What is Spin Burst Testing?
High-speed rotating machinery finds application in a number of industries, relied upon to perform a range of essential — and often high-stakes — functions. To ensure that this machinery is functioning optimally and safely, it must be carefully tested. One method for testing of high-speed rotating machinery is known as spin burst testing, which is used to examine the machinery and determine if it will be able to perform efficiently during long-term use.
The spin burst testing process is performed by spinning products at extremely high speeds until they burst, in order to determine the performance parameters of the equipment. An active and potentially dangerous testing process, spin burst testing must take place in a controlled environment — and with the right tools — in order to guarantee the machinery is prepared for use in the field.
How Is Spin Burst Testing Performed?
Products such as grinding wheels and centrifuge components can present various safety hazards if they malfunction during use. In addition to causing catastrophic damage to surrounding machinery and equipment, damaged materials can pose serious hazards to individuals in close proximity to the machinery during operation. In order to eliminate these dangers, the design of this machinery must be rigorously tested.
Additionally, government agencies that regulate such equipment, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), often require that such testing be performed. By adequately vetting the equipment and pushing it past its operating limit, manufacturers can provide customers with detailed operating parameters and useful tips.
Spin burst testing should take place in highly specialized conditions to ensure safe, effective data collection. So, testing occurs in a strong spin chamber installed in a test cell with double-reinforced walls and ceilings. High-speed video recording may also be used to compile detailed information about the testing results.
One very effective method of spin burst testing utilizes resilient supports mounted between the bearings and the housing of a rotor machine, or between a bushing (where the rotor is mounted) and the housing. This design takes on a larger part of the dynamic load, helping to center the rotor. This testing method also resists extremely imbalanced loads, marking it a safe and effective means of spin burst testing.
What Are the Benefits of Spin Burst Testing?
There are a number of benefits to utilizing spin testing for verifying the quality of the design and function of machinery. Spin burst testing provides design and material validation, confirming that the machinery will behave in the predicted manner under extreme conditions, as well as ensuring that the material used will meet all safety standards while remaining cost-effective.
This testing method also serves to reduce manufacturing costs by providing users with critical information that can be used to optimize all components of the machinery. Additionally, testing may be used to perform failure analysis, as the testing is conducted in a safe environment that mimics real-world conditions — ensuring that manufacturers can establish reliable safety margins for their products.
High-speed rotating machinery testing is an important part of the equipment manufacturing process, serving as a highly effective method for confirming that machinery designs are as safe, reliable, and efficient as possible.
Resources:
- https://www.testdevices.com/spin-testing/burst/
- http://www.lyoncorp.com/techbriefs/31_spinburst_test_machine.pdf
- http://greeninginc.com/products-and-services/test-equipment/spinburst-test-machine/
- https://www.faa.gov/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02322959
- https://www.asminternational.org/documents/10192/6013782/amp17104p29.pdf/bb4c1f20-5021-41bc-8ebb-ee8f119289b9
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