Ballbar data will quantify faults in the machine center such as servo mismatch, stick-slip error, straightness of the axes, lateral play, backlash, reversal spikes, circularity error, scale, and machine geometry. Each of these conditions can be trended over time.
ASK THE EXPERTS: A Question from the Petrochemical Industry
This question is from Mark in the Petrochemical Industry: For average criticality machinery monitored periodically with portable vibration data collectors, how often should the data be collected and should that interval be changed when a problem is observed? Bob: ...
Portable Vibration Data Collection Intervals
The goal of condition monitoring and evaluation activities is to identify problems, or potential problems, in operating machinery and systems early enough that proper corrective action can be taken with minimal to no impact on productivity. Getting to the correct...
Is It Time for Your Mandatory Annual or Biannual NFPA 70B Inspection?
As we approach mid-year it's a good time to review your equipment scan history and determine if you're in compliance with NFPA 70B. As of January 16, 2023, all electrical equipment must be inspected using infrared thermography technology at least every 12 months. In...
If Your Only Tool is a Hammer, Every Problem Looks Like a Nail
“If your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.” Several scholars used and published this analogy in the 1960s, but the idea can be traced back at least a century sooner to a London publication in 1868. Nowhere is it truer than in the Condition...
ASK THE EXPERTS: How can we continue to show financial benefit of continuing Condition Monitoring when it’s not finding new problems?
This question is from Paul in the Maritime industry: When we first started our condition monitoring program, we had several findings on each of our ships and we were able to plan and schedule the corrective action with no impact on our underway schedules. We achieved...
ASK THE EXPERTS: Why determine the specific fault frequency on rolling element bearings?
This question from Jarrod, a maintenance engineer in the Marine industry: Why do vibration analysts focus on being able to determine the specific fault frequency on rolling element bearings? Don’t we typically change the whole bearing and not just the defective part...