Identifying unmarked leads in three-phase motors is a common task for service center technicians. This article provides one way to assign lead numbers for a 12-lead machine with unmarked leads.

Have you ever been out at a restaurant or sports bar to meet up with some friends and colleagues to have an adult beverage or two when suddenly someone leans on the table ever so slightly and liquid spills everywhere? What just happened? The small space between the table leg and the floor has just created a big consequence. While it’s not too difficult to solve if you have some napkins and a few coasters, it does, however, illustrate the results of a soft foot and how a very small space can lead to a much larger consequence.

No matter where you operate in the world, the most common response to challenges seems to be drafting a new standard, guideline or regulatory framework. The outcome is often a quality system that grows into mountains of documents, procedures and processes—each one intended to ensure quality, but collectively threatening to overwhelm both workshops and engineers.

In the world of rotating machinery, terms like balance, clearance and alignment are second nature to engineers and technicians. But one concept often hides in plain sight—critical to performance, longevity and safety—magnetic center alignment.

This presentation focuses on the proper clearances, materials and installation process for centrifugal pump wear rings.

Equipping a pump test facility for variable speed operation can provide greater flexibility and expand opportunities to evaluate pump performance.

While highly effective for control, pulse width modulation introduces high-frequency transients that can compromise motor reliability if left unchecked.

A tilted or improperly sized oil standpipe can allow oil to migrate upward along the pipe’s wall when the motor is in operation, leading to leakage, loss of lubrication and potential bearing damage. This issue can be overlooked during assembly or inspection, but a few simple checks can prevent costly problems. 

A thoughtful succession plan—such as hiring a new manager one year before the retirement of the veteran employee—can turn the process of leadership transition into a positive, future-focused evolution.

This presentation provides a practical overview of applying both NFPA 70E (electrical safety) and 70B (electrical maintenance) standards to field and shop operations.