The Importance of Preventative Maintenance for Electric Motors in Manufacturing Applications

Professionals across many industries understand the value of preventative maintenance and the importance of having a good working knowledge of the electric motors being used in manufacturing operations. In fact, electric motors are one of the most vital pieces of equipment in a manufacturing process, driving virtually all production equipment and processes.

For these reasons, it’s critical for businesses to understand the importance of preventing motor failure and how preventative motor maintenance can help increase productivity, reduce downtime, and save money in the long run.

Unfortunately, electric motors, regardless of the size and type, all fail eventually without proper maintenance. The effects of motor failure are felt throughout the entire manufacturing operation, disrupting equipment operation and resulting in high costs for repair and replacement.

Because of these risks, manufacturers should focus on preventative motor maintenance to extend the life of their motors and increase productivity. Preventative maintenance not only provides an early warning of potential motor issues, but also helps manufacturers identify potential upgrades and replacements to avoid future motor problems.

Preventative maintenance typically includes servicing motors regularly and replacing parts as needed. These regular maintenance procedures can help to reduce downtime, improve motor performance, and extend the life of the motor and maximize production.

Common Preventative Maintenance Tasks for Electric Motors:

• Inspecting the bearings regularly
• Replacing brushes and checking the commutator for wear (see DC Motors: Common Problems and Maintenance of Brushes)
• Inspect and clean the motor, including cleaning of the terminals, cables, and other components
• Check and adjust the drive belt, alignment of the pulley, and tension (see How Improper Belt Tension can Affect your Belt Drive System)
• Check the cooling fan and lubrication system
• Test the overall performance of the motor

To ensure the best results, it’s recommended that these tasks be repeated on a regular basis and that any repairs or replacements are made as soon as possible. Doing so will help to keep motors running smoothly with less downtime and less risk of failure. Refer to your operation’s maintenance schedule, as well as any manufacturer’s manuals to understand the frequency and tasks to complete.

Preventative Maintenance offered by Dreisilker:

Dreisilker has experienced field service technicians who are skilled at performing preventative maintenance on electric motors. Some of the services offered by Dreisilker include:

Infrared Inspection

Our certified technicians can perform infrared inspections to detect loose connections, damaged wiring, overloads, and faults by sensing high temperature areas. Learn more here: Infrared Inspections and How They Can Prevent Costly Downtime

Laser Shaft Alignment

Laser shaft alignment ensures that the equipment is perfectly aligned to limit risk of vibration. Learn more here: How to: Laser Shaft Alignment

Motor Diagnostic Testing

Dreisilker’s field service technicians can perform many tests on motors in your operations to understand the health and any issues with your motors.

Variable Frequency Drive Support

VFDs are critical to the uptime and efficiency of your electric motor. If you are experiencing issues with your VFDs, call our Drive Expert to see how we can help.

Vibration Analysis

Vibration is a very common cause of failure for electric motors and can caused by any number of conditions. Our field service technicians perform quarterly vibration analysis for many customers in order to create a baseline for our customer’s operations. We are able to see trend and predict failure for motors based on the data. Find more information about how we can help you here: Vibration Analysis

Common Causes of Failures for Electric Motors:

• Bearing failure
• Winding failure
• Vibration
• Contamination
• Age of motor

Check out our blog on common causes of failure for servo motors and how to prevent it: Common Causes of Servo Motor Failures and Preventative Measures to Limit Downtime

Overall, electric motors in manufacturing applications need to be well-maintained to avoid failure, reduce downtime, and maintain production. By following a regular maintenance program and addressing any motor issues quickly, industry professionals can prevent motor failure, reduce downtime, and save money in the long run.”