 Vertical Alignment
Up and down industry, vertical shaft alignment is key maintenance.
What is Vertical Alignment?
Vertical alignment typically means one of the following, which those new to alignment often find confusing:
- Shimming feet to correct angular or offset misalignment in the vertical plane of horizontally mounted machines
- Aligning rotating shafts in vertically mounted machines
- Alignment of machine tables, machine guides, rollers and other structures that require precise geometrical, vertical positioning due to high-performance applications
We'll focus on the second definition for purposes of this discussion.
Some Vertical Alignment industrial applications include:
- Pumps
- Motors
- Generators
- Fans
- Gearboxes
- Turbines
- Refiners
- Debarking drums
- Digesters
- Filters
- High and low pressure feeders
- Vacuum pumps
- Conveyers
- Chipper drives
- Chemical recovery
- Aerator drives
Recognizing Vertical Misalignment
- Premature ››bearing, seal and ››coupling failure
- Excessive radial and axial vibrations
- High casing temperature at or near bearings, or high oil temperature
- High coupling temperature
- Oil leakage at the bearing seals
- Loose or broken foundation bolts or coupling bolts
Misalignment causes repair costs to soar and production to plummet every year, but preventive maintenance can greatly minimize unplanned stoppages due to machine breakdown.
Precision Vertical Alignment has numerous benefits
- Reduces vibration levels
- Increases meantime between failures
- Reduces maintenance costs
- Reduces energy consumption
- Increases production quantity as well as quality
Vertical Alignment of vertically mounted machines
Since vertical machines mounted are typically bolted flanges and not feet, calculating correction values is different from horizontal machines. Bolts may differ in number and thus in their locations around the flange.
Measurement and alignment of such vertical, flange-mounted mounted machines is best accomplished with a laser alignment system such as a ››Fixturlaser's shaft series system. Results are presented with positions for each bolt.
Three readings determine the machine position. This tri-point method provides a quick and easy way to register readings. The motor's current position displays instantly on the screen, so the user has a clear understanding of needed adjustments and just how to shim.
Powerful yet easy-to-use Vertical Alignment systems
Fixturlaser GO System
Value-priced for most engineering and maintenance budgets, the ››Fixturlaser GO systems makes alignment checks and corrections of vertically mounted machine shafts quickly, easily and with great precision. It comes with all the basic ››shaft alignment applications and performs horizontal shaft alignments in addition to vertical. The horizontal application includes functions includes SoftCheck™ for softfoot conditions and target values, i.e., pre-defined values that compensate for thermal expansion.
Fixturlaser XA System
With its 6.4-inch backlit LCD color touchscreen, the ››Fixturlaser XA system displays easy-to-comprehend animated graphics and symbols to precisely align shafts in vertically mounted machines. The system is self-guiding, reducing the risk of misunderstanding. Application programs for horizontal and vertical shaft alignment and built-in target values and SoftCheck™ are all standard. Expansion kits make upgrades easy for aligning machine trains, offset-mounted machines and measuring dynamic movements. The Fixturlaser XA uses CCD-technology for maximum speed and highly accurate measurements, regardless of where the laser beam strikes the detector.
Fixturlaser services from VibrAlign in the USA
As Fixturlaser's North American distributor for the USA, VibrAlign provides the full range of Fixturlaser systems for vertical, horizontal, offset and ››machine train alignments and measuring dynamic movements - all known the world over for being easy and quick to learn and use. All VibrAlign engineers and measurement technicians are carefully selected and certified by Fixturlaser's training institute.
For further information on Vertical Alignment
VibrAlign can assist your company in all its vertical shaft alignment needs. For further information, product brochures, or to arrange onsite alignment of plant machinery, please ››contact VibrAlign at 800-394-3279 or info@vibralign.com.
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