Vibration analysis solves sheet metal irregularities
IOTECH claims it’s the steel manufacturing industry should use vibration measurement and analysis to solve problems in its sheet metal production process.
A common problem in steel sheet production occurs during the transformation of the metal slab into a sheet.
The slab is heated to a uniform temperature and run through a processing line composed of a series of rolling stands. During this process, the slab becomes a long bar, then a sheet of steel with the thickness specified by the client.
Sometimes, vibration can affect the roller stands, compromising its ability to maintain the critical thickness accuracy required of the product. The sheet metal ends up with different thicknesses at different sections.
To prevent this, many mills use a variety of permanent, distributed data acquisition systems that monitor temperature, vibration, force, displacement and speed. Data is also gathered from accelerometers and tachometers on the rolling stands. The sources of vibrations are pinpointed to worn rolls, faulty bearings and other problems.
The ZonicBook technology is portable, and is used to measure vibration and speed from sensors which can be either onboard or attached to the machinery during testing. It synchronises and correlates vibration and tachometer measurements using an algorithm. The data is then presented as a waterfall or in other formats.
In the hands of a skilled analyst using the provided software, specific problem-causing parts can be identified and isolated. These can then be repaired or replace to ensure uniformity in the manufactured sheet metal.
27-Jun-2008
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