Vibralign Blog

By Stan Riddle on March 31, 2020

Like many people worldwide, the ACOEM VibrAlign Training Team is grounded while we wait this virus out.  It is the right thing to do-for ourselves, our families, neighbors, co-workers, and nation. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t help YOU!  If you have questions about alignment, vibration, or reliability of your equipment, WE CAN HELP!  How? […]

Vibration Analysis| rotor unbalance| unbalance

By Stan Riddle on February 13, 2020

By now, if you’ve kept up with the VibrAlign balancing “how-to” blogs, you should see that balancing is mostly just a math problem – counteracting forces.  But we haven’t discussed when the balance job is through. When I started balancing fans many years ago, I stopped balancing when: The fan owner said, “that’s much better”, […]

rotor unbalance| Balancing| OneProd Falcon| unbalance| Fixturlaser Smart Machine Checker

By Stan Riddle on October 9, 2019

In our last “How To” we talked about the trial run – using a trial weight and location, to calculate the amount and location of a correction weight, which should correct the unbalance.  Most modern-day balancing tools do the math for you.  Even though these tools calculate the correction weight and location, it is good […]

Balancing| trial weight

By Stan Riddle on July 26, 2019

In our last Balancing How-To, I stated that an initial trial weight is sometimes a guess.  Sometimes based on experience, and sometimes on common sense.  But if you prefer to be a little more scientific about it, there are ways to calculate a good trial weight. There are a few requirements to calculate a trial […]

Balancing| rotor unbalance| unbalance

By Stan Riddle on April 25, 2019

Once unbalance is determined, the original unbalance run (amplitude and phase) is measured, and a trial weight size is determined, the next step is where to place the trial weight. If you have no balancing record for this rotor, where to place the weight is little more than a guess.  But there are some things […]

Imbalance| unbalance| SMC| Balancing| rotor unbalance| One Prod Falcon

By Stan Riddle on February 22, 2019

In our last Balancing How To, we discussed how to set up and get your original measurements on the rotor to be balanced.  This How To discusses selecting a proper trial weight. A trial weight is used to make a change in the original vibration amount and direction.  Changing either the AMOUNT of vibration (amplitude), […]

Balancing| OneProd Falcon| rotor unbalance| unbalance| SMC

By Stan Riddle on January 30, 2019

The recent blog on troubleshooting balancing ( https://vibralign.com/other-topics/smc-touch-tip-using-the-smc-when-unbalance-is-diagnosed/ ) brought up some additional questions from our readers, so let’s tackle them in order. The first one is setting up to perform a balance job. NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR BALANCING If you have gone through the checklist and confirmed unbalance, you will need: A machine to perform […]

Smart Machine Checker| Balancing| rotor unbalance| unbalance

By Stan Riddle on January 7, 2019

The Fixturlaser Smart Machine Checker (SMC) is a great balancing tool (for me personally, it’s the best balancer I’ve ever used).  Unbalance is one of the most common machinery problems on rotating equipment, especially fans. If you get a diagnosis of unbalance, be aware of these tips: Be mindful that a rotating mass, once balanced, […]

lubrication| eletric motor bearing failure| Smart Machine Checker| lubrication tool| rotor unbalance| unbalance

By Stan Riddle on September 13, 2018

We recently published a blog about using the Fixturlaser SMC as a lubrication tool. https://vibralign.com/other-topics/using-the-smart-machine-checker-as-a-lubrication-tool/ Ironically, just a couple of weeks later I received some photos from a new SMC customer.  He got a report from his SMC stating that a chilled water pump was experiencing motor unbalance.  He took the motor apart to inspect […]

Greasing bearings| lubrication tool| lubrication| Bearing Defect detection| Bearing Defect Factor| bearing defects

By Stan Riddle on July 10, 2018

The Fixturlaser Smart Machine Checker (SMC) is a great mechanic’s tool, for evaluating the overall health of rotating machinery.  But did you know it’s also a lubrication tool for greasing bearings?  Let me explain. One of the vibration measurements in the SMC is called Bearing Defect Factor.  The Bearing Defect Factor is a measurement of […]

Fixturlaser NXA Pro| Precision Shaft Alignment| Fixturlaser NXA Ultimate| Documentation

By Stan Riddle on May 23, 2018

When a machine is checked, and found to be out of alignment, the “as found” alignment data can be saved.  Soft foot checks and corrections can also be saved. Continue with the alignment, and when in tolerance save the “as left” alignment. Exit to the Main Menu of the NXA, then press the File Cabinet […]

troubleshooting| Laser Alignment tools| Laser Shaft Alignment| "jacking bolts"| "shaft alignment tools"| Alignment tolerances| soft foot| "shaft alignment"

By Stan Riddle on May 11, 2018

Alan Garbers with Johnson Controls International contacted me regarding an alignment problem, and asked for my advice.  Here is a condensed version of his email. A client rents portable chillers, and related equipment. They built a 125HP portable pump skid with a Bell & Gossett pump on a VFD. I was there to commission the […]

angled soft foot| soft foot| Pre-Alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| Obvious soft foot| shim stack

By Stan Riddle on March 4, 2018

It is both possible, and desirable, to minimize the negative effects of soft foot.  While it may be difficult to completely get rid of soft foot, it can typically be reduced to a few mils, if the following techniques are used. PREPARATION AND CLEANLINESS CLEAN! If you remove the motor, wipe the feet clean, before […]

Obvious soft foot| Precision Shaft Alignment| Vibration Analysis| machinery diagnostics| angled soft foot| soft foot

By Stan Riddle on February 26, 2018

Most industrial maintenance mechanics who are involved with precision shaft alignment are familiar with the phenomenon of soft foot.  From an alignment standpoint, soft foot causes: Changes in alignment values, between when the hold down bolts are loose, and when they are tight. Non-repeatability in alignment measurements, especially if the bolts are not tightened in […]

Fixturlaser NXA Pro| Obvious soft foot| soft foot| angled soft foot| Laser Shaft Alignment

By Stan Riddle on February 19, 2018

Most laser alignment tools include a soft foot function. However, in truth these tools haven’t measured ACTUAL soft foot, instead they have measured the EFFECT of soft foot at the shaft or coupling as that is where the laser heads or sensors are mounted.  While the EFFECT of soft foot is important, correcting the ACTUAL […]