It has been almost exactly a decade since I was laid off from my job in the gas industry. It was an abrupt change to my life, both emotionally and professionally. I knew things were headed downhill with the company where I worked but I thought our department’s value to the company was nationwide, not […]
In Part 2 of this series, practical application was discussed in detail. Strategies for setting and maintaining alarms were discussed, along with some common pitfalls to watch out for. In the part of the series, examples of real world alarms will be displayed along with some final tips on which approach may work best for […]
Before you begin to design a resilient lubrication strategy, you need to know where your current lubrication strategy falls as per industry standards. You can review part 1 in this series where we break down the various levels of maturity for lubrication programs. Afterwards, determine your hidden failure modes which you can read about in […]
When asked to perform a field dynamic balance solution the person that will doing the balancing should make sure of a few things. These are not in any particular order: Does the job require a safe work permit? Does the job require any particular safety training? Has the piece of equipment been diagnosed as to […]
A famous line from one of my favorite movies was spoken by Sam Elliot. He said, “Some days you eat the bar, and well, some days the bar eats you.” This is basically stating that at any given moment everything can go straight down the tubes. And in the industrial setting, this basically means more […]
In Part 1 of this series, alarms were defined and explained in relation to real world vibration programs such as route-based and continuous monitoring. Common parameters to monitor with alarms were also discussed. In this part of the series, we will cover practical application tips as well as some common pitfalls to look out for. […]
In part 1 of this series, we took a closer look at the Illusion of a Good Lubrication Program. One of the key findings was that through audits, failure modes were not being monitored actively or in some cases not at all. In this part of the series, we will do a deeper dive into […]
The phrase “Measure Twice, Cut Once” emphasizes the importance of careful planning and verification to avoid costly mistakes. Here’s why it’s good practice: Prevents Waste: Double-checking measurements ensures accuracy, reducing the chance of adjusting incorrectly and wasting resources. Saves Time: Taking a moment to confirm measurements upfront avoids the need for rework or starting over, […]
The use of acoustic imaging cameras is expanding because more teams now face the same operational problem in very different settings: they know something is wrong, but they still need to locate the source quickly, from a safe distance, and with enough visual evidence to act on it. That pattern shows up in compressor rooms, substations, EV […]
Experienced vibration analysts or reliability leaders who have spent considerable time managing a vibration program can tell you just how important alarms can be. Those who embrace the concept of using alarms will find themselves catching defects more efficiently, saving valuable time, and enjoying their job. Those who neglect alarms will find themselves overworked and […]
Correct shaft alignment is a critical part of ensuring machine reliability, performance, and energy efficiency. Whether you’re working with a simple pump/motor unit or a complex machine train, precision alignment reduces wear, lowers vibration levels, and extends equipment life. Today, laser alignment systems make the job faster and more accurate, and they can adapt to […]
Typically, when lubrication programs are developed and implemented, everyone automatically believes that all lubrication issues have been solved and will never occur again. This is furthest from the truth! In this 3-part series, we will explore some of the hidden failures in lubrication programs. We will start off with dispelling the illusion of a good […]
In today’s world, improving uptime, reducing energy losses, and enhancing safety are top priorities for maintenance and reliability teams across all industries. Acoustic imaging technology has emerged as a powerful tool in predictive maintenance, enabling professionals to quickly detect issues that are invisible to traditional inspection methods. By combining sound and visual data, this technology […]
Repeatability: The degree to which a measurement process, procedure, or experiment returns the same results when said process, procedure or experiment is conducted over and over again. Reproducibility: The degree to which all conditions affecting a measurement process, procedure or experiment can be duplicated from one execution to the next. Accuracy: The degree to which […]
Installing or replacing bearings is one of the most common chores of the average maintenance department. Whether it’s replacing overheated motor bearings or installing tapered bore roller bearings on a fan, using the correct procedures and tools makes all the difference when it comes to the lifespan and efficiency of the machine and its components. […]
You’re scanning overhead pipework in a compressor room when your acoustic camera shows a bright hotspot on a steel support beam. You walk over, listen carefully, and check the surface. Nothing. No hiss, no vibration, no leak. The image looks convincing, but the source is not actually on that beam. This is one of the most […]
When a power plant in Bursa, Turkey completed a major mechanical overhaul of its steam turbine, one critical task remained before the unit could return to operation – aligning the turbine and generator shafts with high precision. Our Turkish partner, PEAK Teknik Mühendislik, was called in to do the job. The overhaul included extensive work […]
Uneven Heating = Distortion & Premature Failure When heating is uneven, the Outer Diameter (OD) and Inner Diameter (ID) expand at different rates. This differential expansion can cause warping, ovality, improper shaft fit, increased vibration, and premature bearing failure. Bearings must expand uniformly to slide onto the shaft without undue force. If the ID expands […]
Anyone who has spent time in the field of machine repair has most certainly heard of “thermal growth”. This is the unavoidable act of materials expanding as they heat up or contracting as they cool down. Thermal growth is a well-known phenomenon that is dealt with extensively in alignment procedures. Components growing or shrinking with […]
Runout, in regard to industrial machinery, is most commonly defined as a deviation from a rotor’s true circular path or concentricity in a machine shaft or coupling. Visually, the shaft or coupling (or both) will typically “wobble” slightly throughout their rotation. Runout typically causes a loading/unloading cycle that’s repeated during every rotation of the shaft. […]