Regular maintenance and upkeep, as well as making sure the equipment is kept greased and properly aligned, are important components of keeping equipment in good working order. Misaligned shafts or belts on rotating machinery significantly increase the likelihood of expensive, unscheduled plant downtime. The load on the units will rise if the shafts or belts are not properly aligned, which could lead to several issues that could ultimately have a negative influence on a company’s bottom line:
- Excessive friction causes excessive wear, excessive energy use, and the potential for equipment failure too soon.
- Excessive bearing and seal wear that causes early failure
- Failure of the shaft and coupler too soon
- Excessive leakage of seal lubricant
- Coupler and foundation bolt failure
- Increased noise and vibration
Laser-guided tools
In general, laser-guided tools are rapid, precise, simple to use, and only need a single installation. Also, they continuously provide greater accuracy than other methods and don’t require any specialized knowledge to get accurate results almost all the time. The majority of shaft alignment laser-guided tools are made up of two units that can both emit and detect precise laser beams, along with a handheld controller.
By using magnetic brackets or a magnetic chain, the devices can be mounted on shafts safely. Each unit creates a precise laser line that is projected onto the detector of the other unit after the operator activates it using the handheld control device. Real-time coupling and foot values are displayed on the portable device during alignment, eliminating the need to remove and reinstall the measurement units after each adjustment. The values are also recorded by the laser system tool and can be transferred to a computer to serve as a standard for further alignment inspections.
A step-by-step alignment process, from preparation, inspection, and assessment through correction, reporting, and analysis, is included in more modern laser alignment systems. Certain models also provide a special database for storing information from visual inspections of oil leakage, oil level, the condition of the foundation bolts, and wear indicators.
Compared to conventional approaches, laser alignment techniques offer a significant improvement. In comparison to using a straightedge or dial, a laser-driven shaft alignment device enables much faster and more accurate alignment adjustments. There are numerous products on the market just like a ball bearing (ลูกปืน, term in Thai), all with varying levels of sophistication and price points.
Keeping the right orientation
A continuing alignment maintenance program is crucial to maintain operations once misalignment has been found, investigated, and fixed. Before a machine is taken out of service, alignment checks should be carried out as part of this maintenance to record alignment conditions. Users now have the option to install brand-new or completely rebuilt machines with the same accurate alignment settings. A maintenance program should also involve routine inspections to make sure the conditions are still acceptable.
Preventing expensive, unplanned downtime can be done by following these easy methods to detect, rectify, and maintain appropriate shaft alignment. Thankfully, there are several cutting-edge laser alignment alternatives available to make this process simpler than ever.
