Vibralign Blog

accelerometer| axis of rotation| Fixturlaser Smart Machine Checker| machinery diagnostics| machinery vibration| Precision Shaft Alignment| rotational axis

By Tom Shelton on February 1, 2018

Everything must have perspective, a point of view, to be communicated. To communicate the three spatial dimensions, we use the X,Y, Z coordinates. These denote height, width and depth. In referring to machinery we use the same X,Y, Z denotations, but we give them different values or meanings. To make it even more interesting, there […]

"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, […]

Fixturlaser Smart Machine Checker| machinery diagnostics| machinery vibration| maintenance reliability| Smart Machine Checker

By Doug Burdsall on January 16, 2018

With the introduction of the OneProd Hawk in April of 2015, VibrAlign shed light on the idea that the future of Machinery Diagnostics was about to get easier; That you can achieve a second level diagnosis on any machine without help from a professional vibration analyst. It just took a tool that empowers mechanics to […]

"soft foot"| Fixturlaser GO Basic| Obvious soft foot| Pre-Alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment

By Brad Case on January 4, 2018

We have been teaching maintenance personnel to use the Verti-Zontal Process to perform precision shaft alignments quickly for years. The key to quick alignments is to follow the Verti-Zontal plan which includes the pre-alignment steps Obviously when alignment checks are done, the pre-alignment steps aren’t performed on the “front end” of the alignment however they […]

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 […]

bearing defect detecion| Bearing Fluting| Capacitive EDM| eletric motor bearing failure| VFD| Vibration Testing

By Tim Sorensen on December 20, 2017

When performing vibration analysis, it is observed that machines with VFD drives have a more frequent occurrence for changing motor bearings.  If you’ve been diligent in the installation and maintenance of these machines, ensuring the alignment and balance are within specification and the bearings are properly lubricated, but still have frequent bearing failures, it may […]

calibration| Dial Indicators| precut shims| shims| training

By Tom Shelton on December 14, 2017

SHIM STORAGE & USAGE: Shims are an integral part of obtaining precision shaft alignment in an efficient manner. Only new, clean shims should be used. The cost of new shims is minimal when compared to the cost of extra downtime caused by an inefficient precision alignment process. Proper choice, use and storage of shims is […]

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 […]

"shaft alignment training"| equipment reliability| Fixturlaser NXA Pro| Laser Shaft Alignment| misalignment| Precision Shaft Alignment

By Mac MacCormack on November 16, 2017

I recently received a support call from a nearby client, the issue was that the precision shaft alignment of a right-angle gear reducer to a line shaft was taking up to 12 hours (using another brand alignment tool) with little to no success. There are about a dozen of these units in this facility. This […]

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!  […]

ISO 10816-3| ISO Vibration Severity Chart| machinery diagnostics| ONEPROD| OneProd Falcon| ONEPROD Hawk

By Tim Sorensen on November 1, 2017

For years, vibration analysts have depended upon the ISO Vibration Severity Chart for the determination of machinery health.  Typically, this chart provides a level of certainty that would allow the analyst to look at the vibration levels, and if acceptable, move onto the next machine for analysis.   Some defects are determined in the waveform […]

"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| equipment reliability| maintenance reliability| reliability| Vibration Analysis

By Chris Troutt on October 18, 2017

A hype man in rap and hip hop supports the primary rappers with exclamations and interjections, and attempts to increase the audience’s excitement. Emmanuel C. M. says, “the hype man is essential to a live performance. He is an integral piece to the whole show.  It’s his job to be the support for the performer, give the performer energy […]

bearing defect detecion| bearing failures| condition monitoring| gear defect detection| gear failures| machinery vibration| Vibration Analysis

By Tim Sorensen on October 12, 2017

Bearing defect factor is a culmination of two technologies used for shock detection.  DEF is designed as an indicator for bearing defect detection, but can also be valuable in the detection of gear defects. Why is DEF significant? In the following data set are displayed Overall Vibration Velocity, Overall Acceleration, and Defect Factor.  The Overall […]

"shaft alignment training"| aligning machinery| Laser Shaft Alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| troubleshooting

By Brad Case on October 6, 2017

This is an obvious statement and most of us know what happens when we do “ASSUME” with most things in life. However, we (The VibrAlign Trainers) see assumptions being made quite often during a precision shaft alignment. Several years ago, I read a book titled “A Millwright’s Guide to Motor/Pump Alignment” by Tommy “T-Hammer” Harlon […]