Line 'Em Up

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"Properly aligned machinery operates more efficiently and more smoothly. Proper alignment increases productivity and saves money in the long run," reports IBT's Chris Treat.

Treat is the Operations Manager of Industrial Maintenance Technologies (IMT), and the proof of his claim is based on real world experience. Among a whole range of services, IMT aligns machinery for their customers, every day.

IMT frequently services many industries including manufacturing, agricultural, aggregate, power and food processing plants where there is a particularly great need for reliability and efficiency. Aligning the equipment, using laser technology, helps maximize both reliability and efficiency.

Some of the machinery that needs this type of service are production fans, chillers, circulation pumps and gearboxes, but virtually any machine that has coupling between the driver and driven sections is a good candidate.

Symptoms of misalignment include:
• Premature bearing, seal, shaft and coupling failure
• Excessive radial and axial vibrations
• High casing temperature at or near the bearings or high discharge oil temperature
• Excessive amount of oil leakage at the bearing seals
• The coupling is hot while it is running and immediately after unit shutdown
• Rubber powder inside the coupling shroud
• Loose foundation bolts; loose or broken coupling bolts
• Excessive amount of grease on the inside of coupling guard
• Similar pieces of equipment are vibrating less or seem to have longer operating life and/or shafts that break (or crack) at or close to the inboard bearings or coupling hubs

Keeping a plant's machinery running smoothly can be an exasperating task, but keeping machines properly aligned can go a long way in preventing disaster. Precision alignment involves aligning the centerlines of two shafts within a few thousandths or less of each other, both vertically and horizontally. This type of alignment in rotating equipment minimizes failure in bearings, seals, couplings and shafts by placing the centerlines within the limits they were designed for. Some of the other benefits include: reducing bearing wear, lowering harmful vibration, extending coupling life and mechanical seal life. Proper alignment also prevents a host of shaft related problems such as shaft bending and fatigue failure.

For more information about how laser alignment can reduce your maintenance headaches, contact IMT.