Correcting rotation imbalance with VibXpert 3
Rotating assets such as motors, pumps, and generators are at the heart of most industrial operations. When these assets fail, they can derail production cycles and force the shutdown of entire operations. On the other hand, proper maintenance of these assets will extend their lifespan, keeping them productive for years and avoiding unplanned downtime and unnecessary maintenance costs. One of the best ways to keep rotating machinery running in optimal condition is to quickly identify, diagnose, and correct rotational imbalance. When maintenance teams can quickly and accurately diagnose imbalance, repairs are simpler and costs remain low.
Recent technological advances have made it easier than ever to identify and correct imbalance early before the problem requires costly and complicated repairs. While it was historically difficult to capture accurate measurements on-site, modern technology allows maintenance personnel to accurately identify sources of imbalance and make repairs without disassembling or relocating the asset to a shop.
The VibXpert 3 Balancer is one of the fastest and most accurate tools on the market for diagnosing and correcting imbalance problems. The tool has the added benefit of being extremely easy to use. In fact, the VibXpert 3 Balancer is so intuitive to use that it can act as a training tool, helping employees learn by working with it. When used correctly, the VibXpert 3 Balancer helps teams keep their equipment running longer and protects them from problems related to unbalanced assets.
What is an imbalance problem?
Unbalance (also known as asymmetry) is one of the leading causes of failure in rotating assets. The problem is dangerous precisely because it can be difficult to identify. At first, machine imbalance is subtle. However, if left uncorrected, damage to the machine and its components will result. At its worst, imbalance can also pose a danger to the environment and nearby workers.
Even a seemingly minor imbalance increases the vibration levels of assets. As vibration levels increase, they cause excess friction and heat, which ultimately leads to premature wear on bearings, shafts, belts, and other machine components. Imbalance can also affect the foundation of the machine.
As imbalance becomes more severe, components of an asset must be replaced more frequently, increasing repair and spare parts costs. An unbalanced machine will also consume more energy and operate less efficiently, further increasing costs and slowing production.
Ultimately, if left unchecked for too long, machine imbalance can lead to failures that halt all activity, drain resources, and damage customer relationships. Imbalance can even become a real and present danger. For example, an unbalanced asset can overheat and cause a fire. The unpredictable noise and movement caused by high levels of vibration can also be dangerous to workers and the environment.
Other factors to solve the imbalance in rotation
In recent years, maintenance teams have faced new and intense pressures, affecting virtually every aspect of work. Most operations today use a wider variety of complex assets than in years past.
In addition, maintenance teams are working with ever-shrinking staff and the skills gap is widening . More experienced employees are reaching retirement age, and newer employees often lack the skills and training needed to identify and resolve problems such as imbalance with traditional tools.
Maintenance managers must find smart ways to use their limited resources to keep assets running smoothly, and many of them oversee multiple work sites.
What does this mean for imbalance?
Today’s workforce reality means that many employees do not have the experience or training necessary to identify and correct turnover imbalance problems. They need modern, sophisticated instruments that can guide them through the process of measuring, diagnosing, and correcting the imbalance. These instruments can be a powerful training tool so that employees can learn on the job.
Today’s maintenance teams also need instruments that work quickly and efficiently. Machines are becoming more complex, so isolating and diagnosing defects is also becoming more difficult. An efficient balancing instrument should be able to take measurements quickly from multiple points. It should also be able to store the measurements and make them available for analysis.
Given the time constraints faced by most maintenance teams today, these modern instruments must also serve in the field. This means that they must be robust, durable and easy to operate even in harsh environments. This may sound like a tall order, but it is within reach.
VibXpert 3 meets all these requirements and many more.
Introducing VibXpert 3 Balancer
VibXpert 3 is a state-of-the-art precision balancing instrument designed to meet today’s work environment needs. It takes fast and accurate measurements of up to six points at a time, providing comprehensive information on the condition of the machine. The instrument is very intuitive to use, even for workers without a strong technical background. VibXpert 3 is rugged and durable, making it ideal for use in the field. Its capabilities also exceed those of a traditional field balancer.
VibXpert 3 can identify the exact location of the imbalance and ensure that imbalance issues have been resolved.
VibXpert 3 has six synchronous channels so you can easily perform multi-channel vibration measurements. Older balancing instruments required users to set up a vibration sensor, take and record a measurement, and then move the balancer to the next point on the machine to take the measurement. The process was laborious and error-prone.
The multi-channel functionality of VibXpert 3 provides much faster performance than conventional balancers. Setup takes just a few minutes and measurements are obtained almost instantly. The machine also measures vibration levels in multiple formats so users can collect spectrum data as well as overall vibration levels.
The result is an instrument that can quickly and accurately identify the source of the imbalance so that maintenance technicians can get to work and make repairs immediately.
VibXpert 3 can be used in the field, even in harsh environments.
VibXpert 3 is rugged and designed to withstand the most demanding environments. It can even be dropped without being damaged. It is resistant to water and dust ingress, and maintains its high performance even in extreme temperatures. The instrument’s touchscreen is also scratch-proof.
Most importantly, VibXpert 3 works quickly and accurately, so workers can get in and out quickly. Crews can achieve the same level of accuracy as in a specialist shop, but they will save time and resources.
VibXpert 3 is intuitive and easy to use, even for inexperienced teams.
VibXpert 3 has an interactive touchscreen that provides users with full visibility of the data captured by the instrument. The touchscreen functionality resembles a mobile app, making it a natural choice for the new generation of workers. Users simply swipe and tap to navigate fields or pinch to zoom. Menus are clear and easy to understand. Plus, all relevant vibration data is displayed in one place for easy access.
The interactive display also guides users through the process of measuring and correcting rotational imbalance step-by-step. It helps users pinpoint the exact source of the imbalance and correct the problem. And because taking multi-point measurements is so quick and easy, operators can easily double-check to ensure they have fully corrected the original problem.
The conclusion
Fluke Reliability engineers designed VibXpert 3 to be faster, more accurate and more intuitive than any other balancing instrument. VibXpert 3 not only detects problems, it helps you correct them.
Thanks to the instrument’s six synchronous channels, it can detect even subtle changes in vibration patterns, both in the asset and in the parts that compose it. VibXpert 3 is an instrument that makes thoroughness easy.
Thanks to the instrument’s six synchronous channels, it can detect even subtle changes in vibration patterns, both in the asset and in the parts that compose it. VibXpert 3 is an instrument that makes thoroughness easy.
