The use of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to control AC motors has increased dramatically in recent years. However, it doesn’t come without risks. The challenge with VFDs is the potentially damaging electrical current that is caused by a buildup of voltage along the rotating motor shaft. As the voltage accumulates on the shaft, it seeks the path of least resistance to the ground, which typically is the bearing or seal closest to the shaft. One of the first “symptoms” of…
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A Dual Approach to Predictive Maintenance
The methods used for predictive maintenance are always evolving as new innovations designed to make the equipment we use better, faster, and more efficient come on the market. The good news is, incorporating an online predictive maintenance system doesn’t have to be an overwhelming or bank-breaking endeavor. Historically speaking, IVC analysts have performed vibration analysis on machine assets by going to a client’s facility and physically interacting with critical assets using a portable data collection device. These devices provide the…
Continual Bearing Failures on Your Drives? The Cause Might Surprise You
You’ve been diligent with the installation and maintenance of your industrial equipment. You’ve ensured that vibration levels are ISO compliant, balancing and alignment are within specification and bearings have proper fit, mounting, clearances, clean, and properly lubricated. Yet despite all of this, the motor bearings continue to fail, sometimes shortly after replacing them and it’s getting expensive. What to do? It’s time to take a step back and assess the bigger picture – are all the bearing failures related to…
Chicago Job Opening: ASNT Level 2A or Category III Certified Vibration Analyst
IVC Technologies is actively looking for a qualified self-starter to join our team as an ASNT Level 2A or Category III Vibration Analyst in Chicago. Those living in surrounding areas are welcome to apply. Veterans are highly encouraged to apply as the nature of the work we do is a good, cultural fit. Our vibration analysts are actively engaged in the delivery of our technical service efforts and work closely with our customers in solving problems and providing technical solutions.…
Could the Military Be a Solution to the Skills Gap?
It’s not as though there hasn’t been a serious effort made to address the skills gap issue that continues to plague the manufacturing industry, but we just can’t seem to get ahead of the curve. And as baby boomers continue to retire in record numbers, workers continue to be displaced due to the global pandemic, and misconceptions about the manufacturing industry as a whole continue to dissuade people from considering it a viable career option, it’s only going to get…
Safety Remains Top Priority for Factory “Frontline” Workers
While the COVID-19 pandemic certainly escalated the focus, maintaining employees’ health and safety in industrial environments has always been a top priority. But as vaccinations kick into high gear and “herd immunity” appears within reach, now is not the time to become complacent about safety. Safety awareness should always be at the forefront, and protocols to maintain it regularly assessed. I sat down with Pete Roy, manager of Environmental Health and Safety for IVC, to discuss the pandemic’s impact on…
Certified Doesn’t Always Mean Qualified – Who Is Monitoring Your Machines?
As manufacturing continues to become more technologically advanced, obtaining technical training for employees is no longer an option, but a necessity. At times, the expense may seem out of proportion with respect to the tools used in that task. Yet, when you’re sending them into the field, it’s critical that the service they provide is up to the standards your customers have come to expect from your company. Budgeting for employee training, in theory, should be a “no brainer” to…
Is It Resonance? Addressing the Root Cause and Not the Symptom
As anyone in the field of condition based monitoring can tell you, there are any number of issues that can cause a machine to vibrate excessively such as unbalance, bearing failure, and cracked welds to name a few. Often times, however, the aforementioned conditions are not the cause of the excessive vibration problem, but rather, the symptoms of a bigger issue: resonance. What is resonance and why is it so difficult to diagnose? Simply put, resonance is the amplification or…
Five Manufacturing Maintenance Must-Haves
“Adios” 2020. The year that was supposed to be about having “clear vision” and “clarity” instead felt like the backdrop of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. But as they say, the best view comes after the hardest climb. Well…let’s hope so. With over 30 years in the condition based maintenance industry, we know a thing or two about keeping industrial machinery operating at optimum efficiency. So, as we enter 2021 with eyes wide open and valuable lessons learned, we have identified…
Does Your Maintenance Strategy Feel Like a Game of Whack-a-Mole?
Ben Franklin once said, “…in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” If Ben had worked in maintenance, he could have expanded on that statement and included “equipment failure.” Anyone involved with reliability can attest to the fact that even the best-laid maintenance plans get tossed aside at some point to address unexpected repairs and breakdowns. That’s ok and expected because unexpected equipment failure and the reactive maintenance to repair it is going to happen on occasion…period. Anyone…
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