Most of the electric motors in use are more dependable and competent than their counterparts. Electric motors have an immense benefit on the company’s productivity and profitability like other electrical components. For quality output in your company, it is good to carry out regular measures that highly maintain your electrical motors.
Good maintenance on your components will ensure that your electric motors perform at their peak. To start, prepare a checklist that checks on monitoring and examining the whole equipment. By doing this, you can identify and detect problems that the motor may be facing and have enough time to address the issue. Below are ways to help you keep your electric motor healthy.
1. Execute visual inspections
While carrying out your daily activities involving your industrial surplus equipment, do a quick visual inspection. It shows crucial details about your electric motor and the other aligning components. Take a thorough look at the physical condition as you record your observations and findings. Signs of dirt buildup and corrosion will develop if the machine is in a dirty environment. These signs cause clogging that may lead to malfunctioning of your industrial machines. Monitor the windings of your electric motor to detect any burnt odor that indicates overheating could be taking place. Rusting on your devices leads to quick breaking down. Therefore, it is good to ensure the contacts and relays have no rust and are also dust-free. These factors cause an internal breakdown since the debris may display a threat to the performance of the equipment.
2. Carry out a commutator and brush scrutiny
Constant maintenance checks help to guarantee that the electric motors will not experience instability or the equipment’s work efficiency. The presence of too much tear and wear causes commutation problems to the devices. Therefore, you need to keep checking the brush. Change the brush so that it can retrieve the integrity of the equipment function. Keep surveying the commutator and ensure it lacks not any grooves, dents, or scratches. These rough spots on the equipment show presence of brush sparking. Moreover, inspect the motor rotor, mount, belts, and stator thoroughly. All worn-out parts of the motor that need replacing should be in condition.
3. Regulate a motor winding test
After inspecting the industrial machines that you are to test the windings of the motor. During the testing, you can recognize any failures or anomalies that could have been part of the winding. In case of the appearance of cracks, burn marks, or a burning smelling odor, urgently carry out a mandatory, quick, and sure test for the winding motor. During the inspection, disassembling the device determines any abnormalities that the appliances could be having. The chance of critical damage is high if the winding is overheating. Testing the wind insulation and rewinding the motor are said to be the better parts of the test since they show the resistance level of the appliances.
4. Use infrared thermography in predictive maintenance
Using infrared thermography during maintenance has become one of the most common methods because of the outcome. This thermography captures thermal images without obstructing operations taking place in the motor. These images give a temperature profile by showing their heat patterns at intervals of specific times. All systems mechanically built produce an amount of thermal energy. However, they have thermal patterns along with the maximum temperature that the motor can work. Problems, for instance, insulation failure, inadequate airflow, or degradation in the stator, may appear in the machinery. When any problem occurs, the infrared camera immediately finds the unstable voltage and reveals it as a thermal image. It helps you discover the problem cause and its solution.
5. Carry out vibration tests
At times too many vibrations become hard to detect. However, excessive vibrations occur it shortens the life span of an electric motor. Eventually, the machine starts having a failure of windings or motor bearing failure. In most cases, the causes of vibration are mechanical. Because of improper balance, ball bearings, or faulty sleeves. Testing can be done on the equipment either by disconnecting the load or removing the belts. Electrical problems can sometimes give rise to vibrations. The use of versatile instruments helps carry out field vibration that measures the exact amplitude and frequency.
