Recent Projects In The Shop Each month we take in large industrial electric motors and pumps to be rebuild or repaired. Here are a few examples from the past few weeks. Synchronous electric motor rebuild/repair. Synchronous motors are designed to take abuse and are commonly used for a variety of mining applications. As seen in [...]
If rolling bearings are to operate reliably and realize their full service life, the must be adequately lubricated. The function of the lubricant is to form a protective oil file that separates the bearing components and prevent metal to metal contact. The lubricant also protects the bearing and related components against corrosion. When grease is [...]
The U.S. Department of Energy is funding a three-year $6.7-million research project that could dramatically reduce energy consumption worldwide by developing more efficient industrial motors. Clemson University is leading the project together with TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Their goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while helping industry reduce costs and increase [...]
ANSI/EASA Standard AR100-2015 is EASA’s Recommended Practice for the Repair of Rotating Electrical Apparatus. This latest guide is an update to the guide released in 2010 (ANSI/EASA AR100-2010). The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requires that standards be re-evaluated / approved every five years. This new standards guide contains over 60 changes from the previous [...]
No matter how large or small the business operation is, it can be a challenge to keep electric motors running at optimal performance. Almost always, when an electric motor goes down, it affects the bottom line of the entire operation. Motor and drive failures can be caused by many different factors, however, the good [...]
In May 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy amended the energy conservation standards for certain commercial and industrial electric motors under section 431 of the federal energy code. Here's an overview of what you need to know. The new rules greatly expand the scope of motors and their efficiency levels. The new rules will take [...]
According to the Nevada Mining Association, Nevada leads the nation in gold production and is the fourth largest gold producer in the world. In addition to gold, Nevada is also an important contributor of other ores such as silver, copper, opals, dolomite, limestone, gypsum, opals, salt, silica, and many more. The mining industry in Nevada [...]
If your recently purchased pump or mixer came new with mechanical seals, you might be disappointment in the performance of those seals unless you are able to specify what brand, model, and materials you want. Here are some common problems with O.E.M. mechanical seals. Unknown grade of carbon/graphite with binders and fillers that can be [...]
Bearing life is often determined by the number of hours it will take for the metal to fatigue. To better understand metal fatigue, try the following experiment. Grab a paperclip, pinch then end piece and slightly flex or pull and then release. Notice how it returns to the same position? You could repeat this process [...]
Quite often we get customer inquires related to electric motor operating temperatures. If a customer explains that the motor is hot to the touch, that in an of itself is not a proper or even helpful measurement. Gauging temperatures by touch is never recommended, because depending on the motor, or application, proper or normal operating [...]
