What Are the Benefits of Precision Shaft Alignment?
A well-aligned plant reduces energy usage and equipment breakdowns, extending the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of production-critical machinery. It limits overheating, reduces friction and vibration, slows wear on seals and bearings, and increases product quality and lifespan.
Misalignment of shafts caused by displaced or shifted pipe is the most common cause of coupling, bearing and seal failures, extreme temperature fluctuations and damaging levels of machine vibration. The use of laser shaft alignment tools significantly reduces the likelihood of these problems occurring and can extend the life of motor and driven machinery by up to 30 percent.
Laser systems provide fast, accurate answers to the question, “How aligned are my machines?” Without an effective and reliable process, a company’s most critical machinery will never be properly aligned. The typical maintenance technician is not trained to accurately perform an accurate shaft alignment check, and multiple corrective moves are required.
Angular and Parallel Misalignment
Angular misalignment occurs when a shaft’s centerlines do not line up in a straight path. This can result in horizontal or vertical offsets between the shaft centerlines and is often the most difficult to correct.
Combination Misalignment
The opposite of angular misalignment, combination misalignment occurs when the motor shaft is positioned at an angle to the driven equipment. This can cause both vertical and horizontal misalignments, and is especially problematic for larger motors that are directly coupled to their driven equipment with rigid or flexible couplings.