Lasers have become increasingly important in industry. They are used to align machinery and perform fine cutting and etching. However, lasers are employed for an even more important function: examining rotary tools for vibrational and misalignment problems.
When the shaft of a rotary tool begins to slip out of alignment, or a bearing begins to wear down, the problem is not apparent at first to the naked eye. A machine can vibrate in the course of its normal function depending upon the RPMs the rotor is pulling and the security of the mounting. But over time, this becomes a significant problem when the tool can no longer perform a precision operation or begins transmitting increasing vibration through its own frame and bench mounting. This can result in damage and possibly compromise worker safety if the machine begins to seriously shake itself during operation. This is where special sensor equipment, measuring with Laser Precision, can detect machine problems early.
Performing Vibration Analysis in San Antonio involves using a laser vibration meter. The tight beam laser can be used to take readings on parts of the machine which were too small to be able to place a contact transducer, or where the unit is placed in an obstructed space or hazard zone in the manufacturing area. Laser vibration meters can be used on suspect machines from as far away as six hundred feet and deliver accurate readings. The feedback on the laser results in a far more precise reading of an unusual vibration than is possible with contact sensors or LED tachometers. It then becomes possible to detect a problem as it is beginning to develop once the laser reading is compared with a baseline measurement of a properly functioning unit. With this information, the plant manager can schedule downtime for maintenance before major repairs become necessary. This will greatly reduce the interval when the unit in question is offline, and will save production schedules from being severely disrupted.
Electronics firms which perform vibration analysis in San Antonio can send a service team out to the plant within an hour of getting the call. They can set up unobtrusively and perform their examination, and produce a complete readout on the machine’s performance with indications pointing to a potential malfunction. Catching a little problem before it becomes a big problem can be a time and, more importantly, a huge money saver.