A recent question from a customer prompted me to write on this topic. The question was essentially “Can we use the laser alignment tool in steamy conditions?” I have heard similar questions over the years for example: Can the laser alignment tool withstand use in wet conditions? How resistant is the laser alignment tool to…
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Recently, VibrAlign was called to consult with a customer to recommend a procedure and alignment tools for a very long-distance vertical pump alignment. First, we will describe the machine and then how we aligned it. This large raw sewage pump machine train begins at the driver level. In this plant, floor levels are described by…
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Veterans Day is Sunday, November 11. Here at VibrAlign we currently employ eight Veterans who have served this country honorably in the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and National Guard, including two active guardsmen. We wish to thank Mac MacCormack, Gary Madsen, JP Guerard, Jonathan Dissinger, Tim Sorensen, Doug Burdsall, Peter Eccleston and William Cooper for…
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The Fixturlaser NXA Runout Probe was introduced last year as an accessory to the Fixturlaser NXA Pro and Ultimate alignment tools. As originally envisioned, the runout probe was designed with shaft and coupling runout measurements, and direct soft foot measurements in mind. The Runout Probe provides a digital linear displacement measurement, much like a dial…
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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…
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If you have not heard of VibrAlign’s Realigning America Seminar Series, you should. We have been hosting these seminars since 2013 focused on bringing alignment fundamentals to our industrial clientele in a short, half day, free educational event. Since its inception, these programs which evolve to meet customer needs, have been to roughly 90 venues…
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This is a subject that comes up relatively frequently with our customers and observations from the field. The purpose of today’s blog post is to illustrate what can and often does happen. While misalignment can and does present with easily identifiable vibration signals; often it does not. Misalignment may be present in a machine, developing…
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Today, VibrAlign has granted me the honor of taking a moment in this week’s blog article to celebrate the Veterans of the United States Armed Forces. I take this honor seriously. If you are like me, one need not look far or deep within your families and places of work to realize just how many…
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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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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…
Read MoreGood day Alignment Blog readers! Today, I would like to introduce a new member of the VibrAlign team in the Eastern Region. Art McFadden joined our sales team in the Mid-Atlantic this year and he shares our Passion for Precision. Art has a mechanical background with many years of experience in electrostatic powder coating equipment…
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Last week, a customer asked me how to do a laser alignment on a fluid coupling. This question comes up occasionally, so I thought it would be a good subject to address here on thealignmentblog.com. First, it would be helpful to define “fluid coupling.” Fluid couplings transmit power from a driving shaft to a driven…
Read MoreIf you are a regular Alignment Blog reader, you may remember an entry in which Stan Riddle discussed why we should care about precision alignment of flexible couplings. Today, I would like to offer up some evidence that many of you may well relate to. We were called to align this chilled water pump in a…
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