Why Edge Monitoring Matters for Vibration Diagnostics

Vibration signatures from rotating equipment such as motors, turbines, or compressors often carry early indicators of mechanical failure. However, these signals are high-bandwidth, and transmitting them in raw form to the cloud is impractical. That’s where edge computing with CompactDAQ and MQTT enables real-time decision-making right at the asset level.

CompactDAQ as an Edge Node

CompactDAQ (cDAQ) offers modular analog input for accelerometers, proximity probes, and piezo sensors. Its embedded controller (Linux RT or Windows) can run analysis routines locally, providing:

• Onboard FFT and RMS calculations
• Trigger-based event detection
• Low-latency preprocessing before MQTT transmission

This offloads the central server and enables smarter local decisions.

Why MQTT?

MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a lightweight, publish-subscribe messaging protocol optimized for constrained devices and low-bandwidth environments. It fits perfectly into edge deployments by:

• Minimizing network usage
• Supporting retained messages and offline buffering
• Allowing scalable publish/subscribe topologies

For example, CompactDAQ can publish real-time metrics like machine/RPM or asset1/vibration/RMS to a central broker for dashboards or alerts.

Architecture Example

[Accelerometer] ─▶ [cDAQ] ─▶ [FFT + Threshold Logic] ─▶ [MQTT Client] ─▶ [Mosquitto Broker] ─▶ [Grafana / Cloud / PLC]
    

This model supports full local analysis with remote visualization and alerting. MQTT messages can be processed by SCADA, Node-RED, or cloud storage (e.g., AWS IoT, Azure IoT Hub).

Edge Deployment Use Cases

• ????️ Oil & Gas: Remote pump diagnostics in hazardous zones
• ???? Manufacturing: Bearing fault detection in CNC machines
• ????️ Maintenance Centers: Predictive maintenance scheduling
• ???? Marine: Propeller shaft monitoring with offline buffering

Benefits of CompactDAQ + MQTT Edge Design

• ???? Real-time decisions: Act on vibration anomalies in milliseconds
• ???? Loosely coupled architecture: Easy to scale and reconfigure
• ???? Efficient bandwidth usage: Send only relevant data to the cloud
• ???? Visualization ready: Compatible with Grafana, InfluxDB, or Ignition

FAQs

Can I use CompactDAQ without LabVIEW?

Yes — cDAQ controllers support Python, C++, and web-based APIs under NI Linux RT.

What MQTT brokers are supported?

Most open-source and cloud brokers are compatible — e.g., Mosquitto, HiveMQ, AWS IoT Core.

Does this system work offline?

Yes. MQTT supports store-and-forward. Local alerts can be triggered even without a cloud link.

Edge-based vibration diagnostics using CompactDAQ and MQTT enable fast, reliable, and scalable condition monitoring. Whether you’re building IIoT infrastructure or retrofitting test equipment, this architecture empowers predictive maintenance with minimal delay. See more solutions in our Data Acquisition & Control section.