September 01, 2005
Sensor Tip
Vibration Sensor Selection
Machinery vibration monitoring programs are effective in reducing overall operating costs of industrial plants. Sensor selection and installation is often the determining factor in accurate diagnoses of machinery condition. Three parameters representing motion detected by vibration monitors are displacement, velocity, and acceleration. Selection of a sensor proportional to displacement, velocity or acceleration depends on the frequencies of interest and the signal levels involved.
Accelerometers represent the best choice for permanently installed sensors for dynamic data. They are used with the portable analyzers that are part of a plant’s vibration diagnostic program. Accelerometers will provide a signal that has better frequency coverage than either displacement or velocity transducers.
The portable analyzers are often used to take the acceleration signal and convert it to a velocity signal for analysis. Velocity sensors were in common use many years ago as they were easier to use than accelerometers. However, the modern IEPE accelerometers have become more rugged and less expensive than velocity sensors.
For permanent monitoring of turbomachinery, displacement sensing eddy current proximity probes are the sensor of choice. While they are much more expensive to purchase and install, they provide data about the shaft motion that is important to turbomachinery engineers and operators.
Modern accelerometers are hermetically sealed, operate to 250° F, have no moving parts, and can be expected to operate reliably for more than 10 years.
For more information on choosing vibration sensors, read Wilcoxon’s “Technical Note 16: Sensor Selection.” This Tech Note from Wilcoxon’s extensive online Knowledge Desk explains in detail the many considerations for maintenance professionals selecting vibration sensors.
September 01, 2005
Mobius Institute announces new vibration courses
Vibration training has changed forever. Mobius Institute is offering public courses that follow the ISO 18436-2 and ASNT standards, with an optional certification exam. The courses utilize the famous Mobius iLearnVibration simulators and interactive activities. Take away two books, an iLearnVibration CD, and a greater understanding of vibration analysis.
Learn more about our training courses here
September 01, 2005
Infrared Thermography Tip
Automate Report Generation with In-Camera Data Logging.
The ratio of time spent conducting in the field inspection to time spent generating reports has transitioned from 1:3 prior to thermal cameras featuring digital image recording; to about 1:1 with advances including digital visible camera and advanced report generation software products.
Additional time saving can be found using your thermography cameras data logger functionality. Electrophysics HotShot camera for example, features the ability to enter typical field notations such as equipment name, location, diagnosis, repair recommendation and severity rating using the touch screen graphical user interface. This data is stored with the thermal image. During report generation all field information is automatically placed in a wide range of report templates. Additionally any analysis performed in the field such as temperature rise analysis or area temperature analysis and stored with the image will automatically be reproduced in the infrared report.
The result is the ability to automatically generate reports with field notes, visible images and temperature analysis. A number of real-world tests demonstrate a reduction in time to generate reports of nearly 80% or a new benchmark ratio of 1:0.1.
Users can create custom equipment, diagnosis and repair recommendation lists and upload them to the camera using available report software XML database tool.
Tip provided by Electrophysics Corp.
Phone: (973) 882 - 0211
http://www.electrophysics.com
September 01, 2005
Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Tip
Who’s Your Daddy? - Building a Useable Asset Hierarchy
When was the last time you tried to gather data for a report you had to give, or cost information on a particular area, building, or line, only to find that you had to go to four, five or even ten different places to get ALL of the information you needed? In most cases this is the result of either a non-existent or poorly structured asset hierarchy.
Asset hierarchy management allows the tracking of all assets and their associated locations using a “family tree” that forms relationships between physical locations, production lines and assets. These relationships facilitate data collection and analysis for asset movement, maintenance and costs for individual assets, a grouping of assets or a production area.
Your entire business can be represented in a breakdown structure that allows you to define hierarchical relationships between areas and different assets. Once the structure has been defined you can consolidate information up the hierarchy. For example, you can view labor costs across a complete area, which itself is made up of any number of layers of assets on which maintenance work orders are being executed.
Development of an accurate asset hierarchy is the first step to organizing data for utilization. For existing facilities, this may involve walk-downs to both verify and add additional information. Basic data for equipment is also gathered to enhance descriptions in the hierarchy and for use when developing Bills Of Materials (BOM).
The basis for development of asset hierarchies is the current P&IDs, functional block diagrams, electrical diagrams or instrument loop schedules. These typically provide the operational structure of the system. A key question in determining how deep to drill down in the hierarchy should be “To what level do we want to track costs?” You may only want to track down to the primary component (pump, motor) level.
To determine if your hierarchy is properly structured, choose an asset and ask the question – “WHO’S YOUR DADDY!”
Tip provided by Michael Bolig
Ashcom Technologies, Inc.
http://www.ashcomtech.com
September 01, 2005
PdM-2005 4 day Pass for Infrared and Ultrasound
The Predictive Maintenance Technology Conference
September 19-22, 2005
Atlanta GA
Learn how and why you should add Infrared and Ultrasonic technology to your machinery condition monitoring program
Day 1 - Introduction to Infrared Thermal Imaging by John Snell - This full day workshop explains the basics that you need to develop a solid understanding of this valuable machinery condition monitoring technology. Infrared Technology advances have created lower cost instruments with increased capabilities in a small convenient packages making them an affordable addition to any maintenance program. Learn how Infrared can enhance your reliability program. Other workshops include Vibration Analysis and PdM Management.
Day 2 - Six Condition Monitoring Short Courses on Vibration, Oil Analysis, Ultrasound, Motor Testing and Infrared Thermography and 15 learning zone presentations supporting Predictive Maintenance.
Maintenance Expert John Schultz will also deliver “The Business Case for Reliability” Keynote. All PdM-2005 Conference attendees are also invited to the Casino night for food, fun and prizes.
Day 3 - Six more Condition Monitoring Short Courses on Vibration, Oil Analysis, Ultrasound, Motor Testing and Infrared Thermography and 15 learning zone presentations supporting Predictive Maintenance.
The day wraps up with the Alienware Laptop giveaway drawing for one lucky PdM-2005 conference attendee.
Day 4 - Introduction to Airborne Ultrasonics by Jim Hall - This full day workshop builds a thorough understanding of using high frequency ultrasonics for bearing testing, lubrication monitoring, electrical inspection, leak detection, steam trap testing and much more. Like Infrared, Ultrasonic technology has become easier to use and more powerful in recent years and should be included in any plant maintenance program. Learn what you need to know to get started in this full day workshop. Other workshops include Motor Testing and Advanced Vibration Analysis.
2 Special Offers:
* Buy the PdM-2005 4 day Pass for $1485 and save $300
* Register three people from the same company and get the fourth person free - an additional 25% savings.
Workshop space is limited so please call toll free at 1-888-575-1245 to register or…
September 01, 2005
Reliability Tip
“Your system is perfectly designed to give you the results that you get.” This quote from the late W. Edwards Deming speaks volumes about the reasons for the lack of success that many organizations have with their reliability program. All too often, an organization will attempt to implement the latest tool such as a new CMMS or a predictive maintenance technology, hoping it will be the “silver bullet” that dramatically increases reliability. In reality, it’s the system that produces the results; the processes by which work gets done and the behaviors of the individuals working within those processes. If we want different results, we have to change the system. How we manage this change affects both the speed and the magnitude of the improvements.
Tip provided by Life Cycle Engineering
http://www.lce.com
Tel: 843.744.7110 x267
September 01, 2005
Vibration Analysis Tip
Considerations when setting up measurements (Part 4 of 4) Archived at
http://maintenancetalk.com/blog.php/tipsblog
The last of our considerations is the resolution needed to accomplish our goal.
We must determine the resolution needed to clearly distinguish between normal mechanical frequencies and the frequencies of interest. For example we may have a bearing that has a BPFO primary frequency that occurs at 6.12 times rotational speed. We would need enough resolution to separate this frequency from 6 times rotational speed. Another example would be 2x AC line frequency and 2 times rotational speed on a 3600 RPM motor. In this case two readings may be necessary depending on the resolution capability of the analyzer being used. One measurement to capture the overall condition of the motor and the second to focus on the separation of the line frequency component from running speed.
If we consider these factors:
* Type of equipment
* Variable or constant speed
* Frequencies of interest
* And resolution
We will know what f-max to set and what resolution setting to use.
Tip provided by LUDECA, INC.
ALIGNMENT * VIBRATION * BALANCING
http://www.ludeca.com
Tel: 305-591-8935
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