Stroboscope

A stroboscope is a piece of equipment that can make a rotating, reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating object appear still. This is referred to as a stop-motion effect. If a moving object appears to be stationary when observed with a stroboscope, then the stroboscope is attuned to the vibration frequency of the object.

An industrial stroboscope is a measuring instrument commonly used to inspect stresses on different machine parts in motion. For example, an industrial stroboscope can be used in a print shop to evaluate the rotational speed of a printer roller. Thus, an industrial stroboscope also can be used as a tachometer to count the number of revolutions or measure the revolutions per minute (RPM) of a cyclically moving part.

Before purchasing an electronic industrial stroboscope, one must consider the intended application. An electronic stroboscope can reach a flash rate of several thousand Hertz, making it possible to carry out optical inspections for very fast sequences. Therefore, the stroboscope's flash rate must accommodate measurement of the rotors, gears, cams, shafts, spindles, etc. to be inspected.

In addition to the adjustment of the flash rate or flash frequency, modern stroboscopes also offer the possibility of setting a phase shift. This means that the flash pulse is delayed in such a way that the picture optically rotates. This makes it possible to move the marking brands on the rotating parts into a correct position.

A key factor to evaluate when buying an electronic stroboscope is the type of light source used by the strobe. Modern light-emitting diode (LED) stroboscopes have nothing in common with the conventional Xenon flashers. In modern LED stroboscopes, powerful LED arrays enable comprehensive illumination of an object. Due to the scalability of the LED stroboscopes, even large parts like moving paper webs can be inspected with ease. For certain non-destructive testing applications, special stroboscopes that utilize ultraviolet (UV) LEDs may be required.

The trigger of the luminaire is another important component of the stroboscope. Simple stroboscopes have internal regulators to control the LED luminaires or xenon tubes. Triggering from outside is not possible in these stroboscope designs. More complex stroboscopes are equipped with trigging inputs that allow external speed sensors to control the luminaires. Thus, the flashing of the stroboscope is always equal to the number of revolutions or oscillations of the object. This is particularly advantageous when different rotational speeds of rollers are driven. This is the case especially in the sphere of paper production or during the testing of printed products.

In the case of handheld stroboscopes, the decisive factor is how the power supply is performed. Here it is of crucial importance how often the stroboscope is used. If the handheld stroboscope is used sporadically, a battery power supply is often sufficient. If the handheld stroboscope is used frequently, a rechargeable battery power supply is recommended. Fixed installation stroboscopes are generally supplied with an AC power adapter or powered directly from the mains.

When acquiring a stroboscope, one should also think about the ingress protection (IP) rating required for the application. The IP rating or class specifies whether a device is dustproof or waterproof. If a stroboscope will be used in harsh industrial conditions, an IP67 rating is recommended for optimal protection against external environmental influences.

If you need additional assistance in purchasing a stroboscope, please contact PCE's friendly and knowledgeable technical sales staff at or +44 (0) 2380 987 035 for PCE Instruments UK , or at or +1 (561) 320-9162 for PCE Americas Inc.