Misalignment is among the most common causes of excessive vibration in industrial equipment. If left unaddressed, it can lead to premature wear and tear on drive components that ultimately leads to premature failure. Misalignment occurs when the motor and the driven component are not in correct alignment, or the component that couples the motor to the load is misaligned. Two common types of misalignment are angular and offset. Angular misalignment (Figure 1) is when the shaft centerlines intersect but are…
Technical Articles
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: 10 COINS PROBLEM
Our profession, like many others, often requires out-of-the-box thinking to solve a problem – in our case, a machine issue. So, each month we’re giving you the opportunity to test your ability to think outside the box. Ready? The Problem: You are blindfolded and 10 coins are placed in front of you on a table. Though you are allowed to touch the coins, you can’t tell which way up they are by feeling them. You are told that…
iba Portable Multi-Channel Process Data Acquisition System: A Game Changer for Monitoring the Condition of Your Equipment
Data collection on rotating equipment is a key component to understanding the condition of your industrial equipment. Accuracy and consistency are crucial because if your data isn’t accurate, its subsequent analysis won’t be either. Additionally, early warning signs indicating developing problems could be missed if data acquisition isn’t accomplished in a timely manner. These issues can result in costly downtime and lost productivity. Manufacturing companies who want to remain competitive and profitable in today’s uncertain global economy have realized the…
Think Outside the Box: The Fox, Chicken, and Grain Riddle
Our profession, like many others, often requires out-of-the-box thinking to solve a problem – in our case, a machine issue. So, each month we’re giving you the opportunity to test your ability to think outside the box. Ready? THE FOX, CHICKEN, AND GRAIN RIDDLE The Riddle: A farmer needs to take a fox, a chicken, and a sack of grain across a river. The only way across the river is by a small boat, which can only hold the…
5 Tips to Attracting Millennials to Your Manufacturing Company
Baby Boomers are retiring in record numbers. The Manufacturing Institute estimates that as many as 2 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled by 2025. Why? Because millennials – those born between 1981 and 1996 – haven’t considered manufacturing a viable career option – in large part because they’ve viewed the industry through an outdated lens provided by society and their parents. The good news is that with a bit of effort, manufacturing companies can continue to debunk the myths that exist…
Yin Yang of Predictive Maintenance
The Yin and Yang of Predictive Maintenance – Are Your Efforts in Balance? In Eastern philosophy, the principle of Yin and Yang represents the concept of duality where two halves work together toward wholeness and harmony – where seemingly contradictory forces are actually complementary. Much like Predictive Maintenance monitoring and action. Predictive Maintenance (PdM) aims to monitor and assess the condition of equipment while it’s in use, detect issues, and predict the optimal time to carry out maintenance to prevent…
Goldilube and the Three Bearings
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Goldilube. She went for a walkthrough in a paper mill. Pretty soon she came upon a line shaft drive that was making a lot of noise. On that line shaft drive were three bearings. Being a very curious (but thankfully certified) lube technician, Goldilube decided to have a closer look. She examined the first bearing. It was emitting a loud churning sound, high temperatures and pressure, and a crusty-build up all…
We’re ISO Certified and Why You Should Care
ISO certification has been a part of IVC’s approach to business for the last 15 years. In fact, few service companies in our field carry this designation, making it one more thing that makes us stand out in the industry. What is ISO? ISO refers to the International Organization for Standardization – the leading developer of international standards. This independent, non-governmental organization offers solutions and best practices for a variety of businesses and technology to improve performance while still…
Factors That Contribute to Electrical Discharge Machining Damage and How to Protect Against It
As we’ve stated in Part One and Part Two of our series on Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), while the use of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to control AC motors has increased significantly, it is not without risks. The biggest challenge lies in 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…
Identifying the Root Cause of Electrical Discharge Machining with Vibration Analysis and Shaft-to-Ground Voltage/Current Analysis
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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