Machine Condition Monitoring Flashcards
What does amplitude indicate?
Amplitude indicates how much a machine is vibrating.
What is displacement?
Displacement is the total distance a vibrating part moves either side of its neutral axis.
What is velocity in the context of vibration?
Velocity is the rate of change of displacement for a given time.
What is acceleration in the context of vibration?
Acceleration is the rate of change in velocity for a given time.
What is the relationship between amplitude measurements?
The relationship between these measurements allows you to interpret and calculate vibration characteristics.
How is displacement represented graphically?
If a graph is made of the displacement versus time, the graph looks like a sine wave.
What is peak-to-peak displacement?
Peak-to-peak displacement is the total distance travelled from one extreme of the motion to the other.
What are the units for measuring displacement?
Displacement may be measured in either imperial (mils pk to pk) or metric (microns pk to pk).
In what units is displacement measured?
Imperial-1 mil = 0.001 inch.
Metric-1 micron= 0.001mm
When is displacement most often used?
Displacement is most often used below 600 pm or 1000 rpm where stress conditions such as flexing and bending are suspected and in balancing procedures.
What is velocity?
The rate of change of displacement, measured as the maximum velocity the vibrating part achieves.
Velocity combines displacement and frequency.
How is maximum velocity represented on a sine wave?
It takes place on the neutral axis.
This refers to the point where the vibrating part crosses the zero axis.
What is the relationship between velocity and displacement?
Velocity combines displacement (how far it moves) and frequency (how often).
How does the velocity of the vibrating part change during motion?
It changes from zero at one extreme to maximum in the middle, then back to zero at the other extreme.
What is the standard unit for measuring velocity in imperial systems?
Inches per second (in/see or ips).
What is the standard unit for measuring velocity in metric systems?
Millimeters per second (mm/s).
Why are velocity readings important for machine condition assessment?
They are the best indicator of overall machine condition because the force due to velocity can be large, even if displacement is not severe.
What is the range of consistent velocity readings?
Between 600 cpm and 60,000 cpm (60k).
Fill in the blank: The maximum velocity is always used for _______ measurements.
[velocity]
True or False: The maximum velocity occurs at both extremes of the vibrating part’s motion.
False
What does the frequency of vibration indicate in a machine?
It indicates whether the forcing frequency is periodic or random and can help identify specific problems like imbalance or misalignment in the machine.
What is the predominant or fundamental frequency in vibration analysis?
It is the frequency with the highest spike on a vibration signature and is usually the lowest or first frequency associated with a particular problem.
If a machine rotates at 1800 RPM, what is the dominant vibration frequency?
The dominant vibration frequency matches the machine’s running speed, which would be 1800 cycles per minute (CPM) or 1× RPM.
What are some possible sources of vibration in a machine?
Misalignment, imbalance, bearing damage, gear problems, cracked welds, resonance.
What is displacement in the context of vibration?
It is the total distance traveled by a vibrating object from one extreme of motion to the other, usually measured in peak-to-peak (pk to pk).
What are the units used to measure displacement in imperial and metric systems?
Imperial: 1 mil = 0.001 inch; Metric: 1 micron = 0.001 mm.
When is displacement most commonly used for analysis?
It is used below 600 CPM or 1000 RPM when stress conditions like flexing and bending are suspected.
Why is oil condition monitoring important in machine maintenance?
It helps avoid costly machine failures and downtime by detecting contamination and potential problems in the lubricant.
What contaminants can affect lubricating oils?
Water, varnish, oxidation products, dirt, anti-freeze.
What are the benefits of oil condition monitoring?
Planned maintenance schedules, identifying problems before failure occurs, maximizing component life, trending equipment condition, establishing maintenance guidelines.
Which systems are commonly monitored for oil condition?
Hydraulic systems, engines, compressors, turbines, gearboxes.
What does temperature analysis help detect in machinery?
It detects overloaded electrical circuits, loose connections, and frictional heating of bearings.
What is the range of emissivity used in infrared thermography?
It ranges from 0.00 (no emission) to 1.00 (complete emission).
How does infrared thermography help in condition monitoring?
It measures heat emitted from objects and compares it with a baseline. Increased temperatures indicate potential faults like mechanical failure.
What type of device is used in infrared thermography?
A non-contact radiant energy detector, such as an infrared thermometer.
What information must be identified during vibration analysis?
Date of data collection, type of machine, equipment number, machine location, machine speed, bearing type and location, coupling type and location, components within the machine system.
Why is early detection of vibration issues important?
It allows for corrections to be made, avoiding machine destruction and reducing downtime.
What maintenance program uses both oil condition monitoring and temperature analysis?
Preventative maintenance programs.
What is a harmonic in vibration analysis?
A harmonic is a multiple or sub-multiple of the fundamental frequency.
What are the three types of vibrations?
Synchronous, non-synchronous, and sub-synchronous vibrations
- Synchronous vibrations: Frequencies that are whole multiples of the machine’s rotating speed (e.g., 1× RPM, 2× RPM)
- Non-synchronous vibrations: Frequencies that are not whole multiples of the rotating speed
- Sub-synchronous vibrations: Frequencies that occur at less than the rotating speed of the machine
What is a baseline in vibration analysis?
A baseline is a reference standard for the vibration of a machine, recorded under normal or new conditions.
What does acceleration measure in vibration analysis?
Acceleration measures the rate of change in velocity and is expressed in g’s force.
What is the significance of acceleration in high-frequency vibrations?
At high frequencies (above 60,000 CPM), the force indicated by acceleration is large enough to cause damage, even if displacement and velocity do not show significant vibration.
What is phase in vibration analysis?
Phase is the relationship between displacement, velocity, and acceleration, expressed in degrees.
What does it mean for two points to be ‘in phase’?
Two points vibrate in the same direction on the shaft at the same time.
What does it mean for two points to be ‘out of phase’?
Two points vibrate in opposite directions (e.g., 180° apart).
What is natural frequency?
It is the frequency at which an object naturally vibrates when a forcing function is introduced.
What is resonant frequency, and why is it important?
Resonant frequency amplifies energy from a forcing function, causing large amplitude vibrations that can destroy machines.
What is critical speed?
Critical speed occurs when a rotor or shaft rotates at or near its natural frequency, causing resonance and a marked increase in vibration.
Why should machines avoid operating at critical speed?
Operating at critical speed can damage the machine.
What is the period of vibration?
The period is the time required to complete one cycle of a periodic signal.
What is the primary function of a transducer in vibration analysis?
To convert vibration motion into an electrical signal.
Which of the following is NOT a type of transducer used in vibration analysis?
Pressure transducer.
Why can no single transducer measure all vibration parameters across all frequency ranges?
Each transducer type has a different degree of sensitivity and is optimized for specific frequency ranges.
What is the purpose of a severity chart in vibration analysis?
To classify vibration levels as smooth, rough, or very rough.
What does the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) capability in a vibration analyzer do?
Changes signals from amplitude vs. time to amplitude vs. frequency.
What is the purpose of a vibration pencil in machine diagnostics?
To provide quick measurements of specific vibration characteristics.
What is the primary feature of a portable vibration meter?
It is lightweight and capable of taking overall vibration readings.
What is the advantage of a vibration monitor compared to a portable vibration meter?
Vibration monitors provide continuous monitoring of vibrations.
How are vibration analyzers different from vibration monitors?
Vibration analyzers are more complex and can perform advanced analyses.
What is the primary purpose of a velocity transducer?
Velocity transducers are used for general vibration measurements and balancing. They generate their own power and produce voltage proportional to the velocity of motion.
How does a velocity transducer work?
A permanent magnet moves relative to a wire coil within the transducer, generating voltage. The faster the motion of the vibration, the larger the voltage produced.
Why are velocity transducers not reliable at very low or very high frequencies?
They are not reliable at very low frequencies for displacement and are not accurate at higher frequencies when measuring acceleration.
What do non-contact eddy current displacement transducers measure?
They measure the relative distance between a bearing housing and a bearing journal, providing a real-time picture of shaft movement.
What is critical when installing a proximity probe?
The probe must be calibrated any time a component is changed, and factors such as shaft run-out, scratches, and variations in the target material can affect its performance.
Why must the shaft be a conductor for eddy current displacement transducers to work?
Eddy currents are generated by the conducting material of the shaft, which are necessary for the transducer to measure changes in voltage.
What material is commonly used in accelerometers, and why?
Piezoelectric materials, such as quartz or ceramics, are used because they create electrical current when strained by force.
What makes accelerometers especially useful in vibration analysis?
They are sensitive to vibrations at very high frequencies and can transform signals into displacement or velocity for analysis.
Why is mounting critical for accelerometers?
Any looseness in the transducer mounting can result in incorrect readings, as accelerometers are highly sensitive.
Which transducer is best for measuring displacement, velocity, and acceleration?
Displacement is best measured with a displacement transducer, velocity with a velocity transducer, and acceleration with an accelerometer.
Why are accelerometers often used for portable applications?
They can measure all vibration parameters and translate vibration signals into all chosen parameters with high accuracy.
Why is the method of mounting a transducer important?
Improper mounting can distort the true vibrations, leading to inaccurate readings. Consistency in mounting methods is essential for repeatable results.
What are some common mounting methods for transducers?
Common methods include:
* stud mounting (best)
* magnetic pickup (good)
* probe (fair)
* shaft rider accessory (fair)
What are the two ways a strobe light can be used in vibration analysis?
• Manually, by adjusting the frequency to match the speed of the rotating shaft for analysis.
• Automatically, by setting it to flash at the dominant frequency of the vibration.
What is the purpose of a transducer-triggered strobe light?
It helps identify which components are producing the vibration signal and determines the relationship of the components excited by the vibration.
How is a strobe light used to balance rotating parts?
It measures the phase angle of the vibration during balancing.