Which issues are typically identified by thermography in machinery maintenance?

• A. Misalignment, overload, poor lubrication, or electrical faults
• B. Gaps in gear teeth
• C. Ambient humidity readings
• D. Exterior paint type

Answer: (A)

Thermography detects heat patterns on components, so it’s most effective for finding conditions that cause abnormal heating during operation. Misalignment makes parts rub against each other, creating hot spots; overload raises temperature from excess mechanical or electrical load; poor lubrication increases friction and local heating where oil film is insufficient; electrical faults cause high-resistance connections or components to overheat. These heat signatures stand out in infrared images and help technicians locate problems without disassembling equipment. By contrast, gaps in gear teeth are a mechanical wear issue better spotted by vibration analysis or visual inspection, while ambient humidity readings and exterior paint type don’t reflect a machine’s operating temperature or heat-related faults.