AbstractA flexible, generically applicable and inexpensive data acquisition system (DAS), for machine tool condition monitoring, has been designed, constructed and installed as part of a European Union sponsored project. The DAS is more than just a data logger and an array of sensors. It also consists of a methodology for analysing data logging requirements and a relational database that supports this methodology. The database is held on a central ‘maintenance management’ computer. The monitoring to be carried out by the DAS is specified through this database, which contains detailed information about the DAS's facilities. This feature makes it simple to reconfigure the DAS to implement new monitoring requirements and to customize its operation to meet the needs of different machines. The information in the database is transformed into a look‐up table that is read by the software that sets up and controls the data logging proc