A CM Engineer’s Journey in Condition Monitoring

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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Vibration Alarms – Utilizing ISO Standards

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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A Closer Look at Sidebands in the FFT Spectrum

An isometric illustration of a sideband waveform and a maintenance technician dressed in a blue work uniform and hardhat looking at it with binoculars. The man is small in comparison to the size of the waveforms.

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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