Case Study, Manufacturing, Metso Minerals
Metso Minerals, based in Matamata New Zealand, designs and manufactures up to 23 tonne Barmac (Vertical Shaft Impacter) VSI crushers that can pulverise between 10 and 2080 tonnes of rocks per hour into bite-sized smithereens.
Using Vibration Analysis To Avoid Damage
With such formidable force the slightest structural imbalance can cause almost as much damage to the machine itself, as it does to the rocks it punishes. While maintenance is critical and repairs are inevitable, Metso design engineers are discovering the advantage of using Commtest VB 2000 to fine-tune prototypes and minimise wear and tear on machinery.
In just three years since they incorporated the Commtest vibration analyser system into their test programme, Metso Minerals have more than justified their investment. They have been able to achieve, and pass onto their customers, significant product design enhancements that increase performance and reliability, and reduce costs all round.
Save months on Product Testing and Analysis
Without Commtest's vibration analysis equipment it would have taken Metso up to four months to test and determine at which of the ten speeds the resonance might occur and cause damage to a prototype. Now it only takes one day of tests per prototype to locate where the problems are likely to be.
"The older Barmac machines were over-engineered with higher safety margins, and required more steel and labour than needed to operate without resonance. To save on steel and get the same results we needed to do better testing and design the products more effectively," explained David. "To meet customer demand for advanced machinery, we've had to learn how to work smarter, not harder.
The VB 2000 gives us results we can use to maximise the design of new prototypes for increased reliability and performance, while minimising steel and labour costs." "Throughout the relationship Commtest have guided us well, and provided excellent customer service and support. And has proved very cost-effective."
Product Discussed
vbOnline
Flexible and modular, the vbOnline system is powered by intuitive Ascent software and permanently installed to remotely monitor the health of your critical assets 24/7, automatically alerting you to potential problems.
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