Relying solely on bearing defect frequency can lead to errors in diagnosing the bearing condition, potentially resulting in unexpected failures. In a case study involving an electric motor with a revolution speed of 1770 RPM and bearings 6308, the following bearing frequencies were identified:
The electric motor and screw pump were positioned vertically.
During the analysis, a high bearing envelope was indicated.
However, no bearing frequencies were observed on the FFT velocity or envelope analysis:
It was decided to replace both bearings. Subsequent measurements and feedback from the crew confirmed the initial diagnosis, validating the decision to replace the bearings.
Conclusion:
It’s crucial to understand that bearing defect frequencies may not always be visible even when a bearing is defective. If only the bearing number is known and the exact manufacturer is unknown, the bearing defect frequency may differ from assumptions. Bearings with significant defects in their final wear stages may only show an increased noise floor and haystack pattern in velocity or envelope readings. Therefore, a comprehensive approach is necessary for accurate bearing condition diagnosis to avoid unexpected machinery failures.
Discover more about our Rotating Machinery Vibration Measurement
#BearingConditionDiagnosis #NonSynchronousPeaks #FFTAnalysis #BearingDefects #ElectricMotorMaintenance #VibrationAnalysis #ConditionMonitoring #PredictiveMaintenance #MachineryHealth #BearingReplacement #VibrationDiagnostics #IndustrialMaintenance #EquipmentReliability #MachineVibration #FaultDetection #RotatingEquipment #MaintenanceEngineering #BearingFailurePrevention #NoiseFloorAnalysis #EnvelopeReading #MachineryDiagnostics #RotatingMachinery #IndustrialEquipment #PreventiveMaintenance #EngineeringSolutions