The best way to detect mechanical faults using vibration analysis is to trend data from the same machine collected under the same test conditions. But what happens if you have a problem machine with no historical data?

One solution is to see if there is an identical machine in the plant and test it also. This way you can compare the data between the two. Test the other machine under the same operating conditions, with the same test configurations and in the same test positions. This will work much better as a basis for comparison than generic alarm charts and it should become immediately obvious if the machine in question has a problem.

Tip provided by Mobius Institute