All rotating machinery is subjected to thermal exposure. The machines will react differently depending on temperature and material, either by expanding or shrinking. And that is a fact. Thermal growth is a serious thing when you think about it. All rotating machinery is installed in trains. Trains mean there is a driver, the motor, and […]
In industrial facilities, the efficient operation of condensate pumps is crucial for maintaining production processes and avoiding costly downtime. Proper alignment is a crucial aspect in maintaining the performance of these pumps, with vertical alignment playing a critical role. When aligning a vertical condensate pump, there are several key considerations to keep in mind. Here […]
Wireless vibration sensors like Kappa X offer several benefits compared to traditional wired sensors, including: Remote monitoring: Wireless vibration sensors can transmit data wirelessly to a central monitoring system, allowing maintenance personnel to monitor equipment performance and detect issues remotely. Real-time alerts: Wireless vibration sensors can be configured to send real-time alerts via email or […]
It’s time to talk about torque! This topic is one of the most neglected aspects of Machine Maintenance. Equipment is designed to perform tasks reliably and efficiently. This can be accomplished if the machine is used as intended, and maintenance performed according to the specifications established by the manufacturer of the machine. There are always […]
MYTH: “1x RPM is always caused by unbalance.” TRUTH: Unbalance always causes vibration at 1x RPM. However, 1 x RPM is not always caused by unbalance. Many other problems can exhibit vibration at this frequency. Examples are Misalignment, Bent shaft, bowed shaft, cracked shaft, eccentricity, open rotor bars in the motor, rubs, looseness, belt issues, […]
Well-lubricated and properly aligned machinery are integral to the smooth running and continual functioning of your equipment and overall facility. Shaft alignment of rotating equipment is particularly important, as the unnecessary stress produced by misalignment will cause unexpected and costly downtime. Poor vertical and horizontal pump alignment damages your equipment’s seals and couplings, which have been proven […]
Importance of Setting up Alarms and Baselines in Machinery Vibration Analysis Machinery vibration analysis is an essential tool for monitoring the health of industrial equipment. It involves measuring the vibration of machines and analyzing the data to identify potential issues. One of the critical aspects of vibration analysis is setting up alarms and baselines to […]
Before going on a trip, we typically plan ahead, what we’re doing and where we are going each day on the trip, and we pack accordingly. When starting an alignment job, it is not that different. Whether it means thoroughly cleaning the mounting base, having the right tools for the job, or allocating the right […]
Two new hires called into our office for help with an alignment they were doing with a newly bought Easy-Laser XT laser shaft alignment system. Fortunately, our chief engineer was able to remotely guide them through two successful gearbox-motor alignments. There was still an issue: these gentlemen were inexperienced and being tasked with aligning 20 […]
At times, shaft alignment can become extremely frustrating almost as if it is possessed with a mind of its own. One set of readings may indicate that you make adjustments one way, the next set of readings then indicates something completely different. Quite simply, and almost without fail, if there are repeatability issues then something […]
Misalignment: High amplitude peaks will appear at 1×, 2×, and sometimes 3× the running speed. Look for a 180° (± 30°) phase change across the coupling in the axial direction (for angular misalignment) or radial direction (for parallel (offset) misalignment). Bearing misalignment (cocked bearing) will cause a twisting motion in the axial direction. Look for […]
In the last few decades, we have heard many companies perform “PMs” (Preventive Maintenance tasks) on their assets or buy tools to help perform “PdM” (Predictive Maintenance), often hoping to solve all their problems without a real strategy in place. This can be a costly mistake as it risks inducing functional failures in your assets […]
Because of my many years of experience in the field of installation and maintenance of rotating equipment, I can say that installation is a fundamental thing. But why is this phase so important? Well, because the installation has a direct impact on the machinery, and will determine operating conditions, performance, and life cycle cost. Basically, […]
Frequency can be defined as how often an event occurs per unit of time. A vibration spectrum is displayed as a horizontal and vertical plot (X and Y). The horizontal (X) axis is the frequency axis and shows a representation of how often an event occurs. Typically, the vibration analyst may use multiple units of […]
Traditional induction heaters only offer one temperature probe, to monitor the temperature of the inner diameter (ID) of the bearing being heated, assuming that both the inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) will heat evenly. However, the ID heats faster than the OD, potentially causing stresses between the ID, OD, and the rolling elements. […]
All rotating equipment shall be designed and constructed so that its first critical speed is at least 125 percent of the maximum design speed for the equipment (i.e. rotating equipment shall operate at speeds less than 80 percent of their true critical speed). Unless otherwise required, equipment shall be balanced according to the recommendations given […]
Functional failures in plant equipment are unavoidable. However, the way a company handles its asset failures can have an impact on the bottom line of the annual maintenance budget. For instance, this can mean that the maintenance department reacts to fix an issue after it occurs, or has Proactive Maintenance technology and processes (PMs) in […]
Addressing the storage & handling challenge (Part 3) In our previous articles, we covered understanding contamination and the role of storage and handling. For the last part of this series, we will talk about addressing the challenge of storage and handling of lubricants. Factors that affect lubricant degradation Storage and handling are one of the […]
What is the difference between Brinelling and False Brinelling? What causes Brinelling and False Brinelling? Brinelling Brinelling is named after the Brinell scale of hardness. In the Brinell hardness test, a small ball is pressed into the surface of a material using a specific amount of force. The size of the indentation that occurs in […]
MYTH: “You should always do your shimming first and then make your horizontal moves.” TRUTH: This is generally true for the final alignment after soft foot has been corrected, but is not universally true for all alignments. In fact, for the initial rough alignment, you should correct the plane with the largest misalignment first, even if this […]