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Posts Tagged ‘Laser Alignment tools’
A Craftsman NEVER Blames the Tools!
I heard this saying recently, and I like it a lot! Whether we are talking about woodworking, precision maintenance, shaft alignment, or any number of other crafts or technical operations-it is true. In my time as a trainer for Acoem USA, I have heard mechanics say (more times than I could count) “my (current alignment…
Read MorePrecision Shaft Alignment Preparation Ideas
Preparation is the key to efficiency. Having an appropriate selection of tools and necessary supplies on hand will make a precision shaft alignment fast, accurate and easy. One way to do this is to have a dedicated alignment cart or job/work box. Some facilities are not conducive to the little casters on some carts, so…
Read MoreYou Can’t Perform Precision Alignment on Un-precise “Stuff”!
Alan Garbers with Johnson Controls International contacted me regarding an alignment problem, and asked for my advice. Here is a condensed version of his email. A client rents portable chillers, and related equipment. They built a 125HP portable pump skid with a Bell & Gossett pump on a VFD. I was there to commission the…
Read MoreThe Three T’s
I have been in industrial maintenance longer than I have not. A portion of that time was spent in Maintenance Management. One lesson I learned was, that in order for a team leader (or company as a whole) to be successful, the entire team needs to be successful. I tend to simplify things, maybe to…
Read MoreBenefits of Machine Maintenance and Cleanliness
As technical trainers, we travel all over the country visiting factories, mills, power plants and refineries. Just to mention a few. We see and work on equipment of every type and size. From small 10 HP electric motors and pumps moving cooling water, to house sized engines turning generators that power our cities. Out of…
Read MorePrecision Troubleshooting
In my nearly 38 years of industrial maintenance, I have had the opportunity to work on high speed precision machinery. Most often this is highly automated equipment with photo eyes that determine which function needs to occur for the next sequence. After a few instances of frustration, I found that most often when a particular…
Read MoreClean, Clean, Clean! To Eliminate Soft Foot!
There are many things that can affect the precision shaft alignment process, which needs to be checked and eliminated during the Pre-Alignment Steps, such as pipe strain, disintegrating bases, bearing or coupling wear, etc…. One of the main issues concerning shaft alignment of rotating equipment is the challenge of soft foot and its detrimental effect…
Read MoreHelp Your Laser Shaft Alignment System See!
For precision shaft alignment, nothing beats a good laser alignment tool. But the best of tools can have errors, or not even work at all, if the Sensors (detectors) can’t “see” the laser beams! We received a customer support call, and the aligner stated that his laser alignment tool wasn’t repeating. This is a rare…
Read MoreAligning Uncoupled Machines
Normally, it is faster and more accurate to perform shaft alignment while the machines are coupled together. This offers several benefits such as: Keeping the relative angular positions of the shafts the same allows the technician to align the true shaft rotational centerlines. Coupling Gap is less likely to change while adjusting the moveable machine,…
Read MoreHow the VibrAlign Support Team Gets Technical
The guy in the photo is Peter Eccleston. Peter is the Senior Technical Support Specialist for VibrAlign. Peter and the other technicians in the Repair Group perform calibrations and repair services on all of VibrAlign’s shaft alignment tools. They work hard to make sure your Fixturlaser shaft alignment tool is performing in tip top shape.…
Read MorePersistence Pays!
Not too long ago I was called to one of our sister shops to perform a laser shaft alignment on a 3600 RPM skid-mounted end-suction ANSI pump. Easy, right? Honestly, I made a few mistakes right off the bat: Thinking this would be easy (and starting right before quitting time). Taking for granted that all…
Read MoreQuality Measurement Practices
How does someone get really good at something? Practice! Whether in sports or your profession, people who are really good at something practice good habits over and over. Shaft alignment is no different. Learning quality measurement practices and repeating them with each shaft alignment job will increase your effectiveness with your laser alignment tool. Mechanical…
Read MoreMeet the Powerful Fixturlaser Go Pro
Well the cat is out of the bag…… we have a new product! Meet the new Go Pro Attached here is the official press release from VibrAlign. Go Pro is a wireless and color screen shaft alignment laser that also features the new Verti-Zontal compound move. Check back here in the next few days for…
Read MoreShould There Be A Shaft Alignment Training Class for the Maintenance and Reliability Professional?
In the past, maintenance mechanics learned alignment through apprenticeship programs or by working with other experienced maintenance mechanics. Some were taught in-house through training programs or through local community colleges. Many of these eventually moved up into manager or supervisor positions and brought with them a good understanding of aligning machinery. In today’s environment, this…
Read MoreWhy Color Screens and Wireless Connectivity are Important in Laser Shaft Alignment
Looking at how the alignment process works we wanted to point out two features of laser alignment tools that will help the aligner during his/her alignment process. The first aspect to a better alignment is a color screen. Some of the benefits to a color screen are:
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