September 30, 2014
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • AUGUST 2014 If you operate a vessel, its machinery, without a doubt, will require alignment many times during the course of its life. When misalignment is present components will be worn, efficiency will be lost, and, if left uncorrected, mechanical failures are imminent. This translates into a strain on […]
September 23, 2014
MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY • September 2014 The roles and responsibilities of today’s equipment-health-focused professionals go beyond collecting and analyzing data. MT asked a condition-monitoring expert to tell us what the job descriptions don’t. Many colleges and universities require their students to take a basic psychology course. Most students wonder why. But according to Trent Phillips of […]
September 16, 2014
If non-repeatability is an issue and it is not due to the setup of the laser or ambient vibration, then it may be of interest to check the bearing clearances. This can be accomplished very easily with a laser. A little bit of information is necessary to accomplish this. We will need the following: a) […]
September 9, 2014
Tips for visually identifying loose components on a machine: Make sure that the machine has reached normal operating temperature, because loose components may not appear until this temperature has been reached. Squirt water or soapy water on components. This may create small bubbles and allow identification of the loose component. Use a strobe light Utilize […]
September 4, 2014
When moving machines for alignment, always use jackscrews. If you don’t have them, beating on the machine frame with a steel-face hammer is a lousy idea. First, you run the risk of damaging the bearings, seals, and other delicate components in your machines. Secondly, you have little control over the magnitude of your moves. Thirdly, […]
September 2, 2014
One of the first rules of good engineering practice is the KISS principle. KISS is an acronym for “Keep it simple stupid”. Basically, this means that most things function best if they are kept simple. It is often believed that expensive complex activities/functions are required to improve equipment reliability. Improving equipment reliability can be complicated […]