Condition monitoring

Condition monitoring is the condition-based surveillance of machinery aimed at detecting bearing damage long before failure. Vibration analysis is the key method for rolling bearings: raceway and rolling-element defects generate characteristic overrolling frequencies derived from bearing geometry and speed, visible in spectrum and envelope analysis. Temperature, lubricant condition and ultrasonic techniques complement it. The benefit is plannability — bearings are replaced when their condition requires it rather than on fixed intervals or after unplanned downtime. Early indicators such as incipient pitting, lubricant starvation or electrical erosion can be distinguished and addressed. Solutions range from handheld route devices to permanently installed online systems; trending against a clean baseline is essential.