The world of Condition Monitoring (CM) has undergone a remarkable transformation since the early 2000s. This blog post chronicles the experience of a mechanical engineer who entered the industrial reliability field fresh out of university, a time when CM wasn’t even part of the curriculum. It felt like graduating doctors weren’t trained on medical devices…
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Setting up vibration alarms in a vibration analysis program can be challenging. Questions such as whether to use overall alarms for acceleration, velocity, or displacement, and whether to measure RMS, peak, or peak-to-peak values can complicate the process. However, the ISO standard 20816-3 provides a straightforward solution. Utilizing ISO Standard 20816-3 This standard offers…
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There are times when you will observe sidebands in the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectrum. These sidebands are a common occurrence and are often linked to specific mechanical and electrical issues such as gear mesh frequencies, inner race bearing faults, and various electrical anomalies. Understanding their significance requires a deeper examination. Sidebands provide critical insights…
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Pipe strain happens when the piping is not adequately supported, either by the use of pipe supports underneath (stiff legs), hangers, or both. It can cause problems when bolting up flanges and can contribute to premature seal failure. Pipe strain can also move the pump or base. For those performing precision shaft alignment, this can…
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Collecting vibration data is a crucial step in a reliability program. However, it is just one step in the process. Consistently collecting accurate data under varying operating conditions is essential for effective analysis and maintenance. Operating conditions such as speed, load, and production processes must be meticulously documented and followed to maintain consistent data amplitudes…
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Vibration data was taken on a motor/pump during initial training on the Acoem Falcon. This pump was chosen based on history and a visual inspection. The visual inspection pointed towards a potential misalignment issue. Misalignment Diagnosis The Accurex software in the Falcon diagnosed misalignment. This was confirmed by the Acoem EVO laser alignment tool.…
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In reliability and maintenance, base-related vibration and alignment problems have been common issues encountered. Problems such as: Soft foot Bearing misalignment within machines – such as motors, pumps, compressors, etc. Seal and bearing failures – related to radial loading, due to tightening down the pump to a base that isn’t flat Hold down bolts becoming…
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Frequency is as simple as the name implies, it is the number of times an event occurs in a set amount of time. In vibration analysis, we reference frequency to either cycles per second (Hz) or cycles per minute (CPM). Calculating Frequency & Cycles Per Minute (CPM) The frequency can be expressed mathematically as…
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All successful reliability programs have one thing in common – strong communication between all plant resources. Although this concept does not have any direct relevance to maintenance, it is an important topic to reflect on. Keeping a constant line of communication with operations, maintenance teams, management, and everybody else at your facility will provide feedback…
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There are times when it is useful to take 2 simultaneous measurements and compare the phase (or position of the shaft) from one position relative to the other. This is most commonly used with displacement probes on journal bearings and is a powerful diagnostic tool on this type of equipment, as well as provides you…
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Acoem’s Bearing Defender sensor is a true wireless 3-channel accelerometer. It can be used with a tablet or smartphone to detect common vibration problems quickly and easily on a machine-with no training or certification required. It can be used standalone (with a smartphone or other device for the display), or in conjunction with Acoem’s more…
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Gearboxes are used in numerous applications, including machine tools, industrial equipment, conveyor belt drives, and just about any power transmission application with rotary motion that requires a change in torque and/or speed. Output speed and torque are always going to be in contrast to each other – if you use a gearbox to increase the…
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I recently heard the term “silver tsunami” at a conference in Florida. It has been around since the 1980s. It refers to the current and pending retirements of Baby Boomers (Gen X is not far behind), and the void it will create in the workplace. Not as much a void of people but a void…
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Condition monitoring is by no means a new concept in industry. In fact, it is so widely regarded as a best practice, that it becomes commonplace in more industries each year. With this increase in awareness, we have seen an influx of options over the years. Simple overall meters, portable analyzers, wired continuous systems, and…
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Recently I conducted training at a location that had quite a large population of centrifugal pumps, the majority of which were overhung pumps. As you can see from the diagram below, the overhung pump casing bolts to the volute by a ring of bolts in a circular flange. Issues with Bolt Bound and…
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