Performing Precision Shaft Alignments on Cooling Towers present a unique set of challenges. A recent job is typical of what I find. We were originally called out because on three cooling towers the motors were experiencing high vibration. Some of the challenges include: 1 – Access through shrouds 2 – Ladders often required to gain…
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It really doesn’t matter the industry; industrial maintenance technicians suffer the same frustrations when performing a precision shaft alignment. Our team of trainer’s travel all over the country conducting training classes for paper mills, steel mills, chemical plants, gas and oil, etc. What we hear is universal across all industry. “I can’t get repeatable results,…
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I was asked to help a customer align a 500HP Motor / Blower. The new motor came in on a skid, was lifted into place with a crane, new electrical boxes fitted and coupling put into place. Now the easy part, the precision shaft alignment! We took two sets of measurements which repeated. Made one…
Read MoreI love my job, I love conducting precision shaft alignment training at various facilities across this great country and interacting with industrial maintenance technicians that have suffered through or are suffering through the same issues I did. I love proving over and over again that the VibrAlign method of precision shaft alignment is the best…
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VibrAlign has numerous blogs on soft foot and the frustration that goes along with not eliminating it. Repeatability (or the lack of) can be a major issue. Vibration analysis will pick it up if it is severe enough. When performing a precision shaft alignment most, if not all, soft foot will be eliminated in our…
Read MoreIn his blog post “Repeatability vs. Desired Outcome – parts 1&2”, Stan Riddle, one of my fellow technical trainers for VibrAlign, explains why alignment results may vary from the expected outcome. He explains in some detail a number of causes and how they are affecting your alignment process. Many of these causes could be eliminated…
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While training mechanics all around the US, I have noticed that many of the questions asked in class are the same regardless of the industry. Fixturlaser tools are very intuitive and easy to use, so this puts the mystery on the alignment process. So here are some answers to some common alignment process related questions…
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Recently, I was at NC State University observing one of our training classes. This question came up in the beginning of the class by one of the students, and I’m sure this question comes across a lot of people’s minds when they consider making an investment in laser or dial indicator precision shaft alignment tools.…
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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…
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Anyone involved in precision shaft alignment knows that unintentional movement is the biggest contributor to non-repeatable alignment results. Movement can come from several sources: Soft foot, loose bolts, flexible bases, excessive bearing clearances, improperly mounted or loose sensor mounting hardware, etc. One of the more elusive and least considered sources of movement is cupped washers…
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While on the road for VibrAlign ReAligning America, we trainers encounter similar issues at every facility where we conduct our Shaft Alignment Best Practices Training. During our training classes we ask the students what are some of the “pains” that they have regarding the precision shaft alignments that they have attempted in the past. The…
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During the OJT portion of a Fixturlaser NXA Pro training class, at a power plant, the students asked me to allow them to perform the precision laser shaft alignment of a 75 HP electric motor to pump without interrupting them or offering any advice. I obliged and let them go on their way. The first…
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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…
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While assisting a recent Fixturlaser NXA Training Class with a precision shaft alignment we came across an unusual alignment challenge. When tightening the hold down bolts, after making a Verti-Zontal Compound MoveTM, we were seeing insignificant amounts of horizontal movement at the motor feet but nothing unusual. However, upon rechecking the alignment, we were out of…
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A recent Fixturlaser EVO class performed an alignment check on a 35HP, 1750 RPM electric motor and chill water pump set. The initial set of alignment results indicated horrible angular misalignment (14 to 16 times tolerance) and offset misalignment (6 to 8 times tolerance) in the vertical and horizontal planes. Before making corrections, pre-alignment checks…
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