Many of our classroom discussion topics relate to problems in the field when attempting a precision shaft alignment of rotating equipment. One such topic is how to move a piece of equipment horizontally that does not have jack bolts already mounted on the base. The obvious answer is to mount a set of jack bolts…
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Simply stated, a machine train is when three or more machine components are coupled together, acting as one. Machine train alignment can sometimes be a complicated task. Some laser alignment tools can measure machine trains of up to several machines, simplifying the move options. Whether you have a machine train program or not, by using…
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The 4th video in VibrAlign’s Concepts of Shaft Alignment video series is entitled “Runout”. The video describes what runout is and depicts how to properly measure for runout to determine if coupling eccentricity and/or a bent shaft is the source of the runout. The video series was based on ideas for visualizing alignment created by…
Read MoreEquipment rooms can sometimes have numerous machines running all at once-side by side. Often, technicians are required to perform a precision alignment next to a machine which is running. The technicians are right to be concerned about vibration from nearby machines, but the concern can be greatly reduced if certain procedures are followed. The first…
Read MoreIn this situation, there is little or no room to mount the laser sensors to the motor and pump. What would you do? You could remove the entire coupling and do an “uncoupled alignment”. Or, be creative… Remove ½ the flexible coupling. Then mount…
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After 34 years, aligning a few thousand machines, teaching millwright training for a technical college, and being an instructor for VibrAlign, I sometimes think that no alignment challenge can beat me! Then something comes along to really put me in my place! I was put in such a place while training at a large manufacturer…
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I frequently hear statements similar to these in training classes: We just straightedge it in, and align it when we have an outage. Don’t be so picky. It IS a flexible coupling. They won’t give me time to align it properly. My answers are something along these lines: I doubt they’ll let you go back…
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According to our resident alignment training “philosopher” Stan Riddle, “The fastest way to complete a precision shaft alignment is to take your time”. This doesn’t mean to take numerous breaks, what he is telling us is to stop and think! As Industrial Mechanics, usually in a production environment, we tend to try and complete a…
Read MoreA shaft alignment tolerance is simply that – an allowable, minimal amount of misalignment. There are many different tolerance tables for shaft alignment. At VibrAlign, we have a good alignment tolerance, based on many years of experience and engineering. Other alignment tools have their own tolerance tables. Many technical and trade organizations have their alignment…
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It has been a long standing belief amongst maintenance and reliability professionals that electric motor energy consumption must be less when rotating machines are precision aligned vs. when misaligned. There have been several studies on this subject that have shown varied results, from 1% to as much as 10% less energy consumption for a precision…
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Any aligner knows that not properly correcting soft foot during a precision shaft alignment leads to frustration and anguish, not to mention wasted time. Soft foot is such a problem there has been numerous articles on The Alignment Blog the past few years about the subject. The articles discuss the many causes of soft foot…
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During the classroom portion of a Fixturlaser GO Pro training class, at a sheet metal processing plant, one mechanic insisted the GO Pro alignment results were not repeatable in the field. The mechanic had the opportunity to use their GO Pro once before the training class and was convinced it would not repeat For the…
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Occasionally we get asked how to convert shaft alignment angularity values expressed as mils (thousandths) per inch to degrees. Since mils per inch is the rise over run that means that the conversion to an angle is the arctangent. Or the conversion from an angle is the tangent of that angle. Remember to include the…
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No, it is not the place where good shaft alignments get lost – never to be seen again! It is a way of thinking about locating machinery feet so that the shafts are in alignment, even when the feet of the moveable machine may be a few thousandths up, down, left, or right of perfect. …
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I recently took a call from a customer at a coal-fired power plant in Arkansas. He was performing a precision laser shaft alignment of a 450 HP, 1750 RPM electric motor coupled by a fluid drive coupling to a gearbox on a coal conveyor. Similar to the one pictured above. This conveyor is one of…
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