Pump Alignment

Pump Laser Alignment will put your operations in the flow of things

The importance of Pump Alignment

When the correctly balanced and coupled shafts of a pump and its drive unit rotate in collinearity, or on a common axis, vibration stays at a minimum and the forces across the coupling are within tolerance. But from the moment any degree of deviation is introduced, the two shafts rotate on different axes, their centerline is misaligned and operational efficiency is compromised.

Pump Misalignment Can Lead to Many Problems

Of course some vibration is normal in any pump and its drive unit and the coupling connecting them. When pump misalignment causes too much vibration it can lead to higher motor speed, greater power consumption, hotter operating temperatures, and premature bearing and seal failure - the list goes on. Higher maintenance costs are the first expense. Shortened lifespans for the drive unit and pump come next and at much greater expense. And while other problems can increase vibration, pump misalignment can be readily corrected by using pump laser alignment equipment.

With pump motor alignment comes multiple benefits:

• Reduced vibration levels
• Lower rate of repairs
• Reduced parts consumption and storage costs
• Less energy consumption
• Increased production quantity
• Higher production quality
• Improved plant safety

Today's standard for pump shaft alignment is a laser system

No conventional alignment method offers the ease, speed of measurement and alignment accuracy that today's modern pump laser alignment systems deliver. The combination of capability and unerring laser technology make these laser alignment tools the only ones to meet the higher tolerances today's manufacturing processes demand.

In Fixturlaser systems, sophistication meets ease-of-use

Unlike many complex pump shaft alignment systems whose sophistication is not easy to master, those from Fixturlaser require minimum pump alignment training. As such, a Fixturlaser system is often the perfect choice for technicians who perform pump alignment on a periodic basis as well as alignment professionals who perform alignments frequently. A user with a modicum of training can complete alignment measurements in fewer than five minutes.

The Fixturlaser XA system was designed for pump coupling alignment in the field. For precision alignment of pumps and drives, everything about the Fixturlaser XA system is user friendly. Features include:

• Backlit color LCD screen for clear viewing, in even direct sunlight
• Touch screen display for simple, intuitive navigation
• On-screen animations and icons guide user through alignment
• Pre-mounted fixtures - lasers attach quickly to the shafts or coupling
• Digital CCD laser technology, 30mm laser detectors and line-laser technology virtually eliminate need to rough align
• USB ports for transfer of data to PC
• Express Mode registers three measurement points automatically when shafts are turned

Standard applications and capabilities include:

• Horizontal pump shaft alignment software and fixtures
• Vertical shaft alignment software and fixtures
• Softchec™ softfoot measurement app for compensation
• Feet Lock Function for base or bolt-bound alternative adjustments
• Target Values compensates for targets given by pump or drive makers

Pump alignment for offset drives and cardan shafts

The risks associated with misaligned shafts are nearly identical for cardan shafts, including breakage. Fixturlaser makes the solution simple. Combine the Fixturlaser XA with the Fixturlaser OffsetXA expansion kit to align any offset mounted machine as precisely, quickly and easily as any other shaft. In this upgraded configuration, the Fixturlaser XA system provides:

• Express setup without using the display unit
• Inclinometers show exact position of lasers
• Display guides user through express result and alignment using illustrations as a guide Conventional pump alignment methods, such as straight edges, spanner bars, tape measures, and machinist levels cannot provide the needed level of accuracy.

Pump laser alignment services

As Fixturlaser's North American distributor for the USA, VibrAlign provides a range of on-site condition monitoring services, including pump alignment. VibrAlign engineers and technicians have extensive training and experience in alignment of horizontally and vertically mounted pumps and drives in a variety of industrial applications.

For further information regarding pump alignment