Motor tester checks DC motor removed from printing plant

Baumuller UK undertakes in-situ predictive maintenance and troubleshooting on electric motors, as well as factory-based repairs, service and parts support. The company's technicians were recently carrying out a routine motor service for a longstanding customer that operates a commercial web printing press in Kent. The main 192kW DC motor GNA 200 SN on this press was diagnosed by the service engineers as requiring an immediate overhaul.

However, due to the nature of commercial web printing (magazines), machine downtime had to be minimised, and this meant a four-day window for repairs. Accordingly, the motor was scheduled for a weekend overhaul at the next available break in a production run, which necessitated its removal on a Friday, delivery to Baumuller's Coulsdon facility for the necessary repairs, and re-installation on the Monday.

During the repair process a Baker Tester was used to establish the integrity of the windings. This is a critical part of the repair process whereby any non-conforming wave forms are recorded and recommendations given to the customer as to whether any rewinding work is necessary. In this repair the wave forms conformed and therefore no rewind was deemed necessary.