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What makes a laser shaft alignment tool accurate?

March 29, 2016

There are many tools considered “accurate”. Dial test indicator can measure to the ten-thousandths and gauge blocks can be certified for even tighter tolerances. Even CNC machines can reach ten-thousandth’s accuracy given the right conditions. However, they are tools and they can’t perform to their maximum potential if not used properly or in the right application. […]

Who owns plant reliability?

March 22, 2016

Can a Reliability Engineer or Reliability Manager make a facility or organization reliable? This is a very important question that may be worth discussing within your organization to ensure proper expectations and success. A more practical definition of reliability may be: Equipment performs the way you want it to when you want it to”. Reliability […]

Will welding arc light damage my laser shaft alignment system?

March 15, 2016

Often, welding operations such as MIG and TIG will be occurring in the presence of your laser shaft alignment system. The question often comes up: will this light energy damage the optics? The answer is no. However, if you must weld in the presence of your laser alignment system, a greater source of damage could […]

What is your maintenance focus at your facility?

March 8, 2016

Most companies focus on repairing equipment after some functional failure has occurred and getting the equipment operational again. Is that the primary focus of your facility? Different studies have been completed by different organizations, which, while the percentages are different, all point to some very consistent and vital information. Design (engineering), installation (contractors, internal resources) […]

What the $125 million dollar lesson on metric and imperial units taught us

March 1, 2016

The Mars Climate Orbiter was launched by NASA on Dec 11, 1998, to study the Martian climate. On its arrival at Mars on September 23, 1999, communication was lost shortly after an orbital insertion maneuver was performed. The cause of the failure was a lower than anticipated altitude with a resulting burn-up of the orbiter. […]