What is an Alignment Check-Up?

Misalignment is known to be responsible for over 50% of all breakdowns in rotating equipment and propulsion systems.  The slightest misalignment can contribute to: excessive wear to seals, premature bearing failures and deformation of couplings and shaft ends.

Our Alignment Check-Up is done using a sophisticated laser system.  The check-up can indicate if the alignment of your propulsion system is within acceptable standards.  It is wise to periodically check the alignment of your propulsion system because small changes can lead to expensive problems.  With the development of the laser alignment system it is easy and inexpensive to make these periodic check-ups.

Significantly more accurate than feeler gauges or the reverse dial indicator methods for shaft alignments, our system not only indicates the degree of misalignment but also provides the amount of correction that may be needed.  Another benefit of our system is that it is not necessary to "open" up the coupling in order to take the measurements.  

A propulsion system can have an angular misalignment and/or an offset misalignment.  Each type of misalignment has a different acceptable tolerances and the acceptable tolerance for each is also related to shaft speed and coupling diameter.  The two tables below are also included with your Alignment Check-Up.

Why would I do this, how can this information help me?

A vessels alignment can change over time just from normal operation.  A misalignment can contribute to other more costly problems if allowed to persist (for example, damage to reduction gears, bearings, seals or couplings). The Alignment Check-Up will tell you if your shaft alignments are within acceptable standards and if adjustments are needed it will provide the amount to adjust.

How do you take the measurements, what is the size of the equipment that will be used and how long will it take?

The measurements are taken using a sophisticated laser developed specifically for shaft alignments.  The measurements are made while the vessel is not moving which means they can be made while the vessel is at its slip.  The laser transmitter/receiver and reflector (which are about the size of Coke bottles) are attached to the shaft/s and transmission coupling/s by means of straps or magnets specifically designed for this purpose.  On average an alignment Check-Up can be completed in as little as a few hours.

When was your last Alignment Check-Up?