December Webinars: GHS Regulations, CM & Grease Compatibility

Join us this holiday season for some great education, including a hot topic in the metalworking fluids industry - OSHA's New GHS Regulations, the last event in the Condition Monitoring Data Interpretation Series: Advanced Report Reading, and Grease Compatibility. Registration is now open for all 2012 events. Be sure to get in some continuing education before you leave for your holiday break. I hope you have a good holiday season and safe travels, and here's to a productive 2013!

OSHA's New GHS Regulations - Challenges for Metalworking Fluid Formulators
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 5, 2012; 12-1pm Central with additional Q&A from 1-1:30pm
Instructor: John Howell, Safety, Health and Environmental Specialist at GHS Resources, Inc.
Overview: Among the many challenges metalworking formulators need to understand is how to use the new GHS mixture rules to classify metalworking formulations. Another challenge is where to find raw material classification information if its not yet been provided by your raw material supplier. We will go through OSHA's new tiered approach for mixtures: use test data when available; use bridging principles if applicable and, if neither of these first two approaches work for you, how to estimate hazards based on known ingredient information. We will learn how to use the European Chemicals Agency's Classification and Labeling Inventory to ascertain classification information for raw materials and then work through the algorithms for skin and eye irritation and for acute toxicity. This will give formulators a head start in understanding how metalworking products will be classified under the new rules.
Fee: $39 members/$59 non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register - registration deadline December 3
Advanced Report Reading (last event in the CM Data Interpretation Series)
Date/Time: Tuesday, December 11, 2012; 12-1pm Central with additional Q&A from 1-1:30pm
Instructor: Evan Zabawski, CLS & Editor of TLT
Overview: The final module of this series will impart tips on quickly and effectively reading a standard oil analysis report and move into a review of generalized examples applicable to virtually any application.
Fee: $39 members/$59 non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register - registration deadline December 10

[Click here] to register for the entire series - you get access to all 6 recordings for a 10% savings! The events include: Advanced Data Interpretation, Spectrographic Data Interpretation I: Contaminants & Wear, Spectrographic Data Interpretation II: Additive Metals, Physical Properties Data Interpretation, Additional Testing and Advanced Report Reading. You can also purchase each event individually.

Grease Compatibility
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 12, 2012; 12-1pm Central with additional Q&A from 1-1:30pm
Instructor: Heinrich Braun, Global Technical Grease Team Lead, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Specialties
Overview: Grease compatibility is an important consideration when converting from one grease to another. Mixing incompatible greases can produce a lubricant with significantly inferior performance to its constituents, and thus have a negative effect on the ability of the grease mix to perform in the application. This webinar will address grease compatibility based on grease constituents, common observations when mixing incompatible greases, as well as some best practices of grease compatibility testing.
Fee: $39 members/$59 non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register - registration deadline December 10

What are you looking forward to in 2013? What are your new year's resolutions? Leave a comment below!

October Webinars: Learn More About Gears, Grease and Condition Monitoring

The third event in the Condition Monitoring Data Interpretation will take place on Wednesday, wrapping up our webinars for September. Looking forward to October, we'll feature the following events:

FREE Membership Webinar on STLE's Certification Programs
Date/Time: October 3, 2012; 12-1 pm CDT
Presenter: Alicia Shearer, STLE's Certification Programs Administrator
Overview: In this webinar, you'll learn how to navigate the in's and out's of STLE's certification programs including the CLS (Certified Lubrication Specialist), OMA (Oil Monitoring Analyst) and CMFS (Certified Metalworking Fluid Specialist) Programs. These certifications have been shown to increase your salary and provide a boost to your career. For each program, you will learn: Who is it for? Preparation Resources, as well as how to find exam sittings,  register for an exam and what happens once you obtain your certification - notification as well as recertification requirements.
[Click here] for event information
[Click here] to register

Fundamentals of Industrial Enclosed Gears & Their Lubrication
Date/Time: October 11, 2012; 12-1pm CDT with additional Q&A time from 1-1:30 pm
Instructor: Lawrence Ludwig, Chief Chemist/Technical Director, Schaeffer Manufacturing Company
Abstract: In this webinar you will learn about basic gear fundamentals, the different types of industrial gear lubricants that can be used, some of the important properties and industrial gear lubricant should possess and the proper selection of the type of industrial gear lubricant to use.
Fee: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for event information
[Click here] to register

Fundamentals of Grease
Date/Time: October 25, 2012; 12-1pm CDT with additional Q&A time from 1-1:30pm
Instructor: Dr. Robert M. Gresham, STLE's Director of Professional Development
Abstract: This presentation will give you a working knowledge of greases, provided through an overview of grease types, their manufacture, testing, and industry applications.
Fee: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for event information
[Click here] to register

Physical Properties Data Interpretation (part of the Condition Monitoring Data Interpretation Series  includes 6 events including Alarm Limits, Spectrographic Data Interpretation I/II: Contaminants & Wear, Additive Metals, Physical Properties, Additional Testing and Advanced Report Reading)
Date/Time: October 31, 2012; 12-1 pm CDT with additional Q&A time from 1-1:30pm
Instructor: Evan Zabawski, CLS & Editor of TLT
Abstract: The fourth module of this series will transition over to correct interpretation of the changes found in the physical and chemical properties of the oil, such as viscosity, FTIR (soot, oxidation, nitration and sulphation) and checks for fuel, water and glycol.
Fee: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for event information
[Click here] to register

If you have any questions, just contact Kara Sniegowski at klemar@stle.org or at (847) 825-5536. 2013 planning is going on now, so feel free to also send topic suggestions.

July/August Webinars - Condition Monitoring Series & Additives

Join us this month for educational webinars taught by subject matter experts. These experts come from within the STLE audience, so they know exactly what information you need and want to know. General topics featured in the coming months are Condition Monitoring (events held July 18 & 8/23) and Additives (held on 8/29). Registration deadlines are the Monday before the event, so be sure to get in on time to ensure space and that you get all the event information you'll need.

Why attend an STLE University webinar?
Because STLE University is "Education Your Way: Focused, Flexible and Accessible."

• Focused: topics are centered around those in the STLE audience - lubrication engineers and tribologists - providing practical education for all. Plus, we work to meet all levels - from the basics to more advanced topics, we have a wide variety of offerings for you.
• Flexible: attend live or try one of our archived webinars or online courses - these can be done on your schedule to fit your needs and your calendar.
• Accessible: both in terms of logging online and the cost to attend a webinar or online course - this is the most economical and trusted outlet of education in the industry.

JULY/AUGUST
July marks the start of the Condition Monitoring Data Interpretation Series. This series will be taught by Evan Zabawski, VP of Technical Services with CAN-AK, and Editor of TLT. The series includes 6 topics that center around Data Interpretation, however each event is a self-contained module, so you can choose to attend one, a couple or all 6 events (you get a discount if you register for all 6). Topics include:

• Advanced Data Interpretation: This introductory module will discuss what types of alarm limits are used, how they are applied and how to derive better ones.  This will lead into discussions on how better alarm limits will enable deeper interpretation such as identifying patterns and trends, isolating bad actors and erroneous data.
• Spectrographic Data Interpretation, Part I: Contaminants & Wear: The second module of this series will segment a typically used oil analysis report and focus on how to identify the correct causes and effects when reading the spectrographic data pertaining to contaminants and wear material.
• Spectrographic Data Interpretation, Part II: Additive Metals: The third module of this series will continue along the lines of the previous module, but rather focusing on changes found in the additive elements measured by spectrometry.
• Physical Properties Data Interpretation: The fourth module of this series will transition over to correct interpretation of the changes found in the physical and chemical properties of the oil, such as viscosity, FTIR (soot, oxidation, nitration and sulphation) and checks for fuel, water and glycol.
• Additional Testing (FTIR, AN, BN and Particle Counts): The fifth module of this series will wrap up the individualized parameter review by discussing interpretation of results such as particle count, optical particle classification, acid number and base number.
• Advanced Report Reading: The final module of this series will impart tips on quickly and effectively reading a standard oil analysis report and move into a review of generalized examples applicable to virtually any application.

We'll also be hosting the Basics of Lubricant Additives, taught by Chris Schmid, Lubrizol.

Overview: In this webinar, you will gain a basic understanding of lubricant additives including what additives are, why they are used, and the major types of additives used in today’s lubricants. Each additive will then be examined in depth as to how it works and why it is used, including the benefits of each additive type. This is a great webinar for the end user or someone just starting out.

If you have any quesitons, please contact Kara Sniegowski at (847) 825-5536 or at klemar@stle.org.

Do you have specific topics you'd like STLE to offer in a webinar or online course format? Tell us in the comments below and we'll work it into the upcoming schedule.

AM Education Course Feature: Condition Monitoring 301

STLE asked the course instructors and chair to provide some detail on the course, and you can read on to get a preview of the course itself. You can register for the meeting and the course, or get some more information on our Annual Meeting page.

First, can you give us an overview of the field and how this course got started?
“Condition Monitoring” is a relatively new term, perhaps 20-25 years old. I founded this course on the observation that CM was going to be a very important concept as equipment and lubricants continued to get more sophisticated. It was also the first practically-oriented STLE course that dealt with in-service lubricants.


How does this course differ from last year or previous courses offered on CM?
This course is significantly more advanced and is targeted to persons who already have experience in oil analysis and CM. Basics are mentioned in passing but the objective is to provide a more technical program.

Are there are any prerequisites for attending this course?

Attendees should have a good basic understanding of oil analysis and the CM concept, generally: the notion of preventive action triggered by CM data, evaluated by knowledgeable people.

What can one expect to learn and be able to bring back to their workplace?

Whether data evaluation and rendering opinions is the goal of the attendee, an appreciation of what an oil analysis or other CM report provides should be gained. If the attendee is a manager of those involved in data evaluation and opinion rendering, then he/she will have a good appreciation of the process so as to facilitate the team in accomplishing CM goals. The theme of this course is "21st Century Condition Monitoring," and this is the crux of what our team is presenting: cutting edge approaches to this valuable, necessary concept.

The short answer is that CM, properly done by competent people in a competent system, saves or earns money by early detection of potential problems and/or increasing component availability, respectively.

Meet the instructors, and see what they're teaching:

Evan Zabawski: Advanced Data Interpretation
A successful condition monitoring program requires the right data coupled with the right interpretation. Obtaining the right data can be relatively simple, but getting a decent interpretation often relies on setting appropriate alarm limits or properly identifying abnormal trends. Leveraging historical data from the same asset and other similar assets is ideal, but the execution often produces sub-par results. This presentation will critique a variety of techniques used for both setting alarm limits and trending data, and then offer a model which uses an amalgamation of the best concepts. Examples will be used to illustrate key concepts. This presentation is aimed at any individual involved in the interpretation of data or decision-making resulting from condition monitoring data (e.g. Reliability Engineers, Maintenance Planners, etc.)

Chad Chichester: Condition Monitoring (CM) Techniques Complementary to Oil Analysis

Many companies elect to employ a multitude of condition monitoring techniques. The nature of failure analysis and prediction is becoming more complex and each technique offers insight to root causation of failures, and impending failures intended to be mitigated. Isolating techniques to confines of their own data, interpretation, and topical experts may prevent reliability and maintenance practitioners from realizing the full potential of using multiple techniques. Integration of data and information from multiple techniques can improve asset owners’ ability to succinctly identify root cause and/or impending failures. This module will focus on CM techniques like, vibration analysis, infrared thermography, and acoustic emissions and how such methods can be aggregated and synergistically complementary to oil analysis.

Allison Toms: Impact of Machinery Configuration and Operations on Monitoring Techniques and Data

Over the past decade, changes in machinery configuration and operational demands have had a profound impact on oil analysis condition monitoring. Machinery and lubricant OEMs and government research have invested in improvements in both the design and materials used in manufacturing and production as well as in lubricant formulation. Many of these improvements have not been adequately reflected in current testing practices. Testing equipment and methodologies have also improved and new monitoring tools have been introduced to address new problems. This presentation will touch on some of the changes to oil analysis over the past decade such as lubricants and additives; component design, configuration and alloy compositions; improved and new testing equipment, technology, techniques; operational and environmental factors; and customer desires. The presentation will include on-line sensors and at-line applications to meet some of these changes as well as the means to achieve improved machinery condition indicators and estimates on remaining useful life through integration of monitoring techniques. Examples and case histories will be presented.

Jack Poley (also Course Chair): Condition Monitoring International and Kittiwake Developments - Changing Paradigms in CM: Online Oil Analysis, Extended Particle Analysis, Software and More

Oil Analysis has changed rather radically in the last decade. The advent of dependable, effective online sensors for metallic wear debris is probably the most obvious such change, leading to a ‘3-tiered’ system of oil analysis: Online, Onsite, Offsite, each having its own advantages. Practitioners can employ one or all avenues. Particulate analysis, especially those near the visible range, is increasingly more advanced. Computerization has provided us with the ability to set limits and plot trends, but nowadays that’s not news. The use of Intelligent Agents in resolving increasingly complex data sets that can include streaming data from online metallic debris or vibration sensors makes it possible, given strong domain expertise, to auto-generate very sophisticated and accurate opinions AND get them to the right stakeholder for timely intervention as may be needed via selective report recipients,. The notion of humans poring over data one sample after the next is on its way out. Information needs to be specific, relevant , consistent and tidy, delivered quickly and effectively to the right parties.

Condition Monitoring with Jack Poley

In this episode, Jack Poley, Technical Director for Kittiwake-Americas, describes his view of the Condition Monitoring field and provides some information on the CM Education Course that will be given at the 2011 STLE Annual Meeting.

Listen to hear what Jack has to say about the course - providing you with an inside look at the course itself, including: course instructors, the intended audience, topical coverage and some helpful tips that you can apply in your work. The course includes four modules:

• Why Condition Monitoring with Chad Chichester, Dow Corning


• Basics of a CBM Program with Evan Zabawski, FluidLife


• Oil Analysis Tests and Data Evaluation with Jack, CMI


• Failure Modes and Data Integration with Allison Toms, GasTops

Click the "play" button on the slider bar to play the episode in your screen, or if that doesn't work, you can click here to play or download the episode. If you prefer, you can read or translate the interview transcript by clicking here. Visit our website for more information on condition monitoring, this and other education courses, and the 2011 Annual Meeting, which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia. Jack writes a bi-monthly feature on Condition Monitoring for TLT, so make sure you check out the last issue. TLT is a wealth of information, as you can see from these previously published articles:

• CM - The Land of Acronyms


• Oil Analysis: Past, Present & Future: Part I


• Oil Analysis: Past, Present & Future: Part II

Remember, STLE has a depth and breadth of knowledge and resources on a variety of topics, and our website is always a great place to start your search.

Registration Open for February's Webinar on Condition Monitoring

The latest Webinar in the Industry Insight series will address Data Interpretation in Condition Monitoring. The Webinar is set for Wednesday, February 16, 2011, at 12:00 p.m. Central. This special presentation will last for 90 minutes, with 30 minutes of that time devoted to Q&A. With this event, STLE is introducing a new feature: a bonus Q&A session. This extended Q&A will last from 1:30-2:00 p.m. and will be available for those who wish to stay on the line. For those who have other commitments, the recording will capture the additional information and will be available for their review post-event.

The presentation will be given by Evan Zabawski, Education & Training Manager at Fluid Life. Evan is a Fourth Class Power Engineer with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He has been an STLE member for over 10 years, he is the Chair of the STLE-Alberta Section, an instructor for STLE's Annual Meeting Education Course on Condition Monitoring, and Editor of TLT Magazine.

This Webinar presentation will bring clarity and understanding to evaluating and interpreting oil analysis data into meaningful information directly related to the condition of the operating equipment. It examines many of the various fluid testing procedures, including a brief look at the purpose and limitations of each tests, to help provide better value from used oil analysis.

View the flyer for more information, or click here to register for the event. The registration deadline is set for Monday, February 14, 2011. There is limited space available. In order to ensure your participation, please register before this date. For full participation in the Webinar, you will receive 1.5 Education Credits (ECs) which may be used towards recertification. For details, please contact us at university@stle.org.