Diagnosing the condition of a machine by its vibration signature has a great deal of appeal. The problems that have been encountered in its widespread use involve the availability of analysis equipment and the skill of the data analyst. Combining a real time analyzer with a computer can process a great amount of data quickly and reduce the drudgery of analysis. Single‐frequency Fourier component calculation may easily be made in the computer and can take the place of tracking filters and phase meters. This ability to process, store, and recall data quickly, coupled with the ability to program a computer to recognize basic problem symptoms, is making automated signature analysis for machine diagnostics possible, Hardware and software examples demonstrating this capability are presented to support the conclusions.