When you want to choose a machine foundation or support for any machine that is going to be installed you must know the characteristics of the machine.
The characteristics of the machines are mostly influenced by how they operate and their general structures.
Without understanding the characteristics of the machines it will be very hard for one to decide the best foundation for it.
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Now, that you know the need of knowing the characteristics of machines let me share with you the types that I will be discussing in this article.
The characteristic of machines when it comes to machine installations are divided into two namely:
Static characteristics; from the word static, these are the characteristics of the machines that don’t involve any movement, action or change.
Examples of static characteristics of machines are size and shape, stability, weight, rigidity and access.
Dynamic characteristics; these are the characteristics of a machine that include movement, change, action, pulse and noise.
Examples of dynamic characteristics of machines are speed range, load range, vibrations, shock and noise.
Static characteristics of machines
1. Size and shape
When it comes to machine installation, this is one of the characteristics that one should check on.
The foundation used in machine installation should be able to accommodate the characteristics of this machine.
Machines are of different sizes and shapes and this will require different foundations for these machines.
A particular size and shape of the machine will require a specific foundation.
A good example is the rotary compressor and lathe machines. As you can tell these are machines of different kinds. They have very distinctive sizes and shapes.
A lathe machine is huge compared to a rotary compressor. There one can’t use the same foundations to install these machines in a plant.
You might like this: Lathe Machines: Types, Working Principle And Operations
2. Weight
Machines have different weights. When it comes to their installations this is one of the characteristic that should be observed.
When choosing a machine foundation for a machine one has to ensure that the foundation chosen should be able to handle the load of the machine.
This also plays a big role when it comes to the materials that will be used in these foundations.
The weight of the machines is one of the critical factors that affect the choice of machine foundation selected to install the machines.
It’s a prime consideration when selecting a machine foundation because the foundation has to be strong enough to handle the forces imposed by the machine during its idle time and when it’s operating.
The foundation selected should inert the imposed bedding and shearing forces imposed by the machines.
3. Stability
When it comes to machine installations this is another characteristic that should be checked on.
The stability of machines is very essential when it comes to their operation.
Especially if the machine is used to refine the products produced.
If the foundation selected to install the machine is not going to aid in stabilizing the machine during its idle and operation times then this is likely to mess up with everything the machine will be handling.
When the machine is installed on the foundation it has to be stable. This is where the bolting of the machines comes in.
And machines are unstable, having the centre of gravity outside then stability creation to these machines will be considered.
4. Rigidity
This is one of the characteristics that one should consider when thinking of machine installation.
Most machines are rigid because of how they are structured, but we have some machines with long beds which ends up tempering their stability.
When installing these machines with long beds, the foundation has to be strong enough to handle the machine to prevent it from sinking under its own weight.
5. Access
This is another characteristic that one should check on when thinking of installing a machine.
Before one installs a machine in the plant layout, he or she has to ensure the accessibility of this machine.
The foundation selected for the machine installation should over easy access to the machine for use and maintenance.
Dynamic characteristics of machines
1. Speed range
This is one of the characteristics one should check on when thinking of installing a machine.
Machines operate at different speeds. And this makes it necessary for one to think of a machine foundation that is going to accommodate the speed range of the machines.
The foundation selected for machine installations should be able to accommodate the transent vibrations, forces and amplitudes offered by the rotating machine.
One should ensure that the foundation selected for machine installation can comfortably handle the speed range.
2. Load Range
Load range affects the dynamic deflection of the machine either plane or axial torsional.
For the load range to be balanced, especially if the machine has heavy cuts which tend to twist the bed if it’s too long then the dynamic rigidity and status rigidity should be considered.
3. Shock
This is one of the characteristics of machines that are influenced by the operational nature of the machine.
These shocks are usually produced by a suddenly applied load e.g hammering and explosions.
So, the machine foundation that will be selected to install this machine is going to be different from the others because of how the machine operates.
The action of hammering produces transent vibrations of high energy with tend to be harmful to the machine, the plant and the operators.
These vibrations have to be reduced by the installation of the machine on the right foundation
4. Vibrations
Vibrations are one of the characteristics that one should check when installing a machine.
The foundation chosen should be able to dump or isolate these vibrations.
Vibrations are usually caused by design tolerance. If you want to know more about these causes, read the article below.
You might like this: Causes Of Machine Vibrations
Vibrations are harmful to the longevity of the machine, so the foundation chosen should be able to isolate these vibrations.
You might like this: Advantages & Disadvantages Of Vibration In Machines
5. Noises
Machines will always produce noise during operation. This is one of the characteristic that should be considered when one wants to install a machine.
Noises are harmful to the operators. So, the foundation selected for the machine installation should ensure that this aspect of noise is covered.
The machine foundation should be designed to cater to and eliminate or diminish these noises.
Final thoughts.
These are the characteristics of machines that one should check on when thinking of machine installation.
All these characteristics play a big part when it comes to the choice of foundation used for the machine installation.
If you have any questions don’t be afraid to leave your comment. Thanks for reading. See you in my next article.
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