Vibralign Blog

Balancing| rotor unbalance| Smart Machine Checker| 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, […]

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

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

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 […]

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

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 […]

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

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

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 […]

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

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 […]

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

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 […]

"bolt bound"| aligning machinery| cupped washers| hold down bolts| Precision Shaft Alignment| undercut bolts

By Stan Riddle on January 24, 2018

Fasteners are a critical component of the precision shaft alignment process, yet the importance of fasteners is many times overlooked.  If bolting is not selected, assembled, and torqued correctly, it can make the precision shaft alignment process less accurate, more difficult to achieve, and potentially harmful to the machines. While there are always unusual circumstances, […]

PM| Precision Shaft Alignment| predictive maintenance| Preventive maintance

By Stan Riddle on December 27, 2017

James Pekarek, one of our trainers, wrote a blog entitled “Performing Alignment Checks as Part of Your Preventive Maintenance”. https://vibralign.com/shaft-alignment/performing-alignment-checks-part-preventive-maintenance/ It is a great article, and good advice.  I recently shared this blog post, and the advice, with a customer of ours.  Here’s why. I taught a training class at a large water plant in […]

aligning machinery| Dial Indicators| Fixturlaser| Fixturlaser NXA Pro| mils

By Stan Riddle on December 1, 2017

On occasion, we are asked, “What are these numbers on the screen?”  All our alignment tools (and most others) can be configured in Imperial or Metric.  Most US users use Imperial (inches, feet, and so on). When we say, “Your laser displays in mils”, we’re asked, “What’s a mil?” Definition – [mil] noun. 1. a […]

bearing clearances| coupling runout| Dynamic Movement| Gearbox Thrust| pipe Strain| Pre-Alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| runout

By Stan Riddle on November 7, 2017

VibrAlign has introduced the Fixturlaser Runout Probe, an accessory device for the Fixturlaser NXA Professional.  I (as a jaded, grizzled old millwright-but a good “company man”) was outwardly excited.  But inside, I thought, what’s the big deal?  It’s an electronic dial indicator. That’s what I thought – until I took it for a test drive!  […]

"precision alignment"| aligning machinery| condition monitoring| machinery diagnostics| machinery vibration| ONEPROD Hawk| Precision Shaft Alignment| Vibration Analysis

By Stan Riddle on October 26, 2017

One of the hallmarks of a good maintenance technician is the ability to troubleshoot – not just using vibration tools, or volt meters, or laptops with Ethernet plug-ins, but the ability to troubleshoot machinery in their minds.  In other words, the ability to visualize what the problem might be. “Fix the easy things first” is […]

condition monitoring| machinery vibration| maintenance reliability| Vibration Analysis| vibration sensor

By Stan Riddle on September 13, 2017

A vibration sensor (or accelerometer) measures vibration-simple, right?  But how and where you mount the sensor is CRITICAL to getting good information.  Here are some good tips to keep in mind. 1. Mount the sensor as close to the bearing location as you can safely do it. These sensors can measure vibration anywhere on the […]

condition monitoring| machinery vibration| pump cavitaion| pump vibration| Vibration Analysis

By Stan Riddle on August 2, 2017

Most people who work on, or around pumps are familiar with the term “cavitation”.  It is often used as a catch all phrase for any flow-related vibration on pumps, and is often reported by vibration analysts when: Pump noise level is high, Pump vibration is erratic, with lots of “noise” in the spectrum. But there […]