April - Library

Maintenance News
Penny Melrose, Datastick CEO, said that the new accessory
package was the direct result of requests from customers.
“Analysis of the waveforms and frequency spectra of the vibration
from machines with problems can prevent costly, unpredicted,
and sometimes dangerous breakdowns. The VAM Vibration
Acoustic Monitoring package gives maintenance and reliability
managers and technicians an extra dimension in their analysis
of vibration signals.” www.datastick.com
Simple Tools Are Often The Best
Mounting larger rolling element bearings is a technical job that
can be frustrating without the proper tools. In one case, the
mechanics on a job were attempting to mount two 22244 spherical
roller bearings on a vertical pinion gear shaft. The bearings had
to be driven up a tapered adapter sleeve to properly reduce the
clearance. The problem? They didn’t have the right tool for the
job. This bearing was to be mounted on a SNW44 series Sleeve/
Nut/Washer. The AN44 size nut is approximately 8.5” (216 mm)
in diameter at the threads.
The workers had been trying for
three days to advance the nut
on the threaded adapter sleeve.
When they finally called for help,
the problem was obvious. They
were trying to advance the nut
using a home-made piece of
key stock! The existing nuts
were quite bashed up and had
to be replaced. A quick visit to
the trunk of the local SKF Field
rep produced the proper tool: an
Impact Spanner. Both bearings
were properly mounted within
an hour after the right tool was
applied.
The impact spanner is the “big brother” to the standard hook
spanner. It’s made of special iron that takes a solid hit and
doesn’t chip. The most important item to remember is that this
spanner is designed to be hammered right on the head of the
tool, NOT on the handle. Hitting the handle usually breaks it off.
The TMFN series is available in several sizes to fit nuts from
about 5” - 30” (125mm - 750mm.)
Contents and pictures courtesy of SKF @ptitude Exchange.For
assistance with mounting procedures, go to:
www.skf.com/mount.
MESPAS launches Release R5.13 of its Fleet
Management Software mespas R5
MESPAS AG has released version 5.13 of its fleet management
software mespasR5. With morethan 80 new functionalities and
modifications, this software upgrade is the most complex and
largest ever released by MESPAS. It contains enhancements
and innovations to benefit the operational as well as the
management side of a shipping company’s business. The
most important innovations relate to the mespas Cube and
mespas Reporting Engine. Over 80 new functionalities and
enhancements MESPAS announced that it has released in its
new software upgrade mespasR5.13 on January 15, 2011.
New features include a complete redesign of the Planned
Maintenance System (PMS) – now called Asset Management
System – which is further improving the system’s architecture as
well as the functionality and look & feel of the user interface.
Additional enhancements were implemented in part
management, procurement, and maintenance. For example:
simplified recording of jobs; enhanced part management
functionalities including location history; easy categorization of
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recurring jobs; and many others. All software enhancements
and new functionalities in mespas R5 come free of charge to
MESPAS customers. Two major innovations are the mespas
Cube and mespas Reporting Engine:
The mespas Cube, installed on board the ships, is a small
offshore server (see attached picture). It acts as the hub between
the vessel’s PCs and the central database ashore.
With the Cube, the vessel
client architecture was
changed from a “single
user/single PC” to a
“client/server” architecture,
which is fully network and
multi-user capable. This
means, the software can
be run on multiple PCs on board the ship, without impinging on
the software’s ability to synchronize and work with the central
database ashore. Since everything is pre-installed and preconfigured
on the mespas Cube, there is no IT knowledge or
intervention needed on board the ships to ensure the safe and
robust running of the software. In addition, the mespas Cube
allows automating certain processes.
Ship owners and ship managers require accurate and timely
information on the performance of their fleet as the basis for
informed decisions. The new mespas Reporting Engine was
developed with this need in mind. “Those responsible for the
cost-efficient running of a whole fleet need a tool that gives them,
at the push of a button, the ability to review critical performance
indicators, purchasing analyses, budgeting information as well
as a variety of technical overviews“, says Daniel Gsponer,
Chief Technology Officer of MESPAS AG. “All this information is
available within the Reporting Engine.”
The overviews, comparisons and analyses can be run on
single vessel level as well as across products or even the entire
fleet, thanks to the centralized database. With the mespas
Reporting Engine, the huge amount of data that is recorded and
documented every day can be analysed and made available to
relevant internal and external stakeholders.
www.mespas.com
FLIR E-Series Creates New Class
For IR Handheld Cameras
FLIR Systems has unveiled its new-generation E-Series range
of compact thermal imaging cameras - packed with new features
like WiFi and Bluetooth®. connectivity, Touch-Screen and
iPhone App – to maintain its leadership status in the predictive
maintenance and building inspection IR markets.
Available in three different ‘point and shoot’ models – E40, E50
or E60 for electrical and industrial and a bx range for building
- the totally re-designed handheld cameras are lightweight and,
according to FLIR, ‘very competitively priced.’
FLIR is describing the new range as ‘the best performing
and value for money compact thermal imaging cameras ever
produced that are designed to fit both your IR inspection program
and neatly in the palm of your hand.’
Designed for those looking for high quality resolution, FLIR E-
Series has more user-friendly features like MeterLiNK, large 3.5”
LCD screen and the ability to communicate findings efficiently
and easily using Bluetooth®.
Weighing in at 800g (lightest in class) and tested to survive and
maintain accuracy after a 2m fall to concrete, FLIR says the ‘E-
Series range is the best performing value-for-money IR cameras
available, made ‘tough’ to stand the rigors, shocks and vibrations
of daily use’.
Roger Christiansz, Managing Director FLIR Systems Australia:
‘ The E-Series are new-generation IR cameras with all the mod-
Vol 24 No 2