Abstract

Stress monitoring systems are not always included in machinery, and this might create a need for a retrofitted system. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) units, mini PCs and other similar hardware are nowadays widely available at a reasonable price, which makes this type of hardware an interesting choice for retrofitted monitoring systems. However, the cheap price often comes with some drawbacks, e.g. relatively low computing power and low memory capacity. In this paper, we study how low-priced computers perform on tasks which might be required for vibration-based stress monitoring. In addition, we discuss a technique of vibration analysis, which could contribute to stress monitoring of Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machines in general. The target of the case study was a CNC machine for milling wood.