Bearing Rescue
Industrial MechanicalRead the signs of bearing distress before they become failure.
DiagnosticInteractive UI10 min
Vibration Detective
Read the spectrum and name the fault before the machine names it for you.
Difficulty: AdvancedPlay time: about 13 minutes
Play Vibration Detective nowOpens the full-screen game - or play in place below.
Workplace narrative
The reliability team has left three vibration spectra on your desk, one for each suspect machine. Each chart is a fingerprint: unbalance sings at 1x shaft speed, misalignment brings its 2x harmonic along, and bearing defects show up at their own ball-pass frequencies. Match each spectrum to its fault, then confirm you know what the fixes and follow-ups should be. The plant is waiting for your call on which machine gets priority maintenance.
Why this skill matters
Vibration analysis is a signature reliability skill for millwrights and reliability technicians. Strong performance feeds the Industrial Mechanical and Power/Energy pathways.
Learning objectives
- Identify 1x, 2x and bearing-fault frequency patterns
- Diagnose unbalance, misalignment and bearing defects from spectra
- Understand shaft speed and its harmonics
- Connect each diagnosis to the correct corrective action
Equipment and components
Vibration analyzer and accelerometerSpectrum charts for three machinesTachometer (shaft speed reference)Machine history notes
Technical principles
- Unbalance appears as a dominant peak at 1x shaft speed
- Misalignment adds a strong 2x component (and often 1x)
- Bearing defects generate non-harmonic frequencies (BPFO, BPFI, ball spin)
- Shaft speed in hertz is RPM divided by 60
How to play
- Study the spectrum: peak positions, heights and the 1x reference lines
- Check the machine's RPM to convert to hertz where needed
- Pick the diagnosis that best explains the pattern
- Read the explanation - it names the physics behind each peak
Rules
- Each case is worth 10 points plus streak bonuses
- No hints on chart questions - the chart is the evidence
- Pass each level with 70% or more
Formula and calculation section
Shaft Speed
f = RPM / 60
Shaft rotation frequency in hertz - the anchor for 1x, 2x and 3x references.
Need help with the mathematics?
Open the relevant mathematics module, practice the calculation, then return to the scenario.
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Level 1/2Score 0Streak 0Hints 0
Your shift briefing
The reliability team has left three vibration spectra on your desk, one for each suspect machine. Each chart is a fingerprint: unbalance sings at 1x shaft speed, misalignment brings its 2x harmonic along, and bearing defects show up at their own ball-pass frequencies. Match each spectrum to its fault, then confirm you know what the fixes and follow-ups should be. The plant is waiting for your call on which machine gets priority maintenance.
Feedback approach
Each explanation walks the spectrum peak by peak, so a wrong diagnosis still teaches the signature you missed.
Common mistakes
- Calling every tall peak unbalance
- Ignoring harmonics when diagnosing misalignment
- Forgetting that bearing frequencies are rarely exact shaft harmonics
- Confusing RPM with hertz
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Keep learning
Return to the Industrial Mechanical hub to see the full skill path.