March 09, 2006 Ultrasound Tip
The 2-Stage Compressed Air Leak Survey
Are you just starting a compressed air leak reduction program? Or perhaps you had a program in place some time ago but it’s been months, or even years since the last ultrasound survey. Whatever the case, a new or revitalized program will get immediate and long lasting results by applying a 2-stage approach to leak detection.
A 2-stage approach involves an initial tour of the compressed air system to identify large leaks that are easy to fix, and can often be repaired on-the-spot. Smaller leaks in a complex system of piping are difficult to find and are often masked by larger leaks. A second tour is conducted after the gross leaks are fixed to locate tiny leaks that one day will become more problematic large leaks.
This tip supplied by SDT North America
http://www.sdtnorthamerica.com
905-377-1313
From “HEAR” to “HERE” - AVM Ultranalysis Visualization Techniques
March 09, 2006 Do you have the PdM Program of the Year?
If so - get the recognition your team and your program deserves!
Uptime Magazine is pleased to announce the PdM Program of the Year Awards for:
• Best Vibration Analysis Program Award
• Best Ultrasound Inspection Program Award
• Best Infrared Thermal Imaging Program Award
• Best Motor Testing Program Award
• Best Lubrication/Oil Analysis Program Award
• Best Precision Maintenance (alignment/Balancing) Program Award
• Best Total PdM Program Award
There is no cost to enter.
Each winning company will get a handsome award trophy, two free passes to PdM-2006 The Predictive Maintenance Technology Conference, acknowledgement in front of peers at the award presentation (Sept 14) and an exclusive invitation to a special winners award dinner.
March 09, 2006 Motor Testing Tip
Phase Resistance Acceptance Considerations
When measuring phase resistance for imbalance on a new or rewound 3-phase motor, the generally accepted minimum imbalance is 1%. The value of imbalance is normally calculated by taking the furthest deviation of
resistance from the average resistance, divided by the average resistance, multiplied by 100. If the windings are random wound some facilities or organizations will relax the minimum imbalance to 2%. It is important to remember that these imbalances, which are commonly caused by high resistance connections, may not initially result in a current imbalance. However, action should still be taken to remedy the condition by inspecting the lugs and phase connections to prevent further degradation.
Tip provided by PdMA
http://www.pdma.com
March 09, 2006 The Bearing Expert Is Now Online
Now with 1,000,000 ball bearings, roller bearings, wheel bearings, linear bearings, pillow block bearings, sleeve bearings, thrust bearings, oil seals and much more in the interchange + over 200,000 vibration frequencies used in Condition Monitoring.
This data is available for all major manufacturers including Fafnir, Timken, SKF, NTN, INA, FAG, Torrington, Dodge, etc.
The Bearing Expert Quick Search allows for multiple bearings and data points from a single search. Reports are generated automatically including the bearing prefix and suffix interchange guide, harmonics, multiple manufacturer vibration report, and much more (calculations and formulas already computed). The Bearing Expert is by far the most extensive source of bearing data available. Combined with an “intelligent” search engine, International Source Index puts the “right” information at your fingertips immediately. The Bearing Expert works the way you think!!!
March 09, 2006 Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) Tip
Successful RCM - the Critical Factors
Many companies are aware of the potential benefits arising from Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) and the horror stories of high cost/low delivery initiatives. While recognising we are all under an obligation to reduce costs, it should be recognised that cost reduction is not the driver behind RCM. The prime deliverable of RCM is improved availability for both production and safety systems. However, successful Companies also experience that these availability increases are accompanied by a substantial reduction in costs in perhaps 80% of cases.
So how are these benefits achieved?
In addition to proper project management, involvement of the local staff & management and good facilitation (ideally by your own trained staff) RCM will not be a success without two other critical factors: Compliance and Craft Skills.
Compliance means actually doing the planned maintenance at, or around, the planned frequency. Skills, which includes competence, motivation and proper tools, ensures that the job is done well.
The use of Gain Share incentives only go part of the way in this respect. The results of RCM must make the transition from analysis to the site maintenance program and when they are there, they must be carried out roughly on time by properly trained, equipped and motivated craftsmen. It is not correct to focus on problems with the RCM process when the reasons for limited results delivery may lie elsewhere.
This Maintenance-Tip Challenge Winning Tip provided by Kenneth Lees, Maintenance 2000 Limited, Dundee, Scotland
March 09, 2006 Problem Solving Tip
Having trouble tracking down those elusive power problems like a phase that reads to ground in a floating ground power system that seems to come and go depending on what is or is not running?
Empower the whole workforce with a copy of the work order using “GROUP EMAIL” which will include all maintenance workers, hourly and salaried on all shifts in the affected department. This is extremely important as it empowers everyone on the job to look for the specific conditions to find the problem. This type of communication bypasses all the usual bottlenecks associated with normal “pass down” and logging information associated with alternative work schedules and keeps everyone up to date and you’ll be surprised at who comes up with the answer just because you gave them a little information!
This Maintenance-Tip Challenge Winning Tip provided by Jim Zuidema, Electrician, Alcoa, Bettendorf, IA
March 09, 2006 Root Cause Analysis Tip
Optimizing your Root Cause Analysis efforts means that we should not be content and rest on our laurels that we have succeeded in eliminating the risk of recurrence of an event. True Root Cause Analysis optimization involves Knowledge Management (KM) of the information used to solve the problem.
If other people in your organization are not made aware of your findings and conclusions, then they risk the same thing happening in their areas. Root Cause Analysis also involves putting such information at the fingertips of those that need it most!
Tip provided by the Reliability Center Inc.
http://www.reliability.com
Tel: 804-458-0645
March 09, 2006 Sheave Alignment Tip
When performing a multiple belt - sheave alignment, it is imperative that all the belts and belt grooves are inspected individually for wear. If any of the belts are slipping, then all belts must be replaced at the same time. To achieve an accurate alignment between the pulleys one can use a machinist’s straightedge, or place a tightly drawn piece of string, across the faces of the sheaves to see if all four points of contact are made or you can utilize a Laser Pulley Alignment tool. Regardless of which system is used to perform the alignment, it is a good practice to monitor any changes in angularity and / or offset in the sheaves as the hold down bolts of the machine to be moved are being tightened during the belt tensioning procedure, since this will allow the alignment to be maintained true.
Tip provided by LUDECA, INC.
ALIGNMENT * VIBRATION * BALANCING
http://www.ludeca.com
Tel: 305-591-8935
