Schaeffler unveils ‘early warning’ unit
15 Aug 2016
Precision bearing manufacturer Schaeffler has launched a standalone system for monitoring the condition of rotating plant equipment.
The system can be operated by maintenance staff with little or no expertise in vibration monitoring technology, the company said, owing to an automatic fault assessment feature.
The FAG SmartQB is a pre-configured condition monitoring system for electric motors, pumps, fans, compressors and gearboxes supported by rolling bearings with fixed or variable speeds from 100 to 15,000 rpm.
According to Schaeffler, operation of the unit requires no specific skills. When changes occur in the condition of the equipment, it will automatically generate plain text messages on its 7-inch display.
It comprises a FAG SmartQB sensor unit (a variant of the existing FAG SmartCheck condition monitoring device), a cube-shaped housing with touchscreen display, and a cable for power and data transmission (Power-over-Ethernet).
Schaeffler said five causes of faults could be identified and displayed using the system: bearing damage, imbalance, friction/ cavitation (for centrifugal pumps), temperature increases, and general changes in vibration patterns.
“Customers want a plug-and-play condition monitoring system that is easy to install and operate, and which provides automatic, clear answers to any machine problems that occur,” said Steve Lacey, engineering manager at Schaeffler UK. The system is being trialled in various customer sites.
