Motion Amplification helps diagnose machine soft foot issues

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How can Motion Amplification help with Soft foot?

30-Second Summary

  • Motion amplification proves to be ideal for visualization of structural issues and resonance problems in machines.
  • Vibration problem at 100Hz which is electrically related should be visualized using an MA camera.
  • Machine frame distortion is usually known as soft foot, as it often prevents the machine from touching all its feet to its base.

Motion Amplification is a fantastic tool for visualizing many machinery problems, from structural issues to resonance problems. But what about a vibration problem at 100Hz which is electrically related. Can motion amplification help find the root cause?

One of our engineers recently picked up a Motor problem. It was showing high vibration levels of 10mm/sec RMS at a frequency of 100Hz. The motor runs close to 50Hz so he collected a high resolution spectrum to confirm the problem was electrical related and not 2xRPM. He confirmed it was electrical at 100Hz (2XLF) so decided to visualize with MA Camera. The MA video below clearly shows the motor dipping down to the right side. This has all the hallmarks of a machine soft foot problem and probably the root cause of the high 100Hz vibration due to the motor frame twisting. The motor is now planned in for the next shutdown to rectify this problem.

Soft foot is a common term used for machine frame distortion. The distortion is caused when one or more feet of a machine differ in height from the others. This in turn may be due to differences when the machine was manufactured, a squishy footage with oil film etc. between foot and base, a bent foot, or it may be induced by a pipe to which the machine is attached (e.g. a pipe on top of a pump), which prevents the machine from touching all its feet to its base.  – Wikipedia

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Last updated: 19th March 2024

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