Vibration Analysis for Environmental Sustainability

Predictive maintenance has a significant impact on the environmental sustainability of an organization, by means of the increase in quality of the product, which allows the consumption of raw materials to be reduced. Vibration analysis is a predictive technique especially suitable for reciprocating and rotary machines; it consists of periodically recording the vibration level of the machine, as it increases when there are anomalies such as misalignment, unbalance, etc. In the manufacture of bearings for vehicles, the final vibration of the assembled bearing is one of the quality parameters analysed to ensure that the quality of the bearings are as desired. In external grinding processes vibrations appear which are generated by the process itself and not by flaws in the machine tool. These vibrations can cause defects which affect the quality of the workpieces produced. Nevertheless, analysis of process-induced vibrations is little studied in the literature. Vibration spectra are applied to distinguish problematic vibration frequencies from those that are not. Intercomparison of spectra between similar machines and studies of the change over time of spectra or waterfall plots are used. This method considers the possible of establishing separate vibration limits in the machining of components so as to guarantee the quality of the final assembled product. The methodology exposed can contribute to increase the environmental sustainability of an industrial organization due that contribute to a more efficient use of resources.