Equipment Knowledge

Equipment Knowledge

Developing an Effective Electric Motor Testing Program

It is estimated that almost half (45 percent) of global electricity is used by electric motors. Electric motors drive a considerable amount of equipment in almost all industries, from power generation to water and food supply to consumer products. The importance of electric motors in modern society cannot be understated. It is because of this vital role that it pays huge dividends to keep your electric motors running efficiently through a quality reliability program that includes energized and de-energized electric motor testing (EMT).

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Equipment Knowledge

Best Practices for Compressor Storage

Air receivers store compressed air and are used to temporarily satisfy fluctuations in plant air demand. There are other benefits of a wet receiver such as cooling and cleaning the air before it enters the air treatment equipment. Storage benefits highlighted below apply to all compressor control types. Understanding best practices for compressor storage for a lubricated trim compressor with load/unload controls is critical for optimized performance.

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Equipment Knowledge

Hydraulic System FMEA Made Easy

What they finally realized is that the majority of their day-to-day work orders were being generated to repair things that were happening at the failure mode level, which was determined to be reactive maintenance. How times have changed! These days, the majority of those senior level managers have been promoted into positions within the reliability group and their technicians are now using improvement-based maintenance techniques. They have never looked back since!

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Equipment Knowledge

Setting Techniques for Tapered Roller Bearings

Tapered roller bearings can be set at initial machine assembly to any desired axial or radial clearance. This unique feature enables a designer to control bearings to meet anticipated application operating conditions, and thereby provide optimum bearing and system performance. Some advantages of tapered roller bearings pertaining to setting include…

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Equipment Knowledge

The Most Definitive Test of a Hydraulic Pump

Several tests can be performed on a hydraulic pump to indicate its condition. The temperature of the pump case, the flow of the case drain and the current draw of the drive motor are common checks that can be done regularly and over a period of time to track the wear of a hydraulic pump.

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Equipment Knowledge

Gear Pump Operation and Maintenance

Gear pumps are the most common type of positive displacement pump, ideal for transferring high viscosity fluids such as automotive oils, plastics, paint, adhesives, and soaps. As with any pump, proper operation and regular maintenance are vital to reducing costly pump repairs and maximizing pump efficiency. Below are helpful tips for operating your gear pump and ensuring it achieves a long operating life through regular maintenance. As with any pump, proper operation and regular maintenance are vital to reducing costly pump repairs and maximizing pump efficiency.

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Equipment Knowledge

Costs and Capabilities of Pneumatic, Electric Actuators

Pneumatic or electric? It’s not a new question. The merits of each have long been subject to discussion, but a fair amount of confusion continues to exist about which makes more sense for what. For example, are you considering replacing a compressor and 200 pneumatic cylinders with electric actuators because you think you’ll save on compressor costs? Or, perhaps you are thinking about building a new machine with pneumatics because 30 electric actuators are far too expensive. Make the wrong decision in either case and you could waste tens of thousands of dollars a year.

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Engineering

The Meaning of Bearing Life

Experience shows seemingly identical rolling bearings operated under identical conditions may not last the same amount of time. In most cases, it is impractical to test a statistically significant number of bearings, so engineers rely on standardized bearing-life calculations to select and size bearings for a particular application. These calculations continue to evolve and become more accurate over time, reflecting the collective experience of the bearing industry, including recent advances in manufacturing, tribology, materials, end-user condition monitoring, and computation.

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