Experimental analysis of rotor unbalance using low-cost instrumentation based on the MPU-6050

Vibration analysis is a fundamental technique in predictive maintenance, primarily used to detect early-stage faults in mechanical equipment. Despite its effectiveness, the high initial investment often required for traditional vibration monitoring systems motivates the development of low-cost alternatives. This study presents the development of a cost-effective diagnostic system based on the ESP-32 microcontroller and the MPU-6050 accelerometer. Signal acquisition and processing were performed using open-source tools, and the results were benchmarked against those obtained with the commercial SKF Microlog GX-75 system. Experimental tests were conducted under various rotor unbalance conditions. The proposed system demonstrated strong agreement with the commercial device, achieving a maximum mean absolute error of 0.72 mm/s and stable readings. Nevertheless, further investigation is required regarding the influence of sensor mounting conditions on measurement accuracy. The unbalance characterization findings align well with those reported in the literature.