June 2019Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Vibration in rotating machinery is the oscillation of machine components such as drive motors, driven devices (pumps, compressors, etc), and the bearings, shafts, gears, belts and other elements that make up mechanical systems.
Vibration itself is not a problem, but excess vibration is a symptom of internal issues that could shorten the lifespan of equipment. More than half of unplanned downtime can be attributed to mechanical failures. While many things can impact the life of a machine, once the first signs of degradation appear, it is generally only a matter of months before complete failure occurs. Vibration testing provides a way to determine where a machine is on the failure curve, allowing maintenance teams to react as needed: the higher the overall vibration of a machine the worse the condition.
Comtest has on offer the Fluke 805 vibration meter that measures overall vibration, bearing vibration and temperature simultaneously. Bearing condition is assessed automatically with use of Crest Factor Plus (CF+) and temperature is often used as a second opinion that confirms the bearing assessment based on vibrations. With Fluke Connect for the FC enabled models, trend plots on all available parameters are easily created. The condition of most machinery can be determined instantly through alarm levels that are programmed into the product.
The Fluke 805 delivers reliable, repeatable results, thanks to the innovative sensor and tip design that minimises measurement variations caused by angle or pressure. This unique sensor compensates for the pressure applied during measurement, and provides reliable results both for overall vibration (10-1000 Hz) and bearing measurements (4000-20 000 Hz).
The meter provides a four-level severity scale (good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory and unacceptable) for both overall vibration and bearing condition. Rather than seeing unexplained lights or numerical indications, users can easily assess the severity of the situation with the text-based alerts. The 805 can hold up to 3500 measurements and, if long term trending is required, users can easily export data through a USB connection. No special software is needed because the product is shipped with a disk containing prebuilt Excel templates.
Mini data loggers for temperature and humidity monitoring
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Testo’s range of four compact data loggers covers temperature and humidity monitoring for storage, refrigeration and transport applications, with USB-C or Bluetooth connectivity and capacity for up to 16 000 readings.
Read more...Alternative fuels for cutting, brazing, soldering and heating
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Bolt and Engineering Distributors, as an authorised distributor for the Harris Products Group, is helping South African industries transition from acetylene to safer, more cost-effective alternative fuels for cutting, brazing, soldering and heating applications.
Read more...Rethinking corrosion protection in process plants Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
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Remote monitoring is changing how cathodic and anodic protection systems are managed in process plants, giving operators continuous visibility of corrosion protection performance and enabling more proactive maintenance decisions.
Read more...Installation safety tester Vepac Electronics
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A combination measuring device for testing electrical installations, offering safety tests including RCD, voltage, loop, low-resistance, earth resistance and insulation checks via a 3,5-inch TFT colour display.
Read more...Linear regulated 2-channel laboratory power supply Vepac Electronics
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Vepac Electronics offers a dual-channel laboratory power supply built for safe, precise testing in laboratories and workshops.
Read more...When oil gets old Wearcheck
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WearCheck explains how oxidation breaks down lubricating oils over time, and how routine oil analysis can catch the warning signs before equipment failure.
Read more...SEW-EURODRIVE brings intelligent energy optimisation to Electra Mining SEW-EURODRIVE
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
At Electra Mining Africa 2026, SEW-EURODRIVE will showcase its DriveRadar IoT platform for predictive maintenance and real-time energy optimisation, alongside plant energy surveys and an 1850 kW medium voltage motor display.
Read more...Thermal imaging camera with high thermal resolution Vepac Electronics
Temperature Measurement Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Vepac Electronics introduces a compact thermal imaging camera that helps technicians spot temperature problems before they become costly failures.
Read more...What your lubricant really costs
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The purchase price of an industrial lubricant is only a fraction of what lubrication truly costs a business. Lubrication Engineers South Africa explains how shifting from unit price to total cost of ownership changes the equation significantly.
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