These days you can know a lot about the equipment you want to purchase before you even contact the company that sells it. The amount of available information about our alignment equipment is extensive and includes video demonstrations, documentation, technical specs and more.
Belt, Pulley, or Sheave alignment applications and the tools used to maintain them form an integral part of many industries, ensuring all machine and equipment elements are as accurate, reliable, and long-lasting as possible. When dealing with side-to-side movements, the slightest off-angle could result in mass wear and tear or even a major breakdown, which means you’ll need to dig into your pockets to replace or repair damaged equipment.
Although there is a common misconception that aligning your systems is no big deal, “it’s just a rubber band, right,” the proof is in the pudding when professionally laser aligned machines long outlast those without alignment or those using traditional methods. As these systems need to take into account the tolerances and strength of the moving piece components, a more accurate measurement tool is needed, and that’s where laser belt alignment tools come in.
When using more traditional methods, your results are far more likely to be affected by the human factor. With a digital, light-based design that is not affected by the individual engineer’s or mechanic’s eyesight, you can achieve a far more accurate and data-driven view of the overall situation.
Cutting wood at the proper angle is a simple example of how human judgement is frequently incorrect. Let’s assume you need to cut a piece of wood at a 45-degree angle for your child’s school project. Would you be able to cut it with precision using only your judgement? Probably not! Instead, you rely on various tools to ensure the wood is cut evenly and correctly, avoiding mistakes entirely, which saves you plenty of time and money.
This is why laser belt alignment tools are an inexpensive investment for your business that quickly pays for itself, in part through reduced energy consumption and less breakdowns. It is a recommended action when you need to rely on the efficiency of your machines or equipment elements.
When misalignment occurs, there are several ways in which wear and tear can occur that put your machines at risk. From breakdowns to other peripheral issues that may be caused, not having the correct orientation and alignment of your pulleys and sheaves can result in major issues for your production.
Three distinct types of skew orientation can occur, and these will bring with them specific levels of damage. Horizontal shifts usually mean that one of the sheaves has rotated, resulting in the belt being pulled at an angle, meaning the element is constantly worn down. Next is the vertical shift, which indicates that the unit or element has tilted up or down, allowing the moving parts to twist as they run and adding increased pressure where there shouldn’t be any. The last is the axial offset, which is when one sheave extends out further than the other, creating a diagonal path and increased wear and tear.
Laser belt alignment tools play integral roles in the efficiency and longevitty of machines and industrial processes everywhere.
At times, shaft alignment can become extremely frustrating almost as if it is possessed with a mind of its own. One set of readings may indicate that you make adjustments one way, the next set of readings then indicates something completely different. Quite simply, and almost without fail, if there are repeatability issues then something is loose with the laser alignment tool or there is some mechanical play. At BENCHMARK PDM we know how important it is to have a laser alignment tool for shafts that you can rely on to fix the problem and we pride ourselves on offering nothing but the best for your alignment needs.
At BENCHMARK PDM we place extremely high value on the customer experience and we are continuously evaluating our offerings to ensure that we adapt to the needs of our clients. This is why we know how important good quality shaft alignment equipment is, since you need to rely on it for efficient and accurate readings in order to tackle non-repeatability caused by looseness, twisted bases or softfoot. Here we have compiled some more information on soft foot.
Since the alignment laser tool was introduced, the measuring and diagnosing of misalignment has become both faster and easier. At BENCHMARK PDM we know that this is extremely important since issues with alignment such as looseness or soft foot will cause adverse and disastrous damage if left untreated. Soft foot specifically will stress and distort the machine’s frame which in turn causes problems. Rotational centerlines on the shafts will not be consistent, which leads to issues such as coupling wear, issues with rotor air gap, issues with the bearing or seal fit and clearance issues.
At BENCHMARK PDM we believe in nothing but excellence and strive for the very best in product and service delivery for our customers when they purchase a shaft alignment tool. We offer a wide range of products to address shaft alignment that are user-friendly, intelligently designed to endure the harshest environments, chosen for better operating capabilities, and offered complete with comprehensive documentation.
The five shaft alignment measurement methods are 9-12-3, EasyTurn™, Multipoint, Continuous sweep and the latest edition, Uncoupled Sweep. Here we describe them individually, so that you know when best to use them.
I saw this picture that was part of a post by Robert Lofthouse of Tremor Vibration Services on Linked In. I commented that “this is a classic and it will be bolt bound as well, it’s called reality maintenance”.
