I recall starting my career in the mines in the late 1980s when Health and Safety was beginning to become a huge priority. I remember the sign at the entrance with the target and actual hours worked without incident. Since then, whatever the industry, every site visit...
The fundamental purpose of Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) modeling is quantifying system performance, typically in a future interval of time. A system is a collection of items whose coordinated operation leads to the output, generally a...
Many questions surround hydraulic oil selection, from viscosity grades to base oil types to additives. This article answers pressing questions like: How do temperatures influence oil choice? Should you use zinc-based or non-zinc fluids? Should engine oils be used in...
The mention of lubricant varnish in an industrial setting frequently evokes concerns regarding unscheduled equipment shutdowns, reliability challenges, and consequent extended downtime. However, a facet that often remains overlooked is the concept of 'solubility.'...
Gears are everywhere. These versatile machine elements are present in all industries and used in pumps and drives of all sizes as a reliable way to transfer power. Industrial gear oils are a vital component of that reliability, helping to maintain separation between...
In my previous articles, I have written about online sensors and the fact that some see these as not being accurate nor matching the standards applied in laboratory testing of used oil samples. To counter this, I have stated that the reproducibility and repeatability...
As a fluid analysis laboratory, our ongoing mission is to improve the quality of our analysis and interpretation. To do this, POLARIS Laboratories® performs statistical analysis on our test methods and results to evaluate typical parameters and establish thresholds...
Let's dive into a big question: When should we change the turbine oil in power plants? This question came up when I talked to someone who works at a power plant. There are two ways to decide when to change the oil: old-school thinking versus new-school thinking. The...
Oil analysis success hinges on the quality of the oil sample. Drawing a representative oil sample involves a combination of factors, including selecting the right location, deploying the right method, using the right hardware, determining the right sampling frequency,...
Lubricants are often thought of as a machine's lifeblood. To protect machine investment and perform as designed, their needs and end-user requirements must be understood and met with diligence. Getting the most out of your lubricants requires a lubrication management...
