplanned downtime. This is particularly important in industries like food and beverage production, logistics warehousing, automotive manufacturing, mining, and raw material handling.
The Fluke ii915 Acoustic Camera with MecQ™ Mode provides a modern solution. It can detect potential problems in MHE, such as conveyors, before they worsen. This allows maintenance teams to take proactive steps and maximize system performance.
Fluke MecQ™ Mode sees the sounds caused by certain types of mechanical degradation in material handling equipment. See for yourself!
The Fluke ii915 Acoustic Camera with MecQ™ Mode
The Fluke ii915 Acoustic Camera with MecQ™ Mode provides a modern solution for detecting mechanical degradation, especially in bearings, before it escalates into costly repairs or downtime.
By "seeing" sound, the ii915 enables maintenance teams to quickly identify and locate issues in MHE such as:
- Conveyor systems
- Bucket elevators
- Bulk-handling cranes
- Dump trucks
- Hoppers
- Reclaimers
- Silos
- Stackers
Proactive detect = less downtime. Address problems early, order parts in advance, and keep MHE running at peak performance.
How Acoustic Camera Technology Works
The Fluke ii915 Acoustic Camera uses an array of precision microphones to detect both sonic and ultrasonic sound waves. The camera then converts those sounds into a visual image (SoundMap™)--allowing you to "see" the exact location of the source."
While compressed air leaks and partial discharge produce ultrasonic sound, mechanical components also emit unique ultrasonic signatures when they begin to deteriorate.
Seeing sound with Fluke MecQ™ helps narrow the area of interest on large conveyor systems like this one.
What MecQ™ Mode Does
MecQ™ Mode is designed specifically for detecting mechanical issues such as bearing wear, misalignment, or other component degradation in material handling equipment (MHE).
- Specialized sound filtering: MecQ™ recognizes the unique ultrasonic patterns produced by mechanical equipment, differentiating them from other sources like air leaks.
- Customizable frequency bands: Predefined and user-adjustable settings let you focus on the exact frequencies associated with mechanical faults.
- Sub-modes for deeper analysis: Track dB-level data over time to assess severity and trend changes.
- Pinpoint accuracy: Visual SoundMap™ helps locate the precise origin of the problem, even on large or hard-to-access systems.
Safe, Fast, and Non-Contact Inspections
One of the greatest advantages of the Fluke ii915 Acoustic Camera with MecQ™ Mode is its ability to perform inspections from a safe distance.
Maintenance teams can scan large, complex areas of material handling equipment without interrupting operations or exposing themselves to unnecessary hazards. This is especially important for equipment that is in motion, located at height, or positioned in hard-to-reach spaces. By visualizing sound in real time, the ii915 allows technicians to pinpoint issues in seconds — even in noisy, crowded industrial environments — and do so without shutting down production lines or dismantling equipment.
The tool also integrates seamlessly with existing leak and partial discharge detection programs, making it a versatile addition to any predictive maintenance toolkit.
Detailed Records and Analysis
Beyond immediate detection, the ii915 excels at documenting and analyzing findings.
Technicians can capture high-quality images of the problem area, add annotations, and apply tags to organize data for future reference. These visual records are invaluable for creating a complete maintenance history, allowing teams to track the progression of wear over time and identify recurring trouble spots. Detailed imagery also makes it easier to communicate findings to supervisors, engineering teams, or external service providers, ensuring everyone has a clear understanding of the issue.
This level of documentation supports compliance reporting, helps justify maintenance budgets, and enables more strategic planning of follow-up work — including ordering parts before a failure occurs.
The Business Case for Early Detection of MHE Failures
Unplanned downtime in MHE can be extraordinarily expensive, with potential losses ranging from $30,000 to $130,000 per hour, depending on the industry.
The ii915 with MecQ™ helps mitigate that risk by detecting mechanical issues — such as failing bearings — well before they cause system-wide breakdowns. Early detection not only prevents catastrophic failures but also reduces the energy waste caused by inefficient, worn components. The result is improved operational efficiency, longer equipment life, and fewer emergency repairs.
In short, the Fluke ii915 Acoustic Camera with MecQ™ Mode delivers a powerful combination of advanced ultrasonic detection, precise visual pinpointing, and user-friendly operation. It equips maintenance teams to stay ahead of costly breakdowns, maintain safe working conditions, and keep material handling operations running at peak performance.