The analysis of power train lubricants for the purpose of detecting faults and abnormal wear patterns is a well developed practiced in mobile equipment applications. However, these same techniques don’t always transfer successfully into stationary equipment applications for many users. In recent years new approaches and techniques have been perfected to substantially improve the detection of incipient and developing faults in bearings and gear units using wear debris analysis. The approach is more systemic as opposed to the application of any singular new or emerging technology. It begins with improvements in the sampling process to enrich the data and proceeds through the use of tactics that strengthen the signal-to-noise ratio. After detection is confirmed, the final analytical phase involves wear particle identification using both classic and advanced techniques. Key Words: wear debris analysis, spectroscopy, wear particles, ferrography, fault detection, predictive maintenance, tribology, wear particle identification, oil analysis, condition monitoring, elemental analysis, ferrous density, microscopic analysis, ferrometrics.

The post Best Practices in Maximizing Fault Detection in Rotating Equipment Using Wear Debris Analysis appeared first on Tesibis.

The analysis of power train lubricants for the purpose of detecting faults and abnormal wear patterns is a well developed practice in mobile equipment applications. However, these same techniques don’t always transfer successfully into stationary equipment applications for many users.

In recent years new approaches and techniques have been advanced to substantially improve the detection of incipient and developing faults in bearings and gear units using wear debris analysis. The approach is more systemic as opposed to the application of any singular new or emerging technology.

It begins with improvements in the sampling process to enrich the data and proceeds through the use of specific strategies and tactics. After detection is confirmed, the final analytical phase involves wear particle identification using both classic and advanced techniques.

The post Maximizing Fault Detection in Rotating Equipment Using Wear Debris Analysis appeared first on Tesibis.

The analysis of powertrain lubricants for the purpose of detecting faults and abnormal wear patterns is a useful practice in mobile equipment applications. Unfortunately for many users, these techniques don’t always transfer successfully into stationary equipment applications. In recent years, new approaches and techniques have been advanced to improve the detection of incipient and developing faults in bearings and gear units using wear debris analysis.

As opposed to the application of any singular new or emerging technology, these new methods are more systematic and functional. It begins with improvements in the sampling process to enrich the data and proceeds through the use of specific strategies and tactics. After detection is confirmed, the final analytical phase involves wear particle identification using both classic and advanced techniques.

Like so many endeavors, success depends more on the quality of execution than the strength of the underlying technologies. This idea can be concluded from the fact that while a great deal of new knowledge and technology has been advanced, for the vast majority of industrial organizations employing wear debris analysis, little has changed in either their tools or approach.

The post The Benefits of Using Wear Debris Analysis in Industrial Machinery appeared first on Tesibis.

You’ve heard the expression. There are only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. Some have suggested that the same applies to machinery. We all know that if a machine generates a profit, taxes will be levied on that profit. But how about death? Is machine mortality also inevitable?

Let’s take a closer look. According to Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor emeritus and tribologist Ernest Rabinowicz, there are three things that cause machines to lose their usefulness (see Fig. 1): obsolescence, accidents and surface degradation. Without question, obsolescence is fundamental to the evolution of engineering and technology. The old must make way for the new. Yet some inventions have long life cycles, the grease fitting for example. Its design has changed little since Oscar Zerk invented it in the early 1920s, yet is still widely used today. The automobile, however, is dynamic and in constant flux. While the classic cars live on into perpetuity, most automobiles face practical obsolescence long before they are functionally inoperable.

The post Aren’t Machines Supposed to Wear Out? appeared first on Tesibis.

Particles. Think about it. Tribological studies on wear-related machine failure rank particle-induced abrasion as the No. 1 cause of wear. This is often referred to as three-body abrasion, where particles become interposed between two surfaces in relative motion, leading to damage (cutting) of both surfaces. Particles contribute to an assortment of other types of wear and failure too, including surface fatigue, silting and erosion.

With this in mind, it is only natural that monitoring the size and concentration of particles in lubricating oil would be of keen interest to the astute reliability professional. It’s no wonder the particle counter is a leading oil analysis instrument and is high on the list of favored instruments in the condition-monitoring field in general.

The post What is the No. 1 Cause and the No. 1 Consequence of Wear? appeared first on Tesibis.

I realize that this statement – No Contamination, No Wear, No Kidding –  may not sit well with some readers, such as a few purists within the tribology community. But before anyone gets too excited, let me start by listing my assumptions:

1. The machine is well designed, manufactured and installed.
2. It is used in the target application within rated operating parameters (loads, speeds, etc.).
3. The lubricant is properly selected and produces an oil film (EHL or HDL).
4. Lubricant levels and change intervals are properly maintained.
5. Oil analysis and other condition monitoring practices are performed to best practice.

The post No Contamination, No Wear, No Kidding appeared first on Tesibis.