Editor’s Note: This Blog is authored by Brian Rimmer (Freudenberg) & Stan Riddle (Acoem USA) Acoem USA recently provided dynamic balancing training for Freudenberg in Durham, NC, using an Acoem Falcon vibration analyzer/balancer they had purchased. During the class, Acoem was asked to assist in balancing a large primary air fan. Inspection of the…
Read More
There are many outside influences that affect a precision shaft alignment. One that seems to be overlooked is pipe hanger location and condition. The weight of the piping on the pump, when pipe hangers are missing or incorrectly spaced, can cause deformation of the pump housing and the base, essentially putting a strain on all…
Read More
Let’s talk about precision maintenance tools. “Precision” is the key word because it is required from the technician, their tools, and the work that they do. There are a ton of tools out there but these are the most common and important needed for the daily needs of a maintenance person, including but not limited…
Read More
In some industries, like oiling, drive belt replacement is considered a task for the new guys on the floor. It’s an easy job right? Absolutely. But there are many ways to do it incorrectly if not taught properly the first time. First, let’s talk about the two most common types of belts, V-Belts and Synchronous…
Read More
Unfortunately, mechanical seal failure is the greatest cause of pump downtime. That’s why it is important to understand how they work and proper handling. Mechanical seals come in a multitude of designs that range from simple spring designs to more complex designs like cartridge seal types. Knowing how to care for, handle, clean, assemble, and…
Read More
In our last blog post, The 4 Types Of Lubricants for Industrial Machines, we talked about when to use these 4 types of lubricants; Oil, Grease, Dry Lubricants, and Penetrating Lubricants. We also created a free downloadable grease compatibility poster for your plant’s internal use, which can be found here: Grease Compatibility Chart. Improper lubrication…
Read More
The two main types of compressors are dynamic and positive displacement. The positive displacement compressor is probably the one you’re most familiar with. It traps gas in a volume and then decreases that volume. The decrease in volume causes a rise in pressure. A dynamic compressor uses a rotating element (usually called an impeller) which…
Read More
In a previous blog written by Brad Case (Sept 24, 2019), he explained how to perform a repeatability test and why it is good idea to do so. Here are few other items that have contributed to repeatability issues. 1) The top rails were not sufficiently clean prior to taking readings. Paint was not removed,…
Read More
For the field portion of a recent training class, the decision was made to check the alignment on a plastic extruder. At first glance, checking the alignment of the motor shaft to gearbox input shaft is pretty straightforward. However, the output side of the gearbox had two shafts, so maybe this is not so straightforward.…
Read More
A common source of frustration during the precision alignment process is, how can we make a controlled move when making the horizontal adjustment? We trainers often hear our clients say they don’t have jacking bolts, or pushers, etc. There have been numerous excellent blogs written on the subject of jack bolts. Pry bars, sledge hammers…
Read More
The Fixturlaser NXA Pro has been selected as the laser shaft alignment tool to be used in the Industrial Mechanic Millwright competition at this year’s WorldSkills event, being held in Abu Dhabi on October 15-18. WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, the world championship of skills, will have participants from 77 countries who will be competing in 51…
Read More
The American Reliability Tour 2017 follows VibrAlign’s successful series of Realigning America Tours mounted over the past four years. The original Realigning America Tours featured free seminars about shaft alignment, belt alignment and couplings. The upcoming American Reliability Tour will provide valuable training and address attendee’s issues about condition monitoring and machinery maintenance. VibrAlign has…
Read More
VibrAlign Inc. announces the HAWK Pump Challenge. The Challenge is designed to expose mechanics and reliability personnel to modern machinery diagnostics by applying the HAWK’s built-in automatic diagnostic software to analyze their most troublesome pump. When machinery mechanics or reliability personnel sign up for the HAWK Pump Challenge they will be contacted to set up…
Read More
VibrAlign will take to the road for its 2016 Realigning America Tour, visiting 19 cities in 13 states. While the past tours have focused on sharing best practices for shaft alignment, couplings, and machinery diagnostics, the 2016 tour will also include case studies to highlight how best practices are actually implemented. The 2016 Realigning America…
Read More
Spanning over 250 pages, The Alignment Field Guide features articles covering a variety of shaft alignment topics, including common alignment issues, shims and hold down hardware, coupling alignments, belt and sheave alignments, and tips on saving time and money during your alignment procedure. The book also features full-color photos of alignments from the field, as…
Read More
If you’re working to maintain machines, Acoem USA wants to help.
We’re committed to providing tools, training, and services that will transform your approach to maintenance and reliability.
