Vibralign Blog

flatness| machine base flatness| Machinery Bases| Leveling

By Michael Keohane on August 31, 2020

The Fixturlaser Level is a high precision two axis digital machinist level. The primary application is base leveling. The Fixturlaser Level offers the following advantages: Two axis live measurement Calibrated to earth level out of the box No line of sight required Immediate feedback with live values Documentation of results Simple to qualify to other […]

mechanical seals| seal failures| misalignment| reliability

By Tom Shelton on August 19, 2020

Coupling manufacturers have an “acceptable” misalignment tolerance range that is typically much greater than precision shaft alignment tolerances. Why is that? Because flexible couplings are designed to allow for incidental movement of machines during operation. Seal manufacturers have very tight tolerances for allowable misalignment. Why? Because of how they seal. Typical mechanical seals have mating […]

By VibrAlign Author on August 10, 2020

Let’s talk about precision maintenance tools. “Precision” is the key word because it is required from the technician, their tools, and the work that they do. There are a ton of tools out there but these are the most common and important needed for the daily needs of a maintenance person, including but not limited […]

machinery diagnostics| machinery vibration| lubrication| Machinery maintenance

By Tom Cummings on August 5, 2020

As maintenance and reliability professionals we have a tremendous responsibility to keep the machines in our facilities up and running. As the entire world navigates through this pandemic, water, power, food, medicine and many other essentials have continued to be provided. Having the necessary skills and knowledge is critical to ensuring that we are able […]

By VibrAlign Author on August 3, 2020

In some industries, like oiling, drive belt replacement is considered a task for the new guys on the floor. It’s an easy job right? Absolutely. But there are many ways to do it incorrectly if not taught properly the first time. First, let’s talk about the two most common types of belts, V-Belts and Synchronous […]

By VibrAlign Author on July 27, 2020

Unfortunately, mechanical seal failure is the greatest cause of pump downtime. That’s why it is important to understand how they work and proper handling. Mechanical seals come in a multitude of designs that range from simple spring designs to more complex designs like cartridge seal types. Knowing how to care for, handle, clean, assemble, and […]

training| "shaft alignment training"| ACOEM VibrAlign Training

By John Pasko on July 23, 2020

Out-of-the-box thinking is sometimes required in these uncertain times we are living in. This became clear on a recent training assignment in Northeast Nevada. Improvisation became the backdrop for my class with the mining maintenance technicians of Direct Force Maintenance, of Winnemucca Nevada. The current cultural changes facing our nation provide challenges for conducting on-site […]

By VibrAlign Author on July 20, 2020

In our last blog post, The 4 Types Of Lubricants for Industrial Machines, we talked about when to use these 4 types of lubricants; Oil, Grease, Dry Lubricants, and Penetrating Lubricants. We also created a free downloadable grease compatibility poster for your plant’s internal use, which can be found here: Grease Compatibility Chart.  Improper lubrication […]

By VibrAlign Author on July 13, 2020

A lot of times in the industry, lubricating machines is a task given to new employees because it’s thought to be a job for newer workers or apprentices.  Although lubrication is a relatively easy task to perform, it is still instrumental to have a good understanding of the different types of lubricants. Doing so will […]

"shaft alignment training"| Fixturlaser NXA Pro| Precision Shaft Alignment| RT-300

By Stan Riddle on June 29, 2020

  We get asked a multitude of questions in our training classes, which we appreciate.  But a few questions pop up almost every time.  Here are some of our most common questions and answers. QUESTION:  Sometimes on small machines, I don’t have enough room on the shaft to mount the laser.  Can I mount it […]

"shaft alignment training"| Precision Shaft Alignment| Precision Maintenance| ACOEM VibrAlign Training

By John Pasko on June 17, 2020

  Often times customers ask the question how can we keep it going? “How can I continue to train my technicians with the principles they learned in your class?” Craftsmen and women often admit we don’t perform precision shaft alignments often enough to keep our skills current. To this I say recycle! One of the […]

"shaft alignment training"| Machinery maintenance| ACOEM VibrAlign Training

By Brad Case on June 10, 2020

While hands-on training is best, sometimes technical support requires more. A recent blog lists all the different ways you can reach out to us https://vibralign.com/other-topics/vibralign-training-during-covid-19/. A few weeks ago, a wind technician was attempting a precision shaft alignment in a GE 2.x wind turbine using a Fixturlaser GO Basic GE Wind. He was familiar with […]

mechanical seals| seal failures| machinery diagnostics

By VibrAlign Author on May 27, 2020

  Although it is not the millwright or mechanics responsibility to specify mechanical seal applications, it is a good idea to have a basic understanding of their purpose. This blog will give the basics of double and tandem mechanical seals. The double mechanical seal uses two mechanical seals (an inboard and outboard seal). They can […]

geometric measurement| Machinery Bases| Pump Bases| level| Leveling

By Tom Shelton on May 20, 2020

The Fixturlaser Level is a two-axis level sensor that can be used wherever precision level measurements are required. It can be used to level machine bases or beds, bearings and journals, or for measuring “twist” on linear guide ways. The accuracy is very precise with resolution down to 0.01 mm/m (.1mil/1”) with a range of […]

Pre-Alignment| soft foot| Verti-Zontal Process| roughing in

By John Pasko on May 13, 2020

Often the OJT portion of our training classes begins with an alignment check of a rotating piece of machinery in the client’s facility. This comes after numerous alignments in the classroom, on the training fixtures, performed by the attendees. They are then ready to apply their skills learned on the classroom training equipment in their […]