Vibralign Blog

"base bound"| "bolt bound"| base-bound/bolt-bound solutions| Fixturlaser NXA Pro| Fixturlaser NXA Ultimate| Precision Shaft Alignment

By Tom Shelton on June 12, 2017

A question often asked during our training classes is how to deal with base bound and/or bolt bound conditions when performing a precision shaft alignment on rotating machinery. Base bound is the vertical condition that occurs when the moveable machine needs to be lowered but is “bound” by the base due to an insufficient number […]

bearing failures| flexible couplings| Laser Shaft Alignment| Pre-Alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| roughing in

By Stan Riddle on June 1, 2017

Some people believe that precision laser shaft alignment has evolved to the point where pre-alignment steps, such as roughing in the alignment with a straightedge, are no longer needed.  Well, quite frankly, those people are wrong! The reason for roughing in the alignment has little to do with how accurately the lasers/sensors measure.  It has […]

"jacking bolts"| aligning machinery| Laser Shaft Alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment

By Steve Matthews on May 17, 2017

We have written, here on the VibrAlign blog, about adjustable chocks used in place of shims for vertical adjustment and machine support. A recent experience at a customer site prompted this article, to share a simple tip that could save valuable time and effort. The customer was using vertical jack bolts while viewing live alignment […]

"Fixturlaser Go"| aligning machinery| Laser Shaft Alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| shims

By Brad Case on May 4, 2017

Time is a commodity maintenance personnel typically have in short supply. We hear quite often, in our on-site Shaft Alignment Best Practices training classes, “………. doesn’t give us enough time for a proper shaft alignment”. So how can maintenance personnel get more time for shaft alignment? Stop wasting it! I had the pleasure of working […]

"precision alignment"| "shaft alignment targets"| dial indicator alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| troubleshooting

By Stan Riddle on April 27, 2017

A VibrAlign customer recently called, stating they were having repeatability problems with aligning a small motor to gearbox to pump.  After some phone conversation, I asked if they could send me photos of the machine, and the discrepancy in the measurements.  After seeing them, I knew what the problem was.   Machines with small diameter […]

"precision alignment"| Alignment tolerances| Precision Shaft Alignment

By Tom Shelton on April 6, 2017

This question comes up frequently in our Shaft Alignment Best Practices training classes. The result screens below both show two different aligned machines meeting 3600 tolerances.   The question is; is one better than the other? There has been a lot of discussion about this very topic. The theories are abundant and points of view […]

Fixturlaser NXA Pro| Pre-Alignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| soft foot| Verti-Zontal Process

By Brad Case on March 22, 2017

A recent NXA Pro training class performed an alignment check of a winch driven by an 80 HP, 1800 RPM, DC electric motor with a gear style coupling. The initial results revealed a misaligned machine, with a vertical angularity over 13 times the tolerance of 0.7mils/1” (1.0 mil = .001”), vertical offset six times tolerance […]

belt alignment| belt hog| condition monitoring| Fixturlaser EVO| ONEPROD Hawk| Precision Shaft Alignment

By Mac MacCormack on March 16, 2017

Proactive Maintenance includes a number of maintenance strategies, such as Precision Maintenance, Reliability Based Maintenance, Reliability Centered Maintenance, and Root Cause Failure Analysis. The idea is to anticipate and solve problems before they become problems. Reliability Centered maintenance would begin with a study done on a piece of equipment to gain understanding of all its […]

bearing failures| Couplings| flexible couplings| maintenance reliability| mechanical seals| Precision Maintenance| Precision Shaft Alignment| seal failures

By Stan Riddle on March 8, 2017

    At VibrAlign, we are in the precision maintenance business.  Our tools, our training, and our people, are all about precision maintenance.  While teaching the field alignment portion of our shaft alignment training, at a customer site, we went out to align a particularly troublesome pump.  They didn’t think they were getting the life […]

aligning machinery| Extended Alignment| Fixturlaser NXA| Precision Shaft Alignment| troubleshooting

By Brad Case on January 25, 2017

When training clients to use VibrAlign’s Verti-Zontal Alignment Process we show taking the 3rd measurement at a horizontal position, typically at 3 o’clock. This is simply for expediency and is NOT a requirement as Fixturlaser Shaft Alignment Systems can take measurements at any position due to the inclinometers in M & S sensors. If possible […]

coupling failure| coupling wear| elastomer couplings| Precision Shaft Alignment| realigning America

By James Pekarek on January 12, 2017

A common misbelief that occasionally comes up in our precision shaft alignment training classes is that, elastomer insert flexible couplings are designed to allow misalignment between rotating machinery shafts.  This is not the case.  Although this type of coupling may be more forgiving to the effects of misalignment, they are definitely not intended to be […]

bearing failures| machinery vibration| Precision Shaft Alignment| seal failures

By James Pekarek on December 21, 2016

As a Millwright, Service Technician or any type of field or in-house Mechanic, we understand there is one main goal that we have in common, which is to keep the equipment running.  This includes repairing and minimizing downtime in the event of an unpredicted failure or breakdown.  Although it’s important to make repairs and perform […]

"jacking bolts"| jack bolts| offset misalignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| push bolts| shaft alignment tolerances

By Brad Case on December 14, 2016

Millwrights and mechanics know the benefits of using jack bolts to precisely control the horizontal position of the movable machine when performing a precision shaft alignment. However, we also see the tendency to tighten the jack bolts, on both sides of the movable machine, either before or after tightening the hold down bolts. Tightening jack […]

Fixturlaser NXA Pro| misalignment| Precision Shaft Alignment| Verti-Zontal Process

By Tom Shelton on December 7, 2016

Proper use of any tool is essential to success in achieving your desired goal. Many tools have optional configurations to adapt that tool to your needs. Fixturlaser Precision Alignment Systems are no different. The alignment tools produced by Acoem/Fixturlaser are second to none in ease of use. The Acoem AB design engineers do all they […]

angular misalignment| base-bound/bolt-bound solutions| Laser Shaft Alignment| offset and angularity| offset misalignment| Precision Shaft Alignment

By Stan Riddle on December 2, 2016

Most aligners are familiar with a bolt bound situation, which occurs when the motor cannot be moved enough to achieve proper horizontal alignment.  A base bound condition occurs when a motor cannot be lowered sufficiently to achieve proper vertical alignment.  Here is an example.  During a customer’s recent pump replacement, the motor was left in […]