Tag Archives: remote visual inspection

Inspector 3.0 Changes The Face Of RVI Inspection

Perth, WA, Australia, 2021-Jul-26 — /EPR INDUSTRIAL NEWS/ — Inspection tasks are undergoing rapid advancement thanks to Remote Visual Inspection (RVI) tools, like the Elios 2. However, while there are many advantages to such drone inspection (speed, visualisation of hard to reach areas, increased health and safety etc), it also brings with it one significant challenge: 

That of pinpointing the location of defects. 

Unlike traditional inspection, where the defect is determined by the person in front of it, RVI inspection in areas like boilers requires multiple data input to gain an accurate location. This might include the use of maps, blueprints and barometric measurements. This is a complex task. Getting it wrong can have serious implications, the worst of which is undertaking significant effort (AKA time and money) to gain access to repair the defect, only to find you’re in the wrong place. 

Enter Inspector 3.0 

Inspector 3.0 is the newest version of Flyability’s Inspector software, specifically designed to be used with the Elios 2 for indoor inspections. 

This revolutionary data localisation program allows inspectors to create a 3D map immediately following an indoor drone inspection flight. The advantages of this are many, all of which combine to create one thing – significant savings for repair and maintenance tasks. 

  • Accurate defect location in real time: The whole reason for inspections is to identify defects. Being able to pinpoint them immediately after an inspection flight has taken place means efficient action plans can be immediately put in place.
  • Lowered costs: Wholly accurate localisation of a defect in a hard-to-reach asset area allows for exact planning to gain access. Whether this involves scaffolding, digging through dirt, cutting into the asset or any other means of access, it negates the risk of ending up in the wrong location. Such unhappy incidents are common and result in prolonged downtime and the associated loss of revenue.
  • Better communication: Industrial maintenance often includes many different personnel. From inspectors through to maintenance staff, C-suite level and managers, accurate data localisation can assist in helping everyone understand the needs of the inspection data. A 3D map speaks volumes and bypasses much of the requirement to fully understand technical data, therefore aiding comprehension at all levels and improving communication.
  • Improves customer relations: Performing inspections often causes frustration if a customer can’t see a tangible report of defect locations as soon as its finished. The ability to present them with a 3D visualisation straight away is hugely advantageous to customer confidence.

How Inspector 3.0 Works

1. Launch the indoor inspection mission: Using the Elios 2

2. Collect visual data: On the fly collection of data, allowing you to mark points of interest at the touch of a button

3. Create a 3D map: Following the flight, utilise the mapping feature of Inspector 3.0 to create a sparse map of the asset that includes the points of interest detected. This takes between 20-50 minutes to generate 

The Elios and next-generation Elios 2 continue to evolve, along with the software that goes alongside. Such innovations are key to driving down costs and increasing productivity in an ever-competitive marketplace.

Equipment provider, Nexxis, is committed to procuring such technology and providing the unique availability of a dynamic model that allows their customers to take full advantage of tech as it becomes available. 

Head to www.nexxis.com to discover the Nexxis difference, and why they’re becoming the equipment supplier of choice to industries as diverse as oil & gas, petrochemicals, manufacturing and aeronautical.

The Effects Of Misaligned Equipment

Perth, Western Australia, Jun-27-2017 —  /EPR INDUSTRIAL NEWS/  — Nexxis are one of Australia’s leading suppliers of specialist remote visual inspection (RVI) technology and non destructive testing (NDT) equipment and they have all the answers to your equipment misalignment problems.

Industrial operations are losing huge sums of money because the centrelines of the shafts of their rotating equipment (such as pumps and motors) aren’t running on the same axis and are therefore misaligned – with some industry sources going as far as saying that shaft misalignment is to blame for up to 50% of all machine breakdowns.

And when you consider that a survey by a leading rotating equipment service company found that less than 10% of machines that were evaluated were aligned within acceptable tolerances, misalignment is clearly a widespread problem.

Here are some of the costly and damaging effects of equipment that is poorly aligned or misaligned.

Excessive vibration
Misalignment is one of the leading causes of vibration problems – and as the reliability of the machine corresponds directly with the level of vibration, excessive radial and axial vibrations will impact negatively on performance. All rotating equipment will produce a certain level of noise, but when the shafts are misaligned and the equipment vibrates excessively, noise levels will also escalate correspondingly.

Premature failure of seals and bearings
Accelerated failure of seals and other parts is costly – and even the slightest misalignment can result in excessive force and stress being put onto the bearings and seals. Replacement parts are expensive, plus there’s also the risk of damage and contamination of other components from the leaking fluid from the stressed seals and bearings.

Increased energy costs
Misalignment correlates directly to higher power consumption as the machines are less efficient and therefore draw greater amounts of energy.

Excessive heat
In the same way that variations in temperature can cause misalignment, misalignment can cause machines to overheat which results in lubrication issues as well as safety risks.

Broken shafts
Misalignment can cause the shafts to break or crack – and this can lead to unplanned downtime and production problems as well as costly equipment repair.

Higher operating costs, loss of production and increased maintenance costs
Misaligned machinery generally has a shorter service lifespan and this premature failure of capital equipment adversely affects outputs as well as negatively impacting the operation’s balance sheet. Higher maintenance costs, costly downtime, unexpected capital costs for equipment replacement, increased inventory for spare parts and even the potential for catastrophic machinery failures are all consequences of misalignment-induced mechanical failures.

Inferior quality outputs
Misaligned machinery can also result in inferior or defective products which can impact on profitability.

Implementing a careful and thorough preventative maintenance programme will go a long way towards minimising the risk – and the associated costs – of misaligned machinery. To find out how a customised solution can ensure that your operation runs at optimum efficiency, you should contact Nexxis on 08 9418 4952 or via their website, nexxis.com.au.

###