Tipsblog

LUDECA has launched a new home page featuring demo videos for their award-winning tools!

LASER ALIGNMENT

See the new features and benefits of the ROTALIGN ULTRA shaft alignment system with Continuous Sweep measurement mode, Bluetooth communication and a ‘Soft Foot Wizard’ that not only measures your soft foot condition but also analyzes it and suggests a solution. Obtain alignment results in 3 easy steps: Dimensions - Measure - Results! Check the unique under- and over-constrained alignment centerline capabilities of the ULTRA.

VIBRATION ANALYSIS, BALANCING and ONLINE CONDITION MONITORING

Learn about the VIBXPERT ---the first lightweight 2-channel vibration analyzer with joystick navigation as well as their entry-level to multi-point systems, all sharing the OMNITREND software.

LUDECA, INC.
305-591-8935
mailto:info@ludeca.com

Visit Ludeca and click on Demo Videos.

Vibration Analysis Tip

The scrubber motor/atomizer units are frequently pulled for inspection or maintenance. We have a spare unit but occasionally just a motor will get swapped in emergency situations. The motors have a magnetic label with the atomizer number they are mounted on since the motor is the only thing visible when in the chamber. Our vibration data for the motor and atomizer was recorded by the magnetic label on the motor so when a motor was swapped without our knowledge (and relabeled) it raised havoc with vibration history on the motor. To avoid an additional label for each motor we started recording the motor S.N. when the motor vibration is read. This has cleared up a lot of confusing trends.

Reader Tip provided by Craig Muri, Mechanical Engineer I, Basin Electric Power Co-op, Beulah, North Dakota

Thanks Craig - your Maintenance Tips hat is on the way!

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Ultrasound Tip

In a very ultrasonically noisy environment, use the smallest microphone cone that you have to better locate a particular ultrasonic noise. Ultrasonic noise is of very short wavelengths and therefore does not travel around corners too easily. The close opening of the ultrasonic instruments cone will block out noises coming from the sides making it much easier to locate the troublesome noise. With each single correction you make with ultrasound, the easier it is to locate the next one.

Reader Tip provided by Gary Wiggins, Condition Monitoring Technician, Alcoa Primary Metals, Goose Creek SC

Thanks Gary - your Maintenance Tips hat is on the way!

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Time Management For Maintenance Professionals Audio CD and e-Book

by Joel Levitt

Maintenance can be a pressure cooker. Emergencies, short staffing, vendor problems, high customer expectations all contribute to be stressors on the job. While removing the stressors is impossible, changing your attitude might be possible.

A person who feels mastery over his/her environment transforms the `bad’ stress into good excitement. Workings on time management as a skill helps people feel mastery. The goal is not to feel in control because that is an illusion. The goal of time management is feeling that you can master anything that comes at you.

In stock for immediate delivery. Click here to order

The Dirty Dozen: 12 Ways to Wreck Your Maintenance Program

Kill Off the Training Program & Other Excuses to Go to Florida (6 of 12)

Training is something that can disrupt the wrecking of a maintenance program if you are not careful to avoid it. In the high technology world we live in today, people need constant access to new methods and techniques, or they quickly fall behind. In just a few months, one can completely hobble a maintenance organization by simply turning off the funding for training.

Try your best to strangle your training budget down to the bare minimum. Provide no value, and include ample amounts of vendor training aimed at selling equipment. Best practice companies usually budget 80+ hours of quality training per year, per employee. When your budget accidentally contains money for training, squash this by fabricating urgent tasks that will not allow anyone to go to the training. Or, schedule the training, pay the trainer, and then cancel the class to waste more money.

If you are lucky enough to have no training budget, keep you mouth shut about it. The last thing you want is your maintenance team spending their time in Florida or Las Vegas attending training or a good trade show. When they come back, they will be full of all kinds of wild ideas about how to fix problems and save money. It will take you months to shut them up and make them disgruntled again.

Tune in next week as we continue to expose the secret lives of seriously disturbed maintenance “professionals” with The Dirty Dozen Tip #7: Make Sure Everyone Works 60+ Hours a Week.

“Tip” provided by NoBreakDowns.com
Tel: (218) 327-3114
Web: http://www.NoBreakDowns.com

Receive a complimentary Dirty Dozen: 12 Ways to Wreck Your Maintenance Program electronic poster

Motor Testing Tip

Calculating Motor Load with a Voltmeter and Ammeter

Accurately evaluating electric motor load can be useful when troubleshooting conditions. Using just an ammeter is not accurate. However, for loads over 50% the percent load can be found reasonably accurately using a voltmeter and ammeter.

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