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Hardware

The LiveMach device: sensor hardware built for factories

The LiveMach device is our own board, built around an ESP32. Sensors are fitted outside the machine, so nothing is cut or rewired inside. The device is electrically isolated from the machine. It keeps logging when the internet drops and syncs on its own afterwards.

Book a DemoSee how it is installed

What is on the LiveMach board?

The board has nine parts that matter to you: the main controller, onboard memory, an isolation bank, a power section, field wiring terminals, a current sensor input, process sensor ports, status lights and an antenna area. Tap any part below to read what it does.

This is a schematic of the board, not a photo.

Illustrative schematic

Interactive schematic of the LiveMach device board with nine labelled parts: the main controller, onboard memory, the isolation bank, the power section, field wiring terminals, the current sensor input, process sensor ports, status lights and the antenna area.

Does the device touch the inside of my machine?

No. The sensors are fitted outside the machine. Nothing is cut and nothing is rewired inside.

  • Sensors sit outside

    Machine indicator lamps and sensors connect to the field wiring terminals on the device. The machine itself is left as it is.

  • Electrically isolated

    The isolation bank keeps the machine and the LiveMach device electrically separate. The two never share a ground.

  • Wide range power input

    The power section takes a wide range of industrial power input and brings it down to what the board needs.

Guide: retrofit old CNC machines

What can the device connect to?

The device has field wiring terminals for machine indicator lamps and sensors, a clamp on current sensor input, and ports for process sensors.

  • Indicator lamps

    The lamps on a machine stack light connect to the field wiring terminals. This is the simplest way to read machine state.

  • Clamp on current sensor

    Measures how much power a machine is drawing and can show unusual current patterns.

  • Process sensors

    Industrial ports for process sensors, and for controllers you already have on the machine where the controller allows it.

Signal profiles

LiveMach reads machines through a signal model. One built in profile is called stack_light_3, for a three lamp stack light. The signal model also supports other sensor combinations, such as a current clamp, process sensors and custom sensors.

Which combination suits your machine is decided at the pilot, after we look at the machine.

Guide: stack light monitoring

What happens when the internet or the power is poor?

The device keeps logging. Every event is written to onboard memory first, and it syncs on its own after the internet comes back.

  • Onboard memory keeps logging when the internet drops, and syncs after
  • WiFi failover, so the device can move to another network
  • Time sync, so events carry the right time
  • Remote firmware updates, so the device can be updated from afar
  • Antenna area tuned for WiFi, even in sheds full of metal
  • Status lights for power, network and sync, so floor staff can read the device at a glance

Illustrative simulation

This animation shows events flowing to the cloud, then buffering on the device when the network drops, then syncing again.

Animated diagram: machine events flow from sensors through the LiveMach device and WiFi to the cloud dashboard. When the network drops, events are stored in the device own memory, then sync automatically once the connection returns, so nothing is lost.

Every machine event reaches the cloud as it happens.

Internet is down. The device keeps logging to its own memory.

Events are stacking up safely on the device. Nothing is lost.

Internet is back. Everything syncs on its own, automatically.

How is the LiveMach device installed?

Installation has six steps. Timings depend on the machine and are agreed at the pilot, so we do not quote a fixed time here.

  1. 1

    Survey the machine and pick the signal

    We look at the machine and decide what to read: stack light lamps, current or a process sensor.

  2. 2

    Fit the sensors outside the machine

    Sensors are fitted on the outside. Nothing is cut or rewired inside.

  3. 3

    Connect the lamp or sensor inputs

    The lamps and sensors are wired to the field wiring terminals on the device.

  4. 4

    Power the device

    The device runs from industrial power and connects to your WiFi.

  5. 5

    Confirm data on the dashboard

    We check that the machine shows up on the dashboard with the right state.

  6. 6

    Pilot review

    After the pilot we sit with you, look at the data and decide what comes next.

What is not listed on this page?

This page does not list certifications, ratings, dimensions, model numbers or prices, because we do not publish them yet.

If your plant needs a specific detail before a pilot, ask us in the enquiry and we will answer in writing.

LiveMach pricing

Want to see the device on one of your machines?

The usual first step is a pilot on one machine or one line. Tell us the machine type and we will say what we would read from it.

Book a DemoTalk to us about your machines

Common questions about the device

What is inside the LiveMach device?
It is our own custom board built around an ESP32. It has a main controller, onboard memory, an isolation bank, a power section, field wiring terminals, a current sensor input, process sensor ports, status lights and an antenna area.
Do you cut or rewire anything inside my machine?
No. Sensors are fitted outside the machine. Nothing is cut and nothing is rewired inside.
Can the device affect my machine?
The device is electrically isolated from the machine through an isolation bank. The two never share a ground, so the device can never affect the machine.
What if the internet or WiFi goes down?
The device keeps logging events in its onboard memory and syncs on its own after the internet returns. It also has WiFi failover and time sync.
How are updates done?
The device supports remote firmware updates.
Which machines and sensors does it work with?
It reads machine indicator lamps, a clamp on current sensor and process sensors. One built in profile is for a three lamp stack light. Other sensor combinations are supported by the signal model, and we confirm what suits your machine at the pilot.
How long does installation take?
It depends on the machine. We do not quote a fixed time. Timings are agreed at the pilot after we have seen the machine.

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