Predictive Maintenance
and Vibration Condition Monitoring
Maintenance Based on Data from the Machine Itself
Predictive maintenance is becoming essential to the smart factory. Predictive maintenance enables users to more accurately anticipate when machine maintenance will be needed based on real-time data from the machines themselves.
The ability to accurately track machine performance and anticipate failures before they occur is helping manufacturers improve productivity and reduce wasted time and costs.
Predictive Maintenance
WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT MATTERS
Predictive maintenance is the process of tracking the performance of crucial machine components, such as motors, to minimize downtime needed for repairs. Predictive maintenance enables users to more accurately anticipate when machine maintenance will be needed based on real-time data from the machines themselves.
Traditionally, plant managers relied on preventative maintenance schedules provided by a machine’s manufacturer, including regularly replacing machine components on a suggested timeline. However, these timelines are only estimates of when the machine will require service, and the actual use of the machine can greatly affect the reliability of these estimates.
For example, if bearings wear prematurely or a motor overheats, a machine may require service sooner than anticipated. Furthermore, if a problem goes undetected for too long, the issue could escalate to further damage the machine and lead to costly unplanned downtime. Predictive maintenance helps avoid these problems, saving time and costs.
Condition Monitoring
VIBRATION & TEMPERATURE INDICATE MACHINE HEALTH
Condition monitoring plays a key role in predictive maintenance by allowing users to identify critical changes in machine performance. One important condition to monitor is vibration. Machine vibration is often caused by imbalanced, misaligned, loose, or worn parts.
As vibration increases, so can damage to the machine. By monitoring motors, pumps, compressors, fans, blowers, and gearboxes for increases in vibration, problems can be detected before they become severe and result in unplanned downtime.
Vibration sensors typically measure RMS velocity, which provides the most uniform measurement of vibration over a wide range of machine frequencies and is indicative of overall machine health. Another key data point is temperature change (i.e. overheating).
QM30VT Vibration Sensor
QM30VT Series vibration and temperature sensors offer exceptional levels of accuracy to detect even slight changes in machine health and performance, enabling early identification of potential problems.
