Identify and diagnose mechanical failures with Vibration Measurement & Analysis

Have you ever heard someone say “Something is wrong with this machine; it’s making funny noise” or, “it’s running rough- I can  feel it” It is natural to associate the condition of a machine with the level of noise or vibration it makes. And if it shakes or rattles more than usual, you begin to suspect mechanical trouble.

This idea of relating a machine’s condition with its level of vibration is not a new one. Since the mid- 1950’s, the measurement and analysis of vibration has become an increasingly useful technique for controlling machinery condition. This technique is called “Vibration Analysis’.

Baytech Engineering offer “Vibration Analysis” services to identify your vibration related problems. There are varieties of machine problems illustrated by their typical vibration signatures such as:

• Imbalance
• Misalignment
• Journal Bearings
• Rolling Element Bearings
• Mechanical Looseness
• Electrically Induced Vibration
• Turbines
• Pumps
• Fan
• Couplings
• Drive Belts
• Gearbox
• Centrifugal Compressors
• Reciprocating Machines
• Diagnostic Summary Charts

THE BENEFITS OF VIBRATION ANALYSIS

The successes of a company often depend on the continued, safe and productive operation of rotating machinery. An effective maintenance program is vital to this kind of success. The quality of your company’s maintenance program determines how long the machines will run, how safe they are for the people working around them, and how productive the machine will be. Bear these things in mind while you consider the following benefits of a vibration analysis program in greater detail.

Prolong Machinery Life:

Expensive production machinery and plant support equipment can be determined at a level where it will or even exceed its expected service life. This means your company can reduce its long-term capital investment in new machinery, while maintaining the same level and quality of production.

Minimizes Unscheduled Downtime:

Unexpected breakdown play havoc with production schedules and dramatically increases productions costs.An effective vibration analysis program lets you detect a problem before it become critical. You’re able to schedule a maintenance shutdown at a time better suited for your company’s production and operating schedules.

Eliminates Unnecessary Overhauls:

Annual inspections and routine overhauls cost time and money. In order to prevent unexpected breakdown, machines are often taken off line and disassembled when there is actually nothing wrong with them. Vibration analysis allows a machine to run continuously until you detect the earliest stages of a problem. This often means you can able running the machine for much longer periods of time than a preventive maintenance schedule would allow.

Eliminates Standby Equipment:

Idle standby equipment is no longer a prudent investment for new expanding facilities.Standby, or redundant, machinery is intended to maintain operations in event of unexpected breakdown. A good vibration analysis program can prevent unexpected breakdown, allowing you to schedule a maintenance shutdown at a time when it will have minimal effect on normal operations.

Provides More Efficient Operation:

Undesirable vibration and associated noise degrade working environments, causing needless employee fatigue, raising the potential for accidents and generally lowering worker productivity. Although a certain amount of noise is inherent in the operation of machinery, a good vibration analysis program can help keep machines running at minimum inherent noise levels.

Increases Machinery Safety:

Certain classes of machinery defects pose serious safety hazards. The risk to personnel in the area rises as the defect reaches a critical point; and in some instances, the obvious signs of trouble appear only moments before a dangerous catastrophic breakdown occurs. A good vibration analysis program lets you see the “signatures” of breakdown conditions long before the situation gets out of hand.

Improves Quality Performance:

Quiet, smooth-running machinery is a vital element in the production of high-quality products and reliable services. By maintaining a low level of machinery vibration, a good vibration analysis program helps to assure a high level of product quality, and minimize the occurrence of reject parts.

Improves Customer Satisfaction:

Satisfied customers are the basis for profitable repeat business. Companies that produce rotating equipment can use the techniques of vibration analysis to deliver well-balanced and aligned equipment. This assures customer satisfaction during start-up in the field.