Are Your Industrial Fans Properly Balanced?
Rotating machines like electric motors have become essential for running most production and assembly lines. As a result, many plants and factories rely on predictive or preventive maintenance plans to reduce unexpected breakdowns and downtime.
Predictive maintenance relies on the accuracy of collected data to help establish inspection, repair, and maintenance schedules. However, the collected data could do more harm than good if the electric motor is out of balance. But if your maintenance plan doesn’t include checking alignment and balance, you can’t expect the motor to operate at peak performance and efficiency.
How to Balance an Electric Motor
As you can see below, balancing an electric motor is very similar to the process used for balancing your car’s tires. However, due to the specialized testing equipment required, electric motor balancing should always be performed by a reputable shop, like Hi-Speed Industrial Service.
- Check that the motor is clean and has no loose parts.
- Test the initial balance. Compare the data to ISO 21940-1:2016.
- Attach/remove correction weights as needed.
- Test the new balance and compare the report to the ISO standards.
- Repeat this process until ISO guidelines are met.
ISO 21940-1:2016 replaces ISO 1940-1, establishing unbalanced tolerances and the repair procedures for balancing electric motors with rigid rotors. Assembled by the International Organization of Standards, it specifies
- The magnitude of the permissible residual imbalance
- The necessary number of correction planes
- The allocation of the permissible residual imbalance to the tolerance planes
- How to account for errors in the balancing process
Incorrect balancing will negatively affect a motor’s performance and longevity, resulting in even higher repair costs. Unlike basic maintenance, like bearing replacement, this critical service should always be left to the skilled technicians at a highly reputable electric motor service facility.
The Benefits of Balanced Electric Motors
Balancing your electric motors is essential for controlling vibrations and maximizing the benefits of other technologies, such as real-time monitoring, digital twins, and the IoT (Internet of Things). However, the collected data could be compromised if your electric motors aren’t correctly balanced. Additional benefits of motor balancing include.
Reduced Wear and Tear
Unbalanced electric motors create vibrations, which increase the mechanical strain on the motor and internal components, including the bearings, shafts, and any connected machinery.
Lower Maintenance Costs
Unbalanced motors usually require more inspections and repairs, which cost owners time and money. Balanced motors have fewer issues and mechanical failures, which can dramatically reduce ongoing maintenance costs.
Improved Efficiency and Performance
A balanced motor results in smoother acceleration, deceleration, and performance. The motor performance can be optimized for improved output and reliability with the vibrations eliminated.
Energy Savings
Unbalanced motors typically require more power to compensate for the extra effort needed to overcome imbalances. Because balanced motors function more efficiently, they use less energy and can reduce year-over-year utility bills.
Operational Lifespan
Balanced motors experience less stress and strain, which increases their operational lifespan. A longer lifespan maximizes the ROI while reducing future repair or replacement costs.
Personal Safety
Unbalanced motors can cause excessive vibrations, which can result in structural damage, machine failure, or a major workplace accident. A balanced electric motor improves overall facility safety to protect your employees and other equipment.
Noise Level Reduction
Unbalanced motors can cause excessive noise levels that can cause employee discomfort or injury. Balanced motors are generally quieter, creating a safer and more conducive work environment for everyone.
Improved Product Quality
Electric motors are critical to manufacturing and food processing services where consistency and precision are paramount. A balanced motor helps ensure a reliable production environment, which allows companies to produce higher-quality products.
Balancing is more than managing vibrations. Proper balancing includes the abovementioned benefits, which can help lower costs and generate more revenue. However, as energy costs continue to climb, motor balancing can contribute to a company’s sustainability goals by lowering energy usage and minimizing waste. Motor balancing demonstrates an environmental commitment while improving a company’s bottom line for a win-win scenario.
It’s no secret that industrial success is directly related to the performance of your equipment. Hi-Speed has the know-how and expertise to help ensure your electric motor investment operates at peak efficiency.
- Electric motor balancing
- Leak detection
- Preventive and corrective services
- Infrared thermography
- Laser alignment
- Specialized testing
Let the Hi-Speed experts help keep you up and running. To learn more about electric motor balancing for your business, call us at 1-800-713-0103 or email us, and allow one of our electric motor experts to answer your questions.