PC-based vibration monitoring system enhances fan production line

摘要

Greenheck Fan Corporation is a manufacturer of air moving and control equipment, including fans and blowers. The equipment is used in commercial, institutional and industrial buildings worldwide. Applications range from comfort ventilation toindustrial process ventilation.One requirement faced by Greenheck is minimizing the vibration produced during fan operation. Excessive vibration indicates a problem with the fan that can e caused from defects, shaft misalignment, loose/broken parts and out of balance conditions. Theseproblems will reduce fan life and in some cases increase noise levels. During engineering development, each fan type is tested and run under several conditions to assure proper operation. To measure and record vibration data, Greenheck procured a simple,manually operated analog vibration analyzer. Vibration data were taken to determine acceptable levels during operation, and in addition, some fans required balancing to further minimize vibration and assure quiet operation. This vibration monitoring andbalancing was fine for engineering development and testing but could these operations be performed during manufacturing to act as a production screening process?