TECH TIPS NEWSLETTER

This newsletter is dedicated to you, the reader with the goal of improving your ultrasonic inspection skills and enhancing your value to your company or clients. As always, we welcome your participation. If you have questions or seek advice about your inspection techniques or programs, or if you wish to share your experiences with others, please e-mail your contributions to us at info@uesystems.com.

Base Lining
One of the main reasons for setting base lines is to be able to compare a set "known" condition with future conditions. Base lining uses relevant data that can be monitored over time. This may include decibels, temperature, rpm, etc. or graphical displays such as thermographic images, photographs, trend charts or spectral images. The key to successful base lining is to minimize variables that could negatively impact on the repeatability and reliability of the test data.

Base line information has often been used for mechanical trending purposes, most commonly for trending bearings. It can prove valuable for many other applications as well, such as valves, electrical emissions, couplings, or even leaks.

Tech Tips Newsletter UE SOUND BITES . . . The Ultrasound Newsletter published by UE Systems, Inc. Information… Product News… Advice… Dialog Volume 6, Issue 5 August, 2005
T O P I C S Base Lining Ultraprobe Tip Comments & Contributions Ultrasound Training Schedule	This newsletter is dedicated to you, the reader with the goal of improving your ultrasonic inspection skills and enhancing your value to your company or clients. As always, we welcome your participation. If you have questions or seek advice about your inspection techniques or programs, or if you wish to share your experiences with others, please e-mail your contributions to us at info@uesystems.com. Base Lining One of the main reasons for setting base lines is to be able to compare a set "known" condition with future conditions. Base lining uses relevant data that can be monitored over time. This may include decibels, temperature, rpm, etc. or graphical displays such as thermographic images, photographs, trend charts or spectral images. The key to successful base lining is to minimize variables that could negatively impact on the repeatability and reliability of the test data. Base line information has often been used for mechanical trending purposes, most commonly for trending bearings. It can prove valuable for many other applications as well, such as valves, electrical emissions, couplings, or even leaks.
When a change in condition occurs it can manifest as either a rise in decibel levels or a shift in sound quality or both. For this reason, it is advisable to collect both data and sound samples when collecting base line information since both, either separately or together, can help improve your ability to understand the status of a specific change in condition and improve your chances of an accurate diagnosis down the road. How to set your base line: When starting out, if the equipment is new, it's relatively easy to just log your data and record your sounds, however the reality is that when starting out, equipment has been in place a while. To set a base line, perform a comparison test on similar equipment. Record the data (decibels, frequency, and any other relevant information such as humidity or rpm) as well as sound samples on equipment operating under identical conditions. Minimize your variables. Be sure to use the same frequency and the same test point. Note the test point for future inspections. When recording sounds, make sure you are touching the same point at which you noted your data, at the same test angle or test distance and note the sensitivity level. Ideally, the recording should be taken with the intensity indicator (bar graph) at about mid-line so as to not overload the recording device. When the information is downloaded, review the data to cull out equipment with major deviations, set alarm levels in your Ultratrend DMS (if you're using it) for future tests. If you are using the Ultraprobe 10,000 your base line sound samples will automatically be attached to your historical record and may be reviewed in UE Spectralyzer by selecting the "launch" button in Ultratrend. If you do not use the Ultraprobe 10,000 and have used a recording device such as a tape recorder, MP3 player, etc., you can still attach the sound sample to your historical record in Ultratrend. Simply download the sound sample to your computer and use the WAV File Path dialog box to link the file. For those of you who are not yet using Ultratrend, you can download it from the UE web site as freeware. Try this link: http://www.uesystems.com/products/proreg2.htm
Ultraprobe Tip: Recording sound samples is relatively simple. For those with the Ultraprobe 10,000, just record your sounds as instructed in the screen prompts and store the data on the compact flash card. For those of you who use other instruments, use the headphone jack since this is the heterodyned output. Using a cable with a male mini-phone plug on each end, connect the cable from the Ultraprobe headphone to the mike jack of your recording device. Set the recording device to record and pause it until you're ready to record. Make sure that you check the frequency response of your recording device. Digital voice recorders do not have the low frequency response required for analysis. Therefore they are not recommended for use. For those of you who have an MP3 player, you can record the sound samples in the player. Plug one end into the headphone jack of the recording device (the output) and the other into the mike jack of your computer. Record the file through UE Spectralyzer or through "Sound Recorder" located in the Programs/Accessories/Entertainment section. Comments and Contributions: For those of you who are attending Ultrasound World II, we have set a truly remarkable program. One presentation we're really excited about is from the people at General Mills who will discuss their successful implementation of an ultrasonic condition-monitoring program. Presenters from three plants: New Albany, Cedar Rapids and Albuquerque will describe how General Mills has progressed from preventive to predictive to proactive maintenance. Each presenter will cover successful use of ultrasound in bearing monitoring, pressure and vacuum leak detection, compressed air audits, steam audits, electrical inspections and valve testing. Their approach to dividing their inspections between route based type and trouble shooting inspections as well as the incredible savings they have generated will be explained. If you haven't done so, register now for this truly exciting learning experience: Ultrasound World II. http://www.uesystems.com/ultrasound-world/UWC.html Training Schedule: Attendance at the Level I classes have been heavy this year. For this reason we urge you to register early to get into the class of your choice. Level I: September 19 - 23, 2005: Buffalo, NY October 10 - 14, 2005: Irwindale, CA November 14 - 18, 2005: Charlotte, NC November, 2005: Nottinghamshire, UK To register: email: info@uesystems.com or register on-line: http://www.uesystems.com/traing/fvdayreg1.html Don't forget to put the most exciting learning experience of the year on your calendar: ULTRASOUND WORLD II Conference, Clearwater Beach, FL November 6-9, 2005 More articles will be posted periodically. Please check back. If you do not wish to continue to receive this newsletter, please let us know via email. Contact us at info@uesystems.com.

Tech Tips Newsletter

UE SOUND BITES . . . The Ultrasound Newsletter published by UE Systems, Inc.