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How do you determine severity of vibration defects?

February 28, 2013

Severity determination is one of the most difficult tasks a vibration analyst faces. Several methods can be used to help identify the severity of defects identified in vibration data. One method is to consider the amplitude of the defect. This usually works well but does not always correctly identify the severity of the problem. Another […]

Alignment of Right Angle Drives or 90 Degree Gearboxes | Do you have the Right Angle?

February 26, 2013

Right angle drives or 90-degree gearboxes are very common in the industry. These are speed reducer/increaser machines with an output shaft exiting at a 90-degree angle with respect to the input shaft. In some cases, the 90-degree turn stays on the horizontal plane. This is great because the alignment can be treated as a machine […]

The Role of Vibration Analysis and Precision Alignment in the Design of an Award-Winning Reliability Program. What we learned from the Eastern Processing Facility at IMC-2012

February 21, 2013

The Reliability Support Team at the Eastern Processing Facility located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,  FL,  won Uptime Magazine’s Best Design for Reliability Program award. During the design phase of their program, the team was challenged with the implementation of Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) principles and Precision and Predictive techniques from construction through commissioning. These have […]

Is the Training Course right for you?

February 19, 2013

When you or your supervisor are planning attendance at a training course there is an important consideration to keep in mind. Have you met the prerequisites for the course you have selected? These prerequisites are dictated by the company presenting the course and take into account basic knowledge about the subject as well as exposure to […]

4 Simple Steps to Avoid Excessive Vibration Problems with Sleeve Bearing Motors

February 7, 2013

When performing an alignment on a machine train with a motor fitted with a sleeve bearing,  it is important to account for the magnetic center of the motor. Failure to do so can cause excessive vibration and premature failure of motor components and the shaft coupling. If the motor has recently been rebuilt it should […]

How to implement an award-winning Lubrication Program. What we learned from Hibbing Taconite Co. and Cliffs Mining Co. at IMC-2012

February 5, 2013

The Hibbing Taconite Company,  managed by Cliffs Natural Resources of Hibbing,  MN, won UPTIME Magazine’s Best Lubrication Program award. At the heart of their condition monitoring efforts is the Oil Analysis component of their lubrication program, key to helping them identify problems at an early stage of failure. During the first phase of the program, which […]