Condition-monitoring system cuts damage to critical machinery

Rockwell Automation Inc. rolled out the Allen-Bradley Dynamix 1444 series monitors that allow manufacturers to monitor and protect machinery at a lower total cost of ownership. The integrated condition-monitoring system claims to enable companies to leverage the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system, rather than an isolated condition-monitoring device, to assess current equipment health, predict potential issues, and help avoid damage to critical machinery.

Integration of machinery health into control architectures using a standard Ethernet TCP/IP EtherNet/IP network brings unprecedented flexibility to machine-instrumentation design and operational efficiency on the manufacturing floor, the company noted.

Primarily used as a machinery-protection system for rotating and reciprocating equipment, Dynamix 1444 monitors supervise critical-operating parameters in real time. They also provide operations and maintenance personnel with the information to assess current equipment health and perform predictive-maintenance planning.

To protect equipment, the Dynamix 1444 device measures and monitors a machine's critical dynamic and position parameters, and assures appropriate actions are performed with the precision, reliability and performance required by industry and regulatory standards.

For general condition monitoring, Dynamix 1444 monitors offer unprecedented signal-processing and measurement capabilities allowing users the tools necessary to detect and identify the faults and status across all classes of industrial machinery, stated the company. Information can also be sent to plant- and enterprise-wide databases for storage and trending. Armed with this information, engineers can take appropriate maintenance action, such as replacing worn-out components before they fail, and protecting production processes and equipment whilst reducing maintenance costs.

The tight coordination between condition monitoring and the control system allows manufacturers to leverage existing investments in visualisation and information solutions to improve machine builder and end user productivity.

Dynamix 1444 series monitors are rated for -25掳C to 70掳C and 18-32V. They are intended for hazardous environments and rated to marine standards for shock and vibration.