Motor Alignment

Motor Shaft Alignment problems? VibrAlign's products can help.

Motor alignment can be vital to your company because the problems and expense of motor misalignment run the gamut. Increased friction on a misaligned shaft makes it harder to turn and the drive motor has to draw more power. Running speed can double. Maintenance can shoot up. A machine's life can shorten. The list goes on to the worst-case scenario: an unscheduled shutdown. But then, ensuring motor, shaft and coupling alignment isn't only about efficient operation and plant reliability. It's also about better quality and productivity. It's about safeguarding an entire business operation.

Normal versus abnormal vibration

In simplest terms, correct motor shaft alignment minimizes any extra vibration from forces crossing a coupling. When two shafts are misaligned - whether horizontally, vertically or both - they rotate on different axes and generate excessive vibration. The amplitude of this vibration can vary due to motor speed, coupling type and degree of misalignment.

Motor Coupling Alignment: Measure at the coupling

Any deviation from a common axis - misalignment - comes down to measurements of offset and angularity, conditions independent of vertical and horizontal considerations. These measurements simplify any movements required to correct a misalignment. That is why measurement occurs at the point of power transmission, the coupling, and not at the feet.

Coupling type doesn't limit damage potential

Though non-segmented, elastomer boot couplings are generally regarded to be less prone to vibrate out of tolerance than jaw and gear couplings under the same conditions, any motor coupling alignment issue will effect efficient operation. It's a mistake to think that a flexible shaft coupling will keep bearings, seals and shafts safe from damage. No coupling can operate in a state of misalignment. Coupling tolerances do vary by coupling type. But the danger from a misalignment will always correlate more to its severity than the motor and coupling in question.

Fixturlaser Motor Alignment Tools from VibrAlign

The Fixturlaser XA and GO motor alignment systems measure and correct motor shaft alignment in horizontal and vertical planes.

The Fixturlaser GO system makes precision vertical and horizontal motor alignment a quick and easy process - and with high-end sophistication at a more affordable price.

The Fixturlaser XA system is the leading high-end laser alignment system for completing precision measurement and alignment of motors in horizontal and vertical shaft applications.

Fixturlaser XA expands to do even more.

In industries where large temperature differences or other disturbing factors exist, the Fixturlaser OL2RXA Expansion kit makes the perfect upgrade. This kit enables motor alignment measurements in cold and hot conditions to find a machine's distinct target values and thus enables motor shaft alignment precisely to tolerances. Fixturlaser also offers other expansion kits, such as for machine train and offset alignments and other alignment needs.

Motor Alignment services from VibrAlign

As the North American distributor for the USA for Fixturlaser motor alignment systems, VibrAlign offers motor alignment service on-site for industries such as Chemicals; Food processing; Foundries; General industry; Mining and Aggregates; Manufacturing; Oil and Gas Refineries; and Pharmaceuticals.

Engineers and technicians who are experts in laser alignment deliver VibrAlign alignment services. Service includes measurement and correction of misalignment in motors and driven units and includes complete documentation for quality assurance and compliance.

For more information on motor and motor coupling alignment: