Machinery Diagnostics
Whether you are operating a critical machine with undesirable levels of vibration or you are purchasing a new machine, Pioneer Motor Bearing Company has the expertise and experience to evaluate the machine designs and operating signatures using a strong combination of field experience, design experience, and analytical tools.
We can produce a formal machine audit, a focused analysis of machine dynamics, or informal comments on vibration signatures. From Pioneer’s perspective as a leader in the design and application of fluid-film bearings, our engineering judgment could be just the “piece of the puzzle” that you need.
Case Study
We advised GPU Genco, Portland Station, Pennsylvania, USA, on persistent gas turbine vibration transients, leading to a successful rebuild by the OEM.
Rotordynamics Analysis
Rotordynamics Audits, Analysis and Vibration Diagnostics
We focus on the rotor and bearings as a system. We can shed light for our customers on the relationship between the bearings and control of the rotor’s position. Concern for system stability and reliability permeates our investigations. Balance forces, stiffness and damping; and vibration and cross-coupling effects are all included to gain insight for our customers on the complex various causes of the rotordynamic characteristics and the vibration signatures of their rotating equipment.
Bearing Doctoring
Custom-designed solutions based on expert engineering trouble-shooting.
As bearing doctors, we diagnose and treat bearing-related machine ailments. Our engineering know-how allows us to successfully troubleshoot, upgrade and retrofit replacement parts to get you up and running quickly – and to keep you up and running over time. Our timely professional engineering response and evaluation shortens down time. And by following up and making sure that modifications or replacement parts are appropriate and successful, we increase the future efficiency and reliability of the customer’s machinery.
Formal Bearing Damage Mechanism Evaluation
“Successful engineering is all about understanding how things break or fail.”
– Henry Petroski
When disassembly shows a damaged bearing surface, the next step is to determine “why” so that future damage can be avoided. Even when a potential cause is known, some consideration should be given to correlating the observed damage and the suspected cause. Pioneer produced its Bearing Damage Flip Chart to assist plant personnel with the examination of a damaged surface. Where uncertainty remains or an independent assessment is desired, Pioneer offers a more formal engineering evaluation. We often start with photographs of the damage, although the limited 2-D perspective of a photograph can be misleading. More information can be gathered by a Pioneer engineer observing the damage, whether in your plant or in our shop, followed by material evaluation or other tests, as appropriate. The formality can be an e-mail response or a separate Engineering Evaluation report or participation with plant staff in a larger, root cause evaluation.
Join the team
We have an exceptional team at Pioneer. If you would like to join us, please look at our current vacancies or send us your CV via email