In 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 the M sensor on the motor shaft and the S sensor on the exposed coupling hub of the pump.
The key is to mount the sensors to surfaces that will give you accurate and repeatable measurement results. By keeping ½ the flexible coupling in place you will eliminate any coupling backlash. Now go about the business of checking and correcting any misalignment.
2 Comments
Not only creative, but probably the best way. Omega couplings are inherently stiff, due to their design, and the thickness of the “tire”. As such, the coupling can deflect the shafts slightly, especially if the shaft diameters are somewhat small, and if the shafts are misaligned. Removing one “clamshell” reduces the stiffness, lowers the risk of shaft deflection, and reduces the chance of bending the shafts. Slightly loosening the remaining coupling bolts, and allowing the remaining hub to float slightly, decreases possible deflection even more. By loosening (and not removing) the remaining bolts, the two shafts can still be easily rotated together.
Great blog post!
Excelent