Over 300 people came together for EAM-2005 (CMMS-2005) in Indianapolis last July to explore the CMMS/EAM problem in greater detail and to suggest solutions.

Now it is time to bring a new group of people who are interested in Enterprise Asset Management together again for EAM-2006, a focused 3 day “community of practice” event held March 8-10, 2006 in Las Vegas Nevada. The audience will include some of the world’s leading EAM experts along with people who are just beginning to explore the subject.

As with many Reliabilityweb.com learning events, attendance is limited to maintain a community setting that fosters dialogue and information exchange among all participants.

Special $60 hotel rooms are available on a first come – first serve basis at the 4 star Orleans Hotel and Casino. Register now, and be part of the conversation at EAM-2006

There are less than 80 seats available for EAM-2006 so book today to beat the odds!

Learn more about EAM-2006

FILE TEMPLATES

In order to save time in the field, some laser alignment tools have the ability to create templates. Templates allow the user to predefine specific parameters of a machine set-up. For example, at a large newspaper printing plant, there are 24 ink pumps. All are identical three-machine
trains: motor-gearbox-pump, and all have the same target specs. The only difference is the color of the ink they pump. All of the known dimensions and targets are pre-configured into the file. You save it one time as a template and never have to enter the dimensions and targets again. Each time one of these pump sets must be aligned the user opens the pre-defined template, performs the alignment, then saves it as a normal data file.

Tip provided by LUDECA, INC.
ALIGNMENT * VIBRATION * BALANCING
http://www.ludeca.com
Tel: 305-591-8935

Learn about the Rotalign ULTRA alignment system and its file templates

Now you can attend vibration classes that utilize the award winning Mobius training materials with accredited Mobius Institute trainers around the world. Courses and certification follows the ISO 18436.2 and ASNT SNT-TC-1A standards. Courses now available in the United States, Australia, Sweden, South Africa and Malaysia,

Click to view the course schedules or contact the training coordinator

A common engineering approach to analysis and troubleshooting of systems is to break the system down into its basic components and evaluate them individually. The advantage is that this simplifies problems. The disadvantage is that it often ignores the interaction of the components and how they effect each other. The result is often the replacement of a defective part without an understanding of what caused the defect.

With electric motor systems, past approaches to evaluate the insulation system with testing like insulation to ground testing, or just the first few turns of a winding with surge comparison testing, leave out significant portions of the motor system. It requires a full view of the electrical and mechanical system, from incoming power to driven equipment, to fully understand a cause of failure. For instance, an electric motor winding may fail which may be caused by too frequent starts and stops, age, power supply issues, control faults, contamination, the driven equipment or some other fault. A full view of the system using Motor Circuit Analysis and Electrical Signature Analysis, which provides both voltage and current signature analysis, will help provide faster and more complete answers.

Tip provided by ALL-TEST Pro, LLC
http://www.alltestpro.com
Tel: 860.395.2988

More Motor Testing Resources

EAM-2006/RCM-2006 Maintenance-Tips Challenge 3rd Place Winner

After the failure of the operating mechanism on a very large air operated, air blast circuit breaker, reassembly during repair became a real challenge. The operating pistons were about 6 inches in diameter and less than an inch thick. The trick was to somehow compress the single piston ring and slide the cylinder over the piston. At this remote location, we had few tools and no ready access to a tool supplier. Plus, finishing the circuit breaker repair would restore a 155 Megawatt generator to service.

After an hour of finger pinching and screw driver prying, it occurred to me that a couple of large hose clamps put together around the piston could compress the ring very nicely and come back off easily. Using a little lube oil to ease the way and clamping the ring on its very edge, the cylinder slid on with little difficulty.

Tip provided by: Larry Walker, Maintenance Specialist, US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla, Washington USA

Learn more about EAM-2006 and RCM-2006 in Las Vegas

Commtest has developed a revolutionary concept in online systems. The vbOnline now features a standard 32 channel chassis, and our starter units include 4 active channels. As your requirements change and additional channels are required, it is as simple as downloading a file and Proflash® it into your online system to activate additional channels.

Learn more online

Air Leak Surveyors Play the Bounce

While performing a quarterly ultrasonic leak inspection on the plant’s compressed air system, our inspector picked up what sounded like a leak coming from a brick wall. He was miffed. How could a brick wall have a compressed air leak?

The Answer… Play the bounce.

Ultrasound is a low energy wave that is partially absorbed when it contacts a surface. The composite of a surface determines the amount of absorption. A carpeted floor will absorb most of an ultrasonic wave while a harder surface such as steel or brick will absorb less and reflect more of the wave. What appeared to be a leak coming from a brick wall was in fact ultrasonic energy from a pipe leak around the corner, reflecting off the brick wall.

When faced with our inspector’s dilemma, play the bounce as though it were a billiard shot.

1. Walk your ultrasonic detector toward the brick wall where the leak sound is detected.
2. Now turn the detector away from the brick wall on angles that would represent a reflection or “ricochet”. Do this until the leak sound is heard again.
3. Like a billiards shot, the angle toward the source will be equal to the angle of reflection off the brick wall.
4. If you are on the right path to the source of the leak, the ultrasound in the headphones should be more intense as you’ve just eliminated absorption from the brick wall and additional attenuation through the medium of transport.
5. If your detector has digital readout the intensity can be confirmed by taking a dBuV measurement before and after the ricochet.
6. Adjust the amplification of the detector to a comfortable level in the headset.
7. Follow the directional nature of the ultrasound until you pinpoint the leak.

This tip supplied by SDT North America
http://www.sdtnorthamerica.com
1-800-667-LEAK (5325)

Find a Predictive Maintenance for the Masses workshop near you

Pre-Balance Procedure

Before you jump right into a balancing job to correct a reported vibration issue, begin your analysis by taking an overall vibration reading and comparing the results to the ISO 10816 specifications (in./sec. rms). Next, collect spectral data to ensure that you can verify a major contribution at 1X running speed. Also collect phase readings to reinforce that balancing is the key contributor. Phase is the determining factor on the type of unbalance and whether or not it can be addressed by the one-plane or two-plane method.

As other faults might be present, correct any mechanical looseness that might create high 1X, 2X, 7X. Address any misalignment that creates high 1X, 2X,3X. Also be sure to address any structural resonance at running speed that will cause unstable phase readings.

Tip provided by Commtest Inc.
http://www.commtest.com
Tel: 865-588-2946

More Balancing Resources