| p>To the savvy maintenance professional, industrial | | | | gearboxes, couplings, pumps, compressors, closed |
| machinery almost "talks" to reveal its condition. The | | | | coupled machines and spindles. |
| key to success is in understanding what the machine | | | | Not just data, but actionable results |
| is saying. To detect problems, the professional | | | | When these new testers detect a fault, they identify |
| "listens" in many ways: With eyes and ears, to see | | | | the problem, its location and severity on a multi-level |
| and hear conditions that may indicate problems and... | | | | scale to help the maintenance professional prioritize |
| With thermometers and thermal imagers, to | | | | maintenance tasks. They may also recommend |
| detect overheating, poor electrical connections or | | | | repairs. |
| failing bearings | | | | Mechanical diagnosis can begin with the user placing |
| With digital multimeters and power analyzers, to | | | | the device's accelerometer on the machine under |
| diagnose electrical problems | | | | test. The accelerometer may have a magnetic mount |
| Using techniques like lubricant analysis, to gauge | | | | or can be installed using adhesive. As the machine |
| machine condition over time | | | | under test operates, the accelerometer detects its |
| And now new vibration testing tools provide the | | | | vibration along three planes of movement (vertical, |
| maintenance professional with a valuable new way | | | | horizontal and axial) and transmits that information to |
| not just to listen, but to find mechanical problems and | | | | the tester. Using a set of advanced algorithms, the |
| fixes: these new troubleshooting tools are engineered | | | | tester then provides a plain-text diagnosis of the |
| to detect and evaluate machine vibration immediately | | | | machine with a recommended solution. |
| and recommend any needed repairs. | | | | No training? No problem |
| A new kind of troubleshooting tool | | | | Mechanical equipment is typically evaluated by |
| Many industrial maintenance teams today work under | | | | comparing its condition over time to an established |
| severe restrictions on money and time. They may | | | | baseline condition. Vibration analyzers used in |
| not have the resources to train for and implement | | | | condition-based monitoring programs rely upon these |
| the typical long-term vibration analysis program. | | | | baseline conditions to evaluate machine condition and |
| Further, many professionals may think there are only | | | | estimate remaining operating life. System operators |
| two options for vibration testing; high-end vibration | | | | must have considerable training and experience |
| analyzers that are expensive and difficult to use, and | | | | before they can determine the meaning and |
| low-end vibration pens, which aren't particularly | | | | significance of the vibration spectra they detect. |
| accurate. | | | | But what about the maintenance pro who isn't |
| Fortunately, a new breed of vibration-testing tool fills | | | | trained in vibration analysis? How do you tell the |
| the middle of the category, combining the diagnostic | | | | difference between acceptable vibration, and the kind |
| capability of a trained vibration analyzer with the | | | | of vibration that demands immediate attention to |
| speed and convenience of lower-end testers, at a | | | | service or replace troubled equipment? |
| reasonable price. This type of tool is designed to be | | | | Fortunately, extensive experience with mechanical |
| not merely a vibration detector, but a complete | | | | vibration, what it means and how to fix it is built into |
| diagnostic and problem-solving solution, and targeted | | | | the advanced algorithms of today's testers. Now the |
| specifically for maintenance professionals who need | | | | maintenance professional can quickly and reliably |
| to troubleshoot mechanical problems and quickly | | | | determine the cause of the machine vibration, learn |
| understand the root cause of equipment condition. | | | | the severity and location of the problem and receive |
| These tools are designed and programmed to | | | | recommendations for repair. It's all done with the |
| diagnose the most common mechanical problems of | | | | intelligence built into the tester, without the extensive |
| unbalance, looseness, misalignment and bearing | | | | training, monitoring and recording required for typical |
| failures in a wide variety of mechanical equipment, | | | | vibration monitoring programs. |
| including motors, fans, blowers, belts and chain drives, | | | | |