Abstract: A diagnostic system for evaluating rotating machinery has a keyboard, a display of sufficient size to display messages and numbers, a face plate containing an illustration of rotating machinery having associated indicators to indicate the data to be entered, a processing unit, a memory and a memory card capable of receiving a programmable memory board and a preprogrammed memory board. The memory card enables the user to customize the system to take, store and analyze data and display messages particularly applicable to the user's business.