Vibralign Blog

machine tools| CNC| industry

By VibrAlign Author on August 1, 2019

Machine tools are instrumental in creating a broad spectrum of objects–everything from large automotive and aerospace parts to cell phone cases to diminutive screws and board game pieces. Machine tools, and more specifically, CNC machines, are used to manufacture objects that require a high level of precision. These objects can be made out of various […]

machine tools| CNC| level| measurements

By VibrAlign Author on July 31, 2019

Leveling your CNC machine is a very important function that you can perform on it. A level machine is critical to optimizing its capability and essential to producing the highest quality of machined parts for a myriad of applications. If you work with CNC machines, you undoubtedly know the importance of keeping your machine level–it […]

data centers| HVAC| maintenance

By VibrAlign Author on July 30, 2019

Knowledge of HVAC systems is essential for data center workers since heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are so integral to the data center. A good HVAC technician will be familiar with a wide range of HVAC systems, controls, and installation methods. The skills needed for a thorough knowledge of HVAC include: Knowledge of refrigeration Knowledge […]

Balancing| trial weight

By Stan Riddle on July 26, 2019

In our last Balancing How-To, I stated that an initial trial weight is sometimes a guess.  Sometimes based on experience, and sometimes on common sense.  But if you prefer to be a little more scientific about it, there are ways to calculate a good trial weight. There are a few requirements to calculate a trial […]

"journal bearings"| bearings| rolling element bearings

By VibrAlign Author on July 25, 2019

As anyone who works with rotating machinery knows, bearings are essential to machine functions. One of the first things to know about bearings is that there are two main types. We will go over these two main types and more in this installment of our Condition Monitoring Basics series of blog posts. The two main […]

alignment| predictive maintenance| machine tools| alignment checks| wrecks| crashes| level

By VibrAlign Author on July 24, 2019

This is not an easy question to answer. We all know that machines can move and don’t stay level forever. Do you ever have a crash on your machine that could throw off the alignment? While we hope this doesn’t happen often, the reality is, crashes and wrecks do happen.  However, there are some things […]

machine tools| MEAX| cost per part| machine shops| costs

By VibrAlign Author on July 23, 2019

Knowing your cost per part is critical to ensuring your machine shop is operating efficiently. But how do you calculate this? Here is a simple equation to calculate cost per part: Total fixed costs + Total variable costs ÷ Total units produced Fixed costs include things like building rent, insurance for employees, and other overhead […]

Vibration Analysis| misalignment| unbalance| spectrum

By VibrAlign Author on July 22, 2019

  Unbalance and misalignment are problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible, but before you can begin to fix them, first you need to know how to find them on a spectrum. We will go over this below. For example, with a fan, unbalance appears on the spectrum as a higher than […]

Job Safety| machine tools| employees

By VibrAlign Author on July 18, 2019

  You can’t overestimate the importance of safety in the workplace. Especially with recent tragic stories of workplace accidents like the one in a steel processing plant in California or at a silicone plant in Illinois, the need for safety in the workplace is more important than ever. In this post we will focus particularly […]

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

By VibrAlign Author 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 […]

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

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"| Fixturlaser NXA| Documentation| alignment data| 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 […]

predictive maintenance| Machinery maintenance| data centers| 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| sheave alignment| data centers

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 […]