Single-point vibrometers.

A single-point laser vibrometer measures vibration velocity, displacement, or acceleration at one defined point. Scanning vibrometers measure multiple points on a surface sequentially. 3D vibrometers capture the vibration of one measurement point simultaneously from three spatial directions.

A single-point vibrometer is used when individual structures or components need to be examined with precision. This is particularly useful for quality assurance, research, and test bench applications requiring targeted measurements at specific points.

Typical applications include vibration analysis of machine components, materials, medical components, structures or MEMS components.

The vibrometer directs a laser beam onto the surface of the test object. The system determines the movement of the measurement point from the vibration-induced frequency shift of the reflected light (Doppler effect) the system calculates the movement of the measurement point.

This non-contact method requires neither physical contact  nor sensors to be attached to the object.

Because the system measures without contact, it does not affect the mass of the test object. This ensures accurate, undistorted results—even for sensitive, hot, or moving components.

This also eliminates the installation effort required for conventional sensors, enabling measurements to be performed quickly and reproducibly.

Yes. Using manual or automated positioning, the vibrometer can measure sequentially at different points. In combination with multiple devices or fiber-coupled sensor heads (e.g. SMART Multi-Fiber), multiple points can also be measured simultaneously.

This allows the system to be flexibly adapted to the specific measurement task.

Single-point vibrometers feature digital and analog interfaces, such as Ethernet, USB, or BNC. This allows them to be integrated directly into test benches, measurement systems, or automated manufacturing processes.

Trigger inputs and outputs enable seamless integration of the systems into existing test benches and automation workflows.

Measurements can generally be performed on almost any surface—including dark, rough, or reflective materials. The SWIR laser technology (1550 nm) used in Optomet systems ensures stable signal quality, even on challenging surfaces.

The measurement distance depends on the type of system. Standard models in the SMART and CLASSIC series cover distances ranging from a few millimeters to several meters.

Special models such as the CLASSIC Nova-Xtra enable measurements over distances of up to 300 m—for example, for structural inspections or outdoor structural testing.

The CLASSIC series offers robust, clearly structured systems suitable for established measurement tasks in laboratories and industrial environments. Data acquisition is digital, but designed for individual devices or sequential multi-point measurements – in Multi-Fiber configurations, the measurement points are switched sequentially.

The SMART series takes this concept further with a fully integrated system design. Multiple devices can be connected directly and synchronized automatically, allowing multi-point measurements to be acquired simultaneously. Setups can also be expanded flexibly and combined into modular measurement systems, complete with a shared time base and integrated analysis functions.

Both series are based on the same optical measurement principles, but differ in their system architecture, scalability, and approach to multi-point measurements.

For data acquisition and analysis, Optomet systems use SMART Lab, the central software platform for the entire measurement process. Together with the SMART series it brings vibrometer channels, reference sensors, DAQ channels and excitation signals into one precisely synchronized measurement environment. Devices, measurement ranges, filters, triggers and signal processing are configured centrally, while numerous channels are acquired simultaneously, displayed live and analyzed in the time and frequency domain.

The platform is modular and grows with the measurement task: from a single vibrometer through multi-point and 3D measurements to extensive full-body measurement systems. Measurement setups can be saved, reproduced and extended with further SMART devices or sensors at any time.

CLASSIC devices can be integrated into SMART Lab as well. As an alternative, there are OptoGUI for all CLASSIC devices and OptoSCAN for CLASSIC scanning vibrometers: device-specific programs that lead from setup to measurement result in just a few steps.