Hi,
I would like to start off a discussion about how to go about choosing the equipment for a vibration analysis program. I appreciate there are a number of companies out there offering their services. Two such companies already have their claws into us. I guess what I'm after is some independent advice.
I am a plant inspector at a Cement factory in the UK and we are just starting to develop a CBM system. We have guys come in to do patrol monitoring but would eventually like to perform this ourselves and integrate it with some online monitoring of the most critical assets. Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi - what I did is got a consultant on board with no affiliations to look at what we had, what I wanted to do and match me up with the correct brand and model of equipment.
I found his help invaluable when I was just starting out and didn't know one end of a spoon from the other.
He taught me how to eat!
Now I'm big enough to know right from wrong but that only comes from experience.
He helped me set up the programme - gave some good advice and taught me how to maintain it.
A wise old guy who'd been in the profession a long time and new the traps.

Mike.

CSI, Commtest, IRD and all the others have good instruments. The real key to a program is the database setup and the correct people to do the job.

Adjusting a generic database, after a year or so to meet what a plant really needs, is more of a challenge than setting it up from the beginning. So I would be leary of who sets up the original database...... Ex. One setup generically or one setup by someone with years of field experience, can make or break a young onsite program in vibration analysis.

Commtest has Consultant Vibration Analyst who can help you initiate the CBM program, as well as help you with the instruments you need.

Let mw know if you need to contact a consultant at Commtest.

www.schenck-usa.com

Nothing else need be said !!!!

SPM instruments have served me well

spminstrument.co.uk

Camrat,

You had mentioned using third party to perform patrol monitoring of your system. Since they have all your data in their database, you should consider the data management system (analyzer and software)that they are using; to make life easier (setup and data compatibility) on yourselves. That way you have the option of transferring the past data when you take over, need to negotiate with the patrol monitoring outfit.
You had also mentioned having just started developing internal CBM team. If your team does not have relevant experience in vibration data collection and analysis, get them trained by tagging along with the patrol monitoring outfit; which may cost a little bit more upfront but, will pay off in the long run.
As you may be aware, getting the right tool for the program is not enough, you'd need trained people to operate/optimize it otherwise, it'll be doomed for failure right from the start.

Cheers....Rajan Muthukrishnan

Considering online - evaluate your CMMS system and/or if you're getting one keep this in mind as you may want to let it acquire data and have available on all plant terminals.

If you're looking at in-house expertise; where are you and/or - are you getting a vibration analyst? Considering a system (real-time analyzers) that offers powerful diagnostics such as HP, Ono Sokki and such that are PC compatible or interface to PC's. Or, blackbox PdM routes such as CSI, DLI, IRD, Commtest, Conditech, etc.....

What's your budget? What is your 10 goal and 5 year plan? Address these issues and table an organized plan to the guys with the purse with realistic dollar values and ROI #'s.

Thanks for the advice guys.
Vrop, I would be very interested to hear about your experiences with SPM instrument, would you be interested in corresponding?
Regarding the in-house expertise you guys mention, I hope that's going to be me which is why I want to get the system right first time, as I need a lot of training and support.
From all the stuff I have read over the last few days, I think we may give Rockwell a call, Anyone have experience of their systems?

We are following a similar plan to the one you describe RajSha, However, I think we need a more structured training program, whenever I try to tag along with the patrol guys something always seems to get in the way.

Like I said earlier Rockwell will come in and develop the whole system for you from scratch which could be good - or it may be good to get an independent to do this for you.
The trouble with the prior is the fact they may push you too high for the $$$$.

Mike.

Camarat

stephen.morgan@acetateproducts.com

quote:

stephen.morgan@acetateproducts.com

Thanks Stephen, I sent you an e-mail.

Camrat
I have received your email and replied. We are having a few problems with outgoing emails at the moment,so if you have not received one would you email me a daytime contact phone number so I can get in touch?

We use CSI or now know as AMS Suite by Emerson Process Management. Software support and training are top notch. We have been with them for over 10 years. What every system you chose do it carefully as after the steep software learning curve and the possibility of not being able to reuse the archived data in another system changing becomes problematic and expensive at best.

quote:

What every system you chose do it carefully as after the steep software learning curve and the possibility of not being able to reuse the archived data in another system changing becomes problematic and expensive at best.

There's a great deal of truth packed into this one little sentence!

Hello,

Our plant has implemented a new CBM system from scratch. We are using SKF Aptitude software for Hierachy building and Machine suite for data collection and analysis. We have had good luck with it so far. We are now trending a years worth of data and adjusting fault levels. We have many wins to show for the effort/money that was put into it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ddane,

hi, i have been using and like Pruftechnik equipment, i.e. VibScaner and VibXpert in the Cement industry for many years, they are lightweight and very robust which is usful when dealing with cement and clinker dust. i hope this helps

cheers

Camrat, I will refer to ISO vibration standards which will contain the equipment to be monitored and their conditions assessed against, as a start.

Pruftechnic are very good. Skf are good and Rockwell are usefull but they do like to charge

Camrat,

If you need some help selecting a system, than let me know.

zeeshan@ptsco.com.pk
mzeeiqbal@hotmail.com

May be I can give you some input.

Also which part of UK are you in???

Regards

Zeeshan