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Start Low to Use All of the Sensor/Detector Range

During a recent cooling tower shaft alignment, using a Fixturlaser XA Alignment System, when we started taking our initial set of measurements the laser beam went slightly off the “S” sensor detector, even in 60 degrees of rotation. Normally when the laser beam travels off the detector I use the laser beam, to perform the…

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How to Minimize the Effects of Coupling Backlash when Measuring Misalignment.

Certain types of flexible couplings are designed to have looseness creating coupling backlash.  Even when installed correctly!  Looseness from coupling backlash, if not controlled, will have a negative effect on measurement quality by increasing measurement error and the amount of time it takes to do a precision shaft alignment.  So, how can coupling backlash be…

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The Tools of the Precision Shaft Alignment Trade

Efficiency is a critical element in today’s maintenance environment. In every aspect of maintenance, the right tools are necessary to complete a job quickly and efficiently. When performing precision shaft alignments in the field, there are tools that are typical to almost every job. Aside from the tools that are included in the case with…

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Got Alignment Problems? Just Let Us Know!

VibrAlign’s Shaft Alignment Training is the best in the industry.  We not only train maintenance personnel on how to use our tools – we teach alignment!  Lots of it!  We teach correcting soft foot, bolt bound problems, pipe strain, coupling problems – real world stuff. Our training staff has about one hundred combined years of…

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Sof Shoe® Shims

Soft foot is undoubtedly the number one challenge faced on an everyday basis in precision shaft alignment.  The concept is simple enough; make sure the machine feet rest flat on the base. Unfortunately, it is not always so simple to solve. Before sitting down to write this, I noted there are 17 articles posted on…

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What Size Shims Should I Use?

One of my co-workers recently fielded a call from a customer, asking, “What is the proper way to size shims under motor feet?”  In other words, if the foot is 6 by 4 inches square, how big should the shim be? Excellent question!  And one I wasn’t sure how to answer.  I have always tried…

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How to Read an Alignment Report

Most maintenance personnel understand that documenting a precision shaft alignment is a good idea, but don’t always understand how to interpret the data. Here is a quick primer on how to read a typical alignment report. This shaft alignment report happens to be from a Fixturlaser NXA Professional but all alignment reports should contain similar…

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The Importance of Proper Alignment Technique and Being Aware of Movement

During the OJT portion of a Fixturlaser GO Basic Training class, with the Army Corp of Engineers, the class aligned two electric motors driving large winch gearboxes on a dredging barge.  These winches are used to move the barge into position during dredging operations.  The class wanted to rotate both shafts to perform the alignments,…

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Shims 201 – The Importance of Measuring Shim Thickness

Stainless steel shims are now the standard for use in shimming machinery when preforming a precision laser or dial indicator shaft alignment.  They are clean, corrosion resistant, flat, and most importantly, pre-cut.  Their use speeds up the alignment process significantly.  However, it is very important to measure the thickness of a shim before using it.…

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Aligning Machines with 3 or 6 Feet

Some machines are not manufactured with a typical 4 footed configuration.  Precision shaft alignments can still be easily accomplished on these “non-typical” machine configurations, if you remember a couple of simple rules. When aligning a machine with three feet, like this example (left), remember that you are positioning machinery in two planes: The inboard, or…

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Soft Foot Caused by a C-face Motor

Our service group received a call from a water treatment plant in the western US for assistance to align a gearbox with C-face motor to a rotary lobe pump. After numerous failed attempts and multiple hours of frustration they had determined the gearbox to be Bolt Bound.   We were asked to bring turned down bolts and…

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V-Belt Alignment of a Variable Pitch Sheave to a Fixed Pitch Sheave

Variable pitch sheaves are used frequently in air handlers.  They allow the design engineer to increase or decrease the speed of the driven machine.  In doing so, they allow for: Changes in amp draw of the motor, to maximize efficiency, Increase or decrease static pressure and air flow. Normally, the design engineer will specify the…

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The Importance of Roughing-in Machines before Performing a Shaft Alignment.

During our Best Alignment Practices Training classes our staff of VibrAlign Trainers stresses the importance of rough aligning the machines as part of the pre-alignment steps.  The main reason to do so is to minimize the coupling influences on the movable and stationary machine’s rotational shaft center-lines so the final alignment can be completed with…

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Flexible Couplings and Flexible Shafts

Most mechanics are pretty familiar with flexible couplings.  They are designed with an elastomer, or flexible element, which compensates for slight amounts of misalignment through a sliding motion between the coupling hubs and the insert.  However, it is very important to have some idea as to how much the coupling will flex before it begins…

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