How to Use a Bently Nevada TK-3E 177313-02-02-00 in a Verification Workflow

The Bently Nevada TK-3E 177313-02-02-00 can support two different checks: a static probe-to-Proximitor response check with the spindle micrometer and a dynamic monitor-response check with the motor-driven wobble plate. A valid workflow keeps these checks separate, defines acceptance limits from the applicable equipment documentation, and records the as-found and as-left states. It does not replace the asset owner's approved proof-test or return-to-service procedure.

Use the kit in this sequence:

1. Define the test boundary and the decision the result must support.
2. Confirm the complete kit code, voltage selection, target, transducer set, and reference instruments.
3. Capture the installed channel's as-found condition.
4. Plot the static voltage-versus-gap response with the spindle micrometer.
5. Apply a known dynamic input with the wobble plate and compare the monitor response.
6. Localize any discrepancy by setup, transducer, wiring, configuration, and monitor layer.
7. Restore the channel and retain an approved as-left record.

Set the Verification Boundary Before Connecting the TK-3E

Start by defining the test boundary and the decision that the result must support. The transducer-system check, monitor-channel check, and protection-function proof test use different inputs and justify different conclusions.

Separate a Transducer-System Check From a Monitor-Channel Check

The spindle micrometer checks the static relationship between target distance and Proximitor Sensor output. Run it with the probe, extension cable, and Proximitor Sensor connected as the defined transducer set. The result is a voltage-versus-gap curve for that set and target material.

The motor-driven wobble plate creates a dynamic mechanical input for a probe mounted over the plate. The transducer output provides the reference signal used to compare the monitor indication and channel status. This check adds the monitor to the test boundary, but it does not automatically include relay logic, voting, shutdown wiring, or the final element.

Use the following scope statement in the work pack:

Define the Acceptance Basis and Return-to-Service Authority

Do not establish acceptance limits from a generic TK-3E procedure alone. Record the applicable probe, Proximitor Sensor, monitor, and site procedure before the equipment is disturbed. The work pack should identify:

• the exact measurement point and machine tag;
• the purpose of the check;
• the transducer and monitor documents that control the acceptance values;
• the normal gap, scale factor, linear range, monitor range, and passband where applicable;
• the permitted alarm, trip, bypass, and inhibit states;
• the required reference-instrument accuracy and calibration status;
• the person or role authorized to approve the result and restore protection.

If these items are not defined, the test may produce readings but cannot support a controlled acceptance decision.

Confirm the 177313-02-02-00 Configuration and Test Readiness

The ordering code identifies the TK-3E configuration, while the pre-use checks determine whether that configuration is suitable for the planned work. Confirm the kit identity, the transducer set, the target, the power arrangement, and the reference instruments before making any connections.

Decode the Metric Scale, European Power Cord, and Approval Code 00

The current TK3 ordering structure identifies 177313-02-02-00 as follows [1]:

Approval code 00 is an ordering option. It should not be rewritten as a general statement that the product has no regulatory compliance. The current TK3 datasheet separately lists product-level compliance information.

The European cord option also does not remove the electrical pre-check. Confirm the available supply against the TK-3E input range and set the voltage selector correctly before connecting power. The TK-3E can be damaged if the selector does not match the applied supply.

Confirm Target Material, Probe Family, and Complete System Length

Eddy-current proximity systems respond to the electrical properties of the target. The standard TK-3 target is 4140 steel. If the machine observes a materially different target, use the approved target and method for that application rather than assuming the standard plate reproduces the installed response.

Record the complete identity of each element:

1. Target material and relevant geometry
2. Probe family and complete part number
3. Extension-cable family and length
4. Proximitor Sensor family and calibrated system length
5. Monitor type, channel, range, and configuration reference

Connector fit is not sufficient evidence of a valid transducer set. For 3300 XL component selection and system-length checks, use our probe, cable, and Proximitor matching method before planning the TK-3E check.

Check Voltage Selection, Wobble-Plate Condition, and Reference Instruments

Inspect the kit before use. The wobble plate and target button must be clean and free of damage that could change the observed response. Confirm that the probe mounts move correctly, clamps hold without excessive force, mounting screws are secure, and rotating parts have the required guard and clearance.

The current TK3 datasheet specifies an electric input of 95 to 125 Vac or 190 to 250 Vac at 50 or 60 Hz [1]. Use the correct selector position and a suitable certified power connection. Keep loose clothing and objects clear, wear the required eye protection, and follow the site's rules for electrically powered equipment and rotating test devices.

Record the identification and calibration status of the DMM, oscilloscope when used, power supply, and any additional reference equipment. The instrument set must support the uncertainty required by the approved acceptance basis.

Capture the As-Found State Before Disturbing the Channel

An as-found record preserves the condition that prompted the test. It also prevents a successful adjustment from hiding the original fault or configuration error.

Use a worksheet that can be reviewed by maintenance, instrumentation, and the person responsible for machinery protection:

Photograph labels and relevant connections before disassembly. When removing an accessible probe, disconnect the probe lead from the extension cable before rotating or withdrawing the probe so the lead is not twisted. Apply the site's isolation, bypass, and change-control requirements before the monitoring channel is disturbed.

Verify the Static Probe-to-Proximitor Response

The static check establishes how the defined transducer set responds as the target moves through the usable gap range. The output should be a recorded curve and an acceptance decision based on the applicable transducer data, not only one normal-gap reading.

Assemble and Align the Complete Transducer Chain

Connect the probe to the correct extension cable and Proximitor Sensor. Apply the supply and load arrangement specified for that transducer family. Do not reuse a generic wiring assumption across different Proximitor Sensor types.

With the spindle micrometer at its defined zero position, place the probe in the V probe mount and bring the target into light contact using the approved method. Center the probe tip on the target. Secure the probe without applying more clamp force than is needed to hold its position.

Move the target away and return it to the starting position to confirm that the mechanical zero and alignment are repeatable. Correct any side loading, loose mounting, or visible misalignment before recording electrical data.

Plot Output Voltage Against Probe Gap

Energize the transducer set only after the connections have been checked. Move the target away from the probe in controlled metric increments and record the Proximitor Sensor output at each position. Use enough points to show the nonlinear region near the target, the usable linear region, and the point where the response becomes nonlinear again.

The worksheet should contain:

• micrometer position in millimeters;
• measured output voltage and polarity;
• repeated readings where stability is uncertain;
• the calculated change in output over selected gap intervals;
• test-equipment ID and range;
• target material and transducer-set identity;
• ambient or setup conditions required by the applicable procedure.

Plot the measurements rather than judging the system from a single voltage. A stored curve provides evidence for later comparison if a probe, cable, Proximitor Sensor, or target condition changes.

Compare Linearity and Scale Factor With the Applicable Transducer Data

Use the technical data for the exact transducer family to identify its specified linear range, scale factor, tolerances, supply, load, and target basis. Do not apply the common 3300 XL 8 mm scale factor to a different probe family without documented support.

Classify the result by the observed pattern:

A failed curve does not identify a failed component by itself. Preserve the curve, correct verified setup errors, and repeat the test before isolating individual elements.

Verify the Dynamic Monitor Response With the Wobble Plate

The dynamic check applies a controlled mechanical input to the probe and compares the transducer output with the monitor indication. Run it only after the transducer identity, gap basis, mounting, and static response are sufficiently understood for the planned test.

Recreate the Installed Gap and Establish a Known Mechanical Input

Mount the probe over the wobble plate and set the gap to the approved normal operating point. The gap can be established mechanically or from the Proximitor Sensor output when the applicable procedure permits it. Secure the probe and confirm that the tip cannot contact the rotating plate.

Start with the speed control at the required safe position and verify the TK-3E voltage selection before energizing it. Bring the wobble plate into the speed range required by the monitor test. Moving the swing arm radially changes the vibration amplitude observed by the probe.

The current TK3 datasheet gives a mechanical vibration range of 50 to 254 µm peak-to-peak [1]. Treat that as the kit's published capability, not as the required test value for every monitor. The selected amplitude and frequency must come from the approved monitor procedure and must remain within the transducer and channel range.

Choose the Measurement Method for the Required Accuracy

The current TK3 datasheet describes a DMM-based method that uses the proximity probe's absolute scale factor to establish the mechanical vibration input. It states that an oscilloscope is not required for that method [1]. A legacy TK-3 operation manual also documents oscilloscope-based monitor checks and identifies different accuracy expectations for oscilloscope and DMM measurements [2].

Use the method specified by the current procedure governing the installed equipment. Do not combine the setup from one method with the accuracy claim from another. An oscilloscope may be required when the procedure calls for direct peak-to-peak waveform measurement or when waveform distortion must be evaluated.

Compare the Reference Amplitude, Monitor Reading, and Channel Status

Create one record that connects the known input to each observed output:

Record the wobble-plate setting or measured reference, transducer output, monitor reading, displayed units, channel OK state, and stability over the required observation period. Repeat the reading at the points required by the approved procedure rather than relying on one full-scale value.

If the transducer output agrees with the approved reference but the monitor does not, move the investigation to channel wiring, scaling, configuration, passband, and monitor health. If the transducer output is already incorrect, resolve that layer before judging the monitor.

Exercise Alarms or Trips Only Under an Approved Site Procedure

Do not inject a trip-level signal solely because the TK-3E can generate a sufficient mechanical input. Alarm, trip, voting, relay, and final-element tests can affect machinery availability and personnel safety. They require an approved test sequence, controlled bypasses or inhibits, defined expected states, operations coordination, and formal restoration checks.

A TK-3E dynamic check can provide evidence about the transducer and monitor response included in the test boundary. It does not prove any protection path that was not exercised and recorded.

Localize a Failed or Marginal Result by Test Layer

Use the sequence of results to narrow the fault boundary. Check the setup first, then the complete transducer set, then the field and monitor layer; do not begin by replacing the first component named in an alarm or work request.

Rule Out Setup, Target, Mounting, and Instrument Errors

Repeat the pre-use checks when results are unexpected. Confirm target material, probe centering, clamp force, mechanical zero, wobble-plate condition, voltage selection, supply stability, load, meter range, connection polarity, and reference-instrument status.

Also compare the actual probe, cable, and Proximitor Sensor references with the planned set. A physical connection can be made even when system length, family, or calibration basis is wrong.

Retest the Probe, Extension Cable, and Proximitor as a Defined Set

After correcting a verified setup issue, repeat the full static curve. If the response remains outside the approved limit, isolate elements only through a documented method that preserves the required system length, family, load, and target basis.

Record every substitution and its purpose. A test with a substitute probe can help separate an accessible component from the rest of the chain, but it does not prove the condition of the removed or inaccessible installed probe.

Escalate Monitor and Configuration Findings Without Guessing at the Cause

When the static response passes but the dynamic monitor result does not, retain the passing transducer evidence and investigate the next layer. Check field wiring, barriers, terminals, common and shield arrangements, channel range, scaling, passband, configuration revision, channel status, and monitor diagnostics.

Do not describe a monitor as failed until the approved diagnostic path has separated the monitor hardware from its configuration, wiring, power, and input signal. Escalate unresolved findings to the site role responsible for the machinery-protection system or to Bently Nevada technical support.

Record the As-Left Condition and Reverification Triggers

The closeout record must show what was tested, what changed, and which authority accepted the result. Keep the static curve, dynamic comparison, hardware identities, configuration state, and restoration evidence in one controlled package.

Retain Curves, Readings, Instrument IDs, and Sign-Offs

An as-left package should contain:

• full part numbers and serial or revision data kept in separate fields;
• target material and test setup;
• voltage-versus-gap data and plotted curve;
• dynamic input, transducer output, and monitor indication;
• reference-instrument IDs and applicable calibration records;
• alarm, trip, bypass, inhibit, and relay restoration checks;
• configuration reference and any approved changes;
• deviations, corrective actions, repeated tests, and final result;
• names or roles responsible for execution, review, and return-to-service approval.

Supplier documentation, equipment calibration records, site verification results, and return-to-service approval are separate evidence types. Keep them connected in the work pack, but do not treat one as a substitute for another.

Repeat the Check After Changes to the Transducer Set or Target Material

Repeat the applicable verification when a material change can alter the response or the test basis. Examples include changing the probe, extension cable, Proximitor Sensor, target material, mounting geometry, field wiring, monitor configuration, range, or signal path.

Reverification is also appropriate when readings cannot be reproduced, the test setup was corrected after an initial failure, or maintenance affected a connection inside the defined boundary. The asset owner's maintenance strategy should set periodic intervals and additional triggers for the installed protection function.

FAQs

Q1. How Should Spindle Backlash Be Controlled During a Static Curve?

Approach each recorded point from the same direction so reversal play does not become part of the apparent electrical response. If the applicable procedure requires an increasing-gap and decreasing-gap run, record them as separate traces instead of averaging the readings. Unexpected separation between the traces should trigger a check of spindle play, mounting, alignment, and reading technique before the transducer is judged.

Q2. Which Vibration Units Must Match Before Comparing the TK-3E With the Monitor?

Confirm whether each value is peak-to-peak, peak, or RMS and whether it represents displacement, velocity, or acceleration. A TK-3E proximity-probe check normally begins with displacement, while the monitor or connected system may display a processed unit. Convert only through the approved channel configuration and document the conversion basis; numerically similar readings in different conventions are not agreement.

Q3. Can the TK-3E Check a Keyphasor Probe Input?

The TK-3 includes a Keyphasor probe access and clamping arrangement for procedures that use the notched edge of the wobble plate. Use the applicable Keyphasor and monitor instructions for gap, speed, signal polarity, and acceptance. Do not apply the radial-vibration workflow unchanged to a Keyphasor channel.

Q4. What If the Wobble Speed Falls Outside the Monitor Passband?

The monitor may attenuate or reject the signal even when the transducer output is correct. Move the test frequency into the range required by the approved channel procedure, then repeat the comparison. Do not increase amplitude to compensate for an out-of-band test frequency because that changes the input without correcting the frequency mismatch.

Q5. Is 177313-02-02-00 the Same Configuration as 177313-02-01-00?

No. Both current ordering codes use metric scale units, but the power-cord field differs. Code 02 specifies the European cord, while code 01 specifies the American cord. Confirm the complete code, supply arrangement, included accessories, and documentation rather than treating both references as identical kits.

Match the Kit and Evidence Before the Next Verification Window

A controlled TK-3E workflow defines the test boundary, preserves the as-found state, separates static and dynamic results, and closes with an approved as-left record. When Apter Power reviews a sourcing request, we need the complete TK-3E configuration, quantity, destination, required-on-site date, and required documentation. We will confirm current availability and the offered supply scope for the exact request. You can also review our Bently Nevada sourcing range or send the requirement to our team.