Understanding Vibration Analysis

ADVERTISEMENT

NEWS ARTICLES BLOGS FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTS RESOURCES

LOG IN REGISTERFIND MY COMPANY

Understanding Vibration Analysis

ADVERTISEMENT

Tue, 01/08/2008 - 12:11pm

by Bill Hillman, Partner, A&B Asset Management Specialists, and Mike Fitch, Vibration Application Engineer, LUDECA, Inc.

Get today's industrial maintenance & plant operations headlines and news - Sign up now!

Utilizing a datacollector/vibration analyzer canhelp you diagnose machinehealth. (Photo credit: Ludeca)

More than 20 years ago someone made the statement, The vibrationsproduced in a machine are the best indication of the machines health. Thisstatement still holds true today. Of all the predictive maintenance (PM)technologies, vibration analysis remains the best measure of machine health.

This is true because vibration analysis can alert us to so many differentconditions that may indicate potential machine failures. Unbalance, misalignment,bearing faults, resonance, looseness, cavitation and electrical problems are justa few of the many problems that can be detected with vibration analysis.

The data collected in the process of detecting these problems can also be usedin determining their root causes. Effective root cause analysis must determinethe most cost effective point where actions can prevent or acceptably managethe failure. We can determine this point only if we have adequate information onwhich to base our conclusions. Vibration analysis is a wonderful tool for supplying much of this information.

The Breakdown

Understanding Vibration Analysis http://www.impomag.com/articles/2008/01/understanding-vibration-analysis

1 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

In their book RCM Gateway to World Class Maintenance, Anthony M. Smith and Glenn R. Hinchcliffe state that asmany as 50 percent of machine failures are due to human error in maintenance work. In other words, we break thingsin our attempts to make them better. If this percentage is even close to being accurate, one of the greatest values ofvibration analysis is that it helps us work only on the things truly in need of work.

One axiom proven true in studies of PM effectiveness is, were better off to work on nothing than to work on thewrong thing. Vibration analysis helps us pinpoint the component or part that needs to be addressed in order to preventor manage the failure. Wholesale repairs, which sometimes introduce more problems than they correct, are madeunnecessary.

In addition, what gets measured, gets done: every vibration reading is a measure, and if problems are found, we arealerted to their existence. Work that needs to be addressed is kept in the forefront because machinery constantly tellsus about its condition. Vibration analysis can be our ears for deciphering the language of machines, and can help usdetermine where to focus resources.

A Preventive Approach

Many think of vibration analysis as simply a tool to detect bad bearings, but it is much, much more. Often, conditions(such as loose fasteners, resonant structures, misalignment, unbalance, etc.) which shorten the life of bearings andother components, can be detected, identified, and remedied before they cause a failure. Thus, vibration analysis isnot only the most effective method for detecting many potential failures, it also provides us with a means of detectingthese potential failures in time to cost effectively manage their consequence or prevent the failures altogether.

For those who seriously want to move from reactive to proactive maintenance, and like the idea of finding and fixingsmall defects before they become unplanned downtime, this technology is a must investment. A program of defectidentification and elimination in process equipment is an absolutely necessary part of the holy grail of reliability andincreased profitability.

Q&A

If youre considering whether or not to invest in the equipment and training necessary to begin and maintain an effectivevibration condition monitoring program, ask yourself a few questions:

How often can I tolerate the cost of sudden and unexpected breakdowns?Can I afford less than optimal equipment lifetime (early replacement)?Do I expect my machines to run for the next X number of hours so we can make marketable product? (Yousupply the X with your typical planned run time).

If the answer to the last question is yes, how can you expect machines to run, if you dont know their condition? Howdo you know they are capable of running the next X number of hours? One point is clear: if you dont have a measureof the actual condition of your machines, your expectations of them running X number of hours to produce your productis about as lacking in logic as expecting any random direction to get you to your goal destination. All roads do not leadto reliability. If you dont want to wander from breakdown to breakdown, you must get on the condition monitoring path.

Visual Inspection


2 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

Vibration analysis makes itpossible to have improvedmachine and procurementstandards, and can be the besttool, in many cases, fordetermining the quality of vendorrepairs and condition of newequipment.

Vibration analysis also provides for a visual inspection of equipment as thevibration routes are run. A good analyst is always on the lookout for potentialfailures such as oil leaks, loose fasteners, and broken welds.

One often overlooked benefit of a dynamic vibration analysis/defect eliminationprogram is that a vibration optimized machine is a very green machine. Thismachine will use less energy, leak fewer environmentally harmful substances, andrequire fewer replacement parts. In short, a mature vibration analysis programcan actually reduce your carbon footprint.

Uptime And More

Other important value-added properties of vibration analysis include increasedmachine reliability, increased plant capacity (through increased uptime), andimproved machine safety.

Vibration analysis also helps to verify findings of other predictive maintenancetools, reduce costs, reduce manpower needs, reduce product inventories (through optimized scheduling), reduce spareparts inventories, and reduce expedited parts. It can also help to prioritize work by better knowledge of machinecondition severity, reduce the need for invasive PMs, and provide a way to manage failures determined by RCManalysis.

Vibration analysis also makes it possible to have improved machine and procurement standards, and can be the besttool, in many cases, for determining the quality of vendor repairs and condition of new equipment.

TOPICS TECH TRENDS PLANT OPERATIONS / MANAGEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Tweet 0 0ShareShare

SHARE THIS STORY


3 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

RELATED CONTENT

Vibration Detection For A Safe, Reliable Plant FloorVibration Analysis: Identify, Predict, PreventMonitor Power Usage for Predictive Maintenance

COMMENTS

Dems Grapple With Dilemma On KeystoneXL Pipeline

Avatar So Steyer supportsclimate change politicians, but only if they aredemocrats. 100 million?!?! Where is

President Of W.Va. Spill Company WantsTo Get Paid

Avatar One wonders how he feels aboutObama's proposed overtime bill? LOL

New Jersey: Time To Stop Impeding Tesla

Avatar I have one question. Where doa Tesla owner take their vehicle to get itworked on when there is a problem with

Germany Says It Didn't Bow To NSA

Avatar How much do you trust yourgovernment? Is there any lying going on? Thisis ALL working towards a New

0 Comments

Search IMPO

ADVERTISEMENT


4 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT


5 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

Digital Editions

March 2014: Minimizing Downtime

March 12, 2014 11:09 am

January/February 2014: Behind The Wheel

March 5, 2014 4:51 pm

November/December 2013: Visual Analysis

November 15, 2013 1:23 pm

October 2013: Drivers Ed


6 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

November 6, 2013 1:18 pm

Recent Blogs Recent Articles

This Is What A Billion Dollar Brand Looks Like

March 21, 2014 9:39 am | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO

Wins, Losses For The UAW Make For A Bumpy Road

March 14, 2014 3:13 pm | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO

Walmart And 3D Systems Work To RebuildMfg. Jobs

March 14, 2014 2:06 pm | by Jon Minnick, Associate Editor,Manufacturing Business Technology

Jets Disappear More Frequently Than You MightThink

March 14, 2014 12:35 pm | by Tia Nowack, Associate Editor, IMPO

ADVERTISEMENT


7 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

FreeIndustrial Plant& MaintenanceSubscriptions

E-newsletters Magazine

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

Ohio Auto Dealers Join Fight Over Telsa Sales Model5 comments 3 days ago

Union: ConAgra Closing 2 N.Y. Plants1 comment 1 day ago

N.J. Mulls Ban On Fracking Waste2 comments 2 days ago

Goodyear's Blimp Replacement Takes Flight1 comment 2 days ago

Walmart And 3D Systems Work To Rebuild Mfg. Jobs3 comments 5 days ago

ADVERTISEMENT


8 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

IMPO MAGAZINE

About Us

Advertising Info

Contact Us

Directory FAQs

RESOURCES

Articles

Blogs

Events Calendar

News

TOPICS

Globalization

Job Creation &Labor

Maintenance

CONNECT WITHUS

Facebook

Twitter

RSS


9 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

Subscriptions

Privacy Policy

Terms &Conditions

Sitemap

Videos

White Papers

Market Data

PlantOperations/Management

Regulations &Compliance

Safety

Supply Chain &Logistics

TechnologyDevelopments

Google Plus

YouTube

NEWSLETTERS

First Name Last Name

Email Address

Company Name

All fields are required.

IMPO InsiderIndustrial news for plant and maintenance managers.

IMPO Insider: Second ShiftWrapping up the days important plant and maintenance

industry news and events

Plant Operations White PapersFeatured white papers for plant operations and maintenance

professionals.

OUR PARTNER SITES

Advantage Business Media Copyright 2014 Advantage Business Media


10 of 10 3/21/2014 3:17 PM

Documents

Understanding Vibration Analysis