SKF Unveils New Machinery Health Monitoring Solutions

SKF demonstrates its latest condition monitoring technologies like its SKF Multilog IMx machine health monitoring system, with the Multilog IMx-8 – an eight-channel version of this highly popular platform and SKF’s most compact, easy-to-use machine health tool to date.

At CONEXPO 2017, SKF partnered with vibrating screen manufacturer, Deister Machine Co Inc., by having an SKF Multilog IMx-16S 16-channel condition monitoring system operating on a vibrating screen located at the Deister booth. While the vibrating screen was operating in the booth, the IMx was providing remotely accessible machine health data in real time throughout the show at both the Deister and SKF booths.

The IMx platform is able to monitor an entire vibrating screen, including the bearings supporting its rotating shafts, which will be monitored by SKF Copperhead vibration and temperature sensors. These sensors are also able to monitor other screen health factors such as the cloth tensioner for looseness. A loose cloth can reduce the operating efficiency of the screen.

Copperhead vibration sensors were also mounted on each corner of the vibrating screen, enabling real-time monitoring of the screens operational orbit or motion. Changes in the orbit at a corner could indicate a broken support spring at that position, a change in the way the material (aggregates, ore) is fed into the screen, or a blockage of the material leading to a drop in machine efficiency.

Keith Meyers, Global Industry Manager, Mining at SKF says: "Monitoring machinery in this way can detect faults before they cause permanent damage. Certainly secondary damage can also be avoided, reducing maintenance costs and allowing better planning for maintenance, which ultimately reduces downtime. The IMx platform goes one stage further by making the machine condition data available via an Internet connection to a remote monitoring site where expert analysis of machine health can be made."