Vibralign Blog

"vertical shaft alignment"| OmniView| vertical alignment

By Michael Keohane on August 30, 2018

Many modern laser alignment systems include inclinometers that aid in the alignment process. Inclinometers, however, don’t work on vertically oriented machines. These include vertical “C” faced machines as well as vertical machines with feet. This meant that vertical machines required a 180-degree swing for accurate measurements and sensors were positioned the old-fashioned way by aligning […]

over-lubrication| proper lubrication| rotor unbalance| unbalance

By Stan Riddle on August 22, 2018

We recently published a blog about using the Fixturlaser SMC as a lubrication tool. https://vibralign.com/other-topics/using-the-smart-machine-checker-as-a-lubrication-tool/ Ironically, just a couple of weeks later I received some photos from a new SMC customer.  He got a report from his SMC stating that a chilled water pump was experiencing motor unbalance.  He took the motor apart to inspect […]

accelerometer| vibration| Vibration Analysis| vibration sensor

By Chris Troutt on August 16, 2018

Accelerometers by nature are sensitive tools. This sensitivity is heavily influenced by how the sensor is mounted. Standard accelerometers are mounted several ways based on need and application. Typical route-based data collecting will be done with a rare earth magnet. The magnet can be either flat or a two-pole type. This provides good data with […]

condition monitoring| predictive maintenance| reactive maintenance

By Veronica Neffinger on August 8, 2018

  As the resurgence of manufacturing and processing in America continues, the requirements on all of us to do more with less will only grow more important in order to reach the needed profitability goals. Combine this downward pressure with the diversity of today’s plants and their mechanical components, and the overwhelming gap of skilled […]

backlash| Couplings| misalignment| Obvious soft foot

By Veronica Neffinger on August 7, 2018

  Achieving a perfect alignment can seem daunting at times. Perhaps you have gone through all the recommended pre-alignment steps, taken your measurements correctly, and made the recommended adjustments, and yet you still get an unpredictable result. Sound familiar? If so, you may need to consider these three factors which may be preventing you from […]

unbalance| vibration

By Veronica Neffinger on August 1, 2018

We often hear about how to correct unbalance in rotating machinery, but to correct unbalance, it is first necessary to accurately diagnose what type of unbalance your machine is experiencing so that you can take the proper action to correct the problem. In this post, we will go over the three types of unbalance you […]

condition monitoring| predictive maintenance

By Veronica Neffinger on July 31, 2018

One of the basics of condition monitoring is establishing routes so that you can efficiently check the diagnostics of all your machines in an orderly, structured way which does not disrupt the daily tasks of other workers in your plant. Routes help to guide the mechanic to the next machine in a logical order rather […]

Alignment tolerances| dial indicator alignment| dial vs laser| rim and face| shaft alignment tolerances| TIR| tolerances

By Steve Gordon on July 30, 2018

Fixturlaser Shaft Alignment Tools come pre-programmed with generally accepted industry tolerances for electric motor driven machinery.  These tolerances are based on the motor RPM and will give you an “endpoint” in the alignment process (based on the measured offset and angular misalignment at the center point of the coupling in both the vertical and horizontal […]

aligning machinery| equipment reliability| pipe Strain| Pipe Stress

By Mac MacCormack on July 18, 2018

Not only do we write blog articles at VibrAlign, we also read them. Nearly every training session I conduct, pipe strain as a source of alignment frustration, comes up. I recently came across an excellent blog written by Ricky Smith CRL CMRP CMRT that I would like to share. There is some really good information […]

Bearing Defect detection| Bearing Defect Factor| bearing defects| Greasing bearings| lubrication| lubrication tool

By Stan Riddle on July 10, 2018

The Fixturlaser Smart Machine Checker (SMC) is a great mechanic’s tool, for evaluating the overall health of rotating machinery.  But did you know it’s also a lubrication tool for greasing bearings?  Let me explain. One of the vibration measurements in the SMC is called Bearing Defect Factor.  The Bearing Defect Factor is a measurement of […]

"torque wrench"| aligning machinery| bolt torque| hold down bolts| maintenance reliability| Precision Shaft Alignment

By Tom Shelton on June 27, 2018

One of the most under-rated procedures of the precision shaft alignment process is the TIGHTENING SEQUENCE of the hold down bolts on the movable machine. Also, tightening the bolts to proper torque specifications is many times considered unnecessary and is just not typically done. Tightening sequence and proper bolt torque are critical to the performance […]

condition monitoring| machinery diagnostics| machinery vibration| ONEPROD| OneProd Eagle| OneProd MVX| SMC| Vibration Analysis| vibration sensor

By Chris Troutt on June 20, 2018

At the wrap up of a recent Hawk/SMC class the discussion was around what rotating assets to collect vibration data on going forward. The conversation quickly turned to a few keys assets that had the ability to impact large percentages of the downstream processes. The area technicians said that even though the machine was very […]

"alignment training"| "bolt bound"| Alignment tolerances| base-bound/bolt-bound solutions| coupling failures| Fixturlaser NXA Pro| Verti-Zontal Process

By Mac MacCormack on June 13, 2018

  Sound familiar? I can’t tell you how many times I personally have heard this over the years. I am sure many of you have as well. The issue is, scheduled downtime seems to be put on the back burner so to speak, to meet production goals. And as it has become all too familiar, […]

"thermal growth targets"| "thermal growth"| "thermal offset"| "thermal targets"| cold alignment targets| Reverse Dial| Reverse Dial Indicator| rim and face

By Brad Case on June 7, 2018

Even though laser shaft alignment systems have been in use for over 3 decades some industries have alignment tolerances and cold alignment targets in dial indicator terms or language. Take for instance the gas compression and processing industry. Many OEM’s, packagers, end users, and service companies use laser alignment systems, however their cold alignment targets […]

Documentation| Fixturlaser NXA Pro| Fixturlaser NXA Ultimate| Precision Shaft Alignment

By Stan Riddle on May 23, 2018

When a machine is checked, and found to be out of alignment, the “as found” alignment data can be saved.  Soft foot checks and corrections can also be saved. Continue with the alignment, and when in tolerance save the “as left” alignment. Exit to the Main Menu of the NXA, then press the File Cabinet […]