Company Information

Vibrate Software, Inc.  products are currently used by Ford, General Motors, and Freightliner Truck Training Centers and Dealerships worldwide. Mazda USA is currently investigating the use of Vibrate Software for their dealerships. Vibrate Software is a universal application that works on any vehicle from small cars to semi-trucks.

Vibrate Software was founded by John Kelly in December of 1993. As an automotive instructor, I became frustrated trying to teach my students how to diagnose automobile and truck vibrations. My students had a hard time remembering how to perform the mathematical calculations required to perform diagnosis after they left the classroom. I decided to try to automate the mathematical computations required to match the frequency of a vibration to a rotating component's speed.

I found that the current method of using tire sizes and vehicle speed to calculate the rotational speed of vehicle components was flawed. The flaw is the result of tire tread wear, same size tires having different rolling radiuses, and the installation of oversize tires on the accuracy of the vehicle speedometer. There is also the problem of the inherit inaccuracies of an air-core electro-magnetic speedometer which can be inaccurate as much as 7 mph depending on the position of the needle verses the force gravity. If the speedometer is incorrect, the calculations will also be incorrect which can lead to misdiagnosis.

The more accurate method I decided to use to calculate the rotational speeds of rotating vehicle components uses engine RPM and gear ratios. If the engine speed is known, the torque converter clutch is engaged, and the gear ratios of the transmission and axles are known, the rotational speed of the tires, propshaft, and etc.  can be calculated regardless of tire size and vehicle speed.

Most automobile vibrations are caused by rotating components that are out-of-balance or out-of-round. Since the engine must be running for these components to begin rotating, the engine's crankshaft will be the point of reference for vibration diagnosis. Every rotating component will have a rotational velocity that is faster, slower, or the same as the engine's crankshaft. Determining the rotational velocity of each component in relation to the engine's crankshaft is the key to an accurate vibration diagnosis.

VIBRATE 5.0 calculates the rotational velocity of each component and graphically represents these velocities on a computer's screen and on a printed Vibration Worksheet. The printed graph is for an automobile technician to use while test-driving a vibrating automobile. When the automobile's vibration is present, the technician records the vibration frequency and the engine RPM on the Vibration Worksheet. (The technician will need tools to measure vibration frequency and engine RPM. )

There is a point on the graph where the vibration frequency reading and the engine RPM reading intersect. This point should be on, or very close to, a plotted line on the graph. The plotted line indicates the specific component group causing the vibration. The technician can diagnose which component in the component group is causing the vibration by using the procedures outlined in the automobile manufacturer's service manual.

Automobile technicians like this method of vibration diagnosis because the graph is easy to understand and the technician is not required to perform any mathematical calculations. VIBRATE 5.0 is a tool that helps the automobile technician diagnose a vibration problem correctly the first time.

Contact Information:  

President/Developer:

John D.  Kelly

Education:

Background:

Thirty-Two years in the automotive industry. 

Certifications

Memberships/Affiliations:

Accomplishments:

News and History of Vibrate Software

If you have questions or comments send email to support@vibratesoftware. com

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This page was last modified 08/12/2011