Adding condition monitoring as part of maintenance can seem like a major project when planning it, and you have to start somewhere. Vibration measurements performed with a handheld measuring device, i.e. so-called route measurements, are often the easiest way to start monitoring the condition of machines. As the name suggests, route measurements refer to measurements carried out as a “route”, meaning vibration measurements performed with a handheld measuring device according to a predefined equipment list.
Critical equipment is reviewed together with the customer and added to the equipment list, while also deciding together how often the measurements will be carried out. The more frequently measurements are taken, the more reliable the condition monitoring is. However, even the first measurements provide an overview of the equipment and reveal any possible faults. Depending on the intended use of the machines, equipment is measured using route measurements approximately 1–4 times a year.
Route measurements take only a short amount of time on site. While taking the measurements, the person carrying them out can simultaneously see, hear and feel the general condition of the machine, which adds significant value to the analysis of the measurements. Machine operators or maintenance personnel also know the history of the machine, and this information is often significant from the perspective of the analysis.
The measurements are often analysed only later, but clear faults can already be identified on site. During the analysis, the results are compared with previous measurements and changes in the results are identified. Based on the frequencies detected, the possible causes of the vibration are considered.
In order to get more out of the measurements than just numbers and graphs, the results should also be written out in an understandable form for the customer. The report goes through the issues identified during the measurements as well as the recommended corrective actions in written form. This way, the customer does not have to interpret the results themselves.
Route measurements are a cost-effective way to start condition monitoring. Contact us using the form below if you would like to start condition monitoring in your company.
