Condition monitoring for predictive maintenance (photo) is a drive solution that focuses on status-oriented maintenance rather than traditional time-based maintenance. Status and drive data are recorded periodically or continuously via the programmable logic controller (PLC) output parameters and can be viewed or saved to a local dashboard via an Industrial Ethernet protocol such as EtherNet/IP. The collected data are analyzed and used to detect any suboptimal operating conditions so that machines and systems can be proactively maintained, and unplanned downtimes can be avoided. In addition to digital and analog sensors that monitor internal values, the drives can also evaluate external conditions with temperature and vibration sensors. — Nord Gear Corp., Waunakee, Wis.
Condition monitoring for optimizing drive systems
| By Gerald Ondrey