Practical Solutions to Machinery and Maintenance

Vibration Problems

Course Objective

To provide a comprehensive, practical understanding of vibration analysis as a tool for

quickly identifying and correcting the root causes of machinery problems, achieving
precise tolerances, and improving machinery performance beyond what is expected for
new machines.

Format

Five days

Summary

Update’s premier course is for those just starting out in vibration as well as those who
have many years of experience. The knowledge gained has been used (to increase
practical vibration knowledge) by thousands of participants worldwide.

Modern vibration programs easily identify problem machinery and have proven
economic benefits. However, efforts are often concentrated on the prediction of problems
in high profile equipment while the majority of machines are ignored. It has been shown,
however, that the greatest savings are realized by improving the performance of all
machines so that they last longer, require less downtime, consume less power, and
improve plant productivity. This course will train you to use your vibration tools to assess
machinery condition, identify and correct the root causes of problems, and move away
from “find and fix” vibration analysis strategies.

Learn How to Quickly Analyze Vibration Behavior

Fundamental vibration concepts are presented with a practical approach in mind.

Participants can immediately apply the knowledge gained from this seminar to analyze
the mechanical condition of rotating machinery, from pumps and fans to large turbine
generators and compressors.

Build Problem Solving Skills

Through demonstrations and case histories, students develop a thinking process to

identify the root cause of vibration problems from the analysis of a variety of symptoms.
Examples presented are typical of those encountered in the field. Several solutions are
presented for problems resulting from unbalance, misalignment, resonance, and many
other machinery defects.

Learn How to Prevent Vibration Problems

Beyond vibration analysis and troubleshooting skills, the correction and prevention of
problems is emphasized. Easy to apply techniques for reducing vibration in your rotating
equipment to levels equal to, or often better than, manufacturers’ specifications are
continuously emphasized.

Build an Effective Vibration Control Team

“No man is an island.” This saying is certainly true for anyone involved in vibration
control. Managers and supervisors, engineers and vibration specialists — as well as
craftspeople, mechanics, and technicians — must all do their part for a vibration program
to succeed. We focus on how to build a truly effective team by identifying both
individual roles and ways to improve communication and cooperation among members.
Team interaction with machinery vendors and outside contractors is also addressed.

Who Should Attend:

 Maintenance and Reliability Engineers

 Vibration Specialists
 Advanced Mechanical Technicians

Notebook/Laptop Computer

This seminar uses vibration analysis simulation software. We recommend that you bring
a notebook computer to the seminar.

Course Content

Basics of Vibration

 Why and when to use velocity, displacement, and acceleration

 Using phase for more complete vibration analysis
 Using phase to determine how one structural member is vibrating compare to
another

Resonance

 Understanding resonance
 Factors that affect natural frequency
 Confirming a part’s resonance through quick and temporary means
 Fatigue cracks and failure due to resonance
 Resonance bump tests
 Plotting and using vibration mode shape to determine if a part is resonant
 Using phase change to identify a resonant condition
 Determining whether it is due to support structure or vibration source
 Resonance — curing the source or the symptom
 Resonance case histories
Unbalance

 Prevention and correction of unbalance

 Single plane vs. two plane unbalance
 Using phase to determine vibration due to unbalance
 Spectral analysis for unbalance
 Preventing unbalance due to assembly errors
 Working with vendors to improve balancing standards and receive smoother
running machinery

Coupling and Shaft Misalignment

 Vibration due to coupling and shaft misalignment

 Phase and spectral symptoms of coupling misalignment
 Most common alignment errors

Other Vibration Sources

 Machinery Soft Foot and Foot-Related Resonance

 Static tests and running machine tests
 Bent Shaft, Looseness (Including Bearings), and Belt Vibrations
 Understanding, Preventing, and Correcting Gear Vibrations
 Vibration Due to Beats
 Effect of a beat on phase
 Eliminating the effect of a beat on instrument reading
 Vibration Due to Rolling Element Bearings
 Vibration Due to Eccentricity
 Electric Motor Vibration-Related Problems
 Mental Approach to Vibration Analysis
 What to look for most of the time
 Approaching a machinery vibration problem

"I thought it was excellent. I have been bragging about it to all my fellow workers.
Especially the training you gave on RESONANCE. We have a lot of problems with pipe
resonance and I didn't have a clue on how to track down the source until I took your
course." -- January 2004

Maintenance Mechanic
Major Petrochemical Processor

“This is the type of training that will make my company more competitive and profitable.
This course will help be more precise in my job which will in turn increase the amount of
pride I will feel.”
Machinist
Consumers Power