Vibralign Blog

condition monitoring| machinery diagnostics| Precision Shaft Alignment| Vibration Analysis

By Mac MacCormack on July 16, 2019

I read that Albert Einstein once said, “I don’t need to know everything, I just need to know where to find it when I need it.” If one did some research, that may not necessarily be true. However, if a question comes up, it’s always helpful to have resources to refer to. When it comes […]

bearing failure| bearing installation| bearing replacement| bearings| data centers

By VibrAlign Author on July 15, 2019

A key purpose of vibration analysis is to detect bearing problems before bearings fail and damage is done. This, of course, means that bearings will need to be replaced.  Proper bearing extraction and installation is important to extending the life of bearings as well. First, it is important to know when you need to replace […]

Documentation| information| measurement

By VibrAlign Author on July 10, 2019

Before you can implement a condition monitoring program, it is important to document certain information on your machines. This post will hopefully help you organize your routes and efficiently implement a predictive maintenance plan. Even better, you can download our free Machine Data Sheet which will give you fields to fill in all the important […]

"shaft alignment"| alignment data| Documentation| Fixturlaser NXA| information

By VibrAlign Author on July 9, 2019

Documenting and saving alignment data is critical to being able to achieve repeatable shaft alignments. It also helps you maintain an effective predictive maintenance plan that will ensure your plant runs smoothly.  When a machine is experiencing a problem, it will save a lot of time if you can look back on recorded data from […]

data centers| Machinery maintenance| predictive maintenance| pumps

By VibrAlign Author on July 8, 2019

Are you prioritizing a regular, predictive maintenance routine for pumps in your facility? Implementing a PdM plan is important for any piece of equipment in your facility. It is essential for sustained function and efficiency of pumps, especially since it is estimated that they account for 25 percent of total motor system energy in the […]

belt alignment| data centers| sheave alignment

By VibrAlign Author on July 2, 2019

Proper belt installation and tensioning and sheave alignment are essential in order for a facility to function at optimum efficiency. A key thing to understand when it comes to belts is proper sizing. Whether you are using a correctly-sized belt for your machine will have a significant impact on the machine’s ability to function at […]

condition monitoring| OneProd Falcon| OneProd Nest| Vibration Analysis

By Chris Troutt on June 26, 2019

One key bit of data required when collecting data or analyzing it is accurately pinpointing the RPM. When we set up schematics in the Machine Set Up module  we tell the software what the RPM is here. When setting up a machine in the Nest you can choose either fixed speed, variable speed with keyboard, […]

"shaft alignment"| data centers| Pre-Alignment| soft foot

By VibrAlign Author on June 21, 2019

  Knowing how to perform a precision shaft alignment is important when it comes to maintenance skills. Whether you are using dial indicators or a laser alignment tool (if you are in the market for either, we have several options here), being able to achieve an accurate, repeatable alignment is key. A few reminders: The […]

business| companies| customer service| customers

By VibrAlign Author on June 14, 2019

Have you ever had a remarkable customer experience, a time when a company representative went above and beyond and made your day? These kinds of experiences are rare, which is unfortunate, but this is likely why we remember them and want to share them with others. Recently, VibrAlign’s COO experienced an example of this. While […]

bearings| data centers| lubrication| predictive maintenance

By VibrAlign Author on June 11, 2019

Another important skill a data center maintenance worker needs is an understanding of the fundamentals of lubrication. Although lubrication may seem simple, there is a good deal of skill behind knowing proper lubrication methods, quantities, and the difference between over and under lubrication. And because under or over lubrication can cause serious problems such as […]

data centers| maintenance skills| precision measurement| tools

By VibrAlign Author on June 6, 2019

We have been privileged to both sell tools and shaft alignment, vibration testing, and precision maintenance training for several different data centers throughout the US.  Most of the maintenance technicians we encounter have solid electronics and computer skills, but some are less experienced with mechanical skills. Thus, some of the challenges faced by these maintenance […]

non-repeatability| Pre-Alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| Repeatability

By Brad Case on May 30, 2019

During a recent training class at the facility of a client who had their initial Shaft Alignment Best Practices training class 5 years prior, I found out none of the previous class attendees were still in maintenance. The “new” guys never had anyone show them the proper use of their laser and most had no […]

data centers| emergency generators| HVAC| power source| servers

By VibrAlign Author on May 23, 2019

Just like for any plant, it is critical for the data center to sustain minimal to no interruptions to normal processes. The amount of (often sensitive) data housed in the data center servers makes it imperative that data centers continue to run, no matter the conditions. This is why backup generators are so important. In the […]

cooling| data centers| fans| HVAC| maintenance

By VibrAlign Author on May 20, 2019

In this installment of our data center maintenance series, we will discuss fans. While HVAC chillers ensure cool water supplied to fans for cool air is pumped into the servers in a data center, fans ensure that the hot air from the servers is removed efficiently and redirected to the Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) […]

chillers| condensers| cooling| cooling system| Cooling Towers| data centers| temperature

By VibrAlign Author on May 14, 2019

Cooling towers and related components such as chilled water and condenser water pumps are another common type of data center equipment. On a basic level, cooling systems in data centers remove heat from one element and redirect it to another. A cooling tower is the depository for the excess heat given off by data center […]