Shaft Alignment

Nizwa College of Technology

Shaft Alignment
Shaft alignment is the process to align two or more shafts
with
each other to within a tolerated margin.

Shaft in Alignment

Types

Parallel or Lateral misalignment

Angular misalignment
Combined Angular and Lateral misalignment

Combined Angular and

Parallel or Lateral misalignment

Angular misalignment

Lateral misalignment

Disadvantages of Misaligned shafts

When shafts are misaligned, forces are generated.

These forces are resulted in Vibration, noise, bearing
damage, shaft damage, coupling damage and
Looseness.
In extreme cases the bending stresses applied to the
shaft will cause the shaft to fracture and break.

Shaft Aligning Techniques

Shaft alignment by conventional method
Shaft alignment by Dial Test Indicator (DTI)
Shaft alignment by Using LASER Equipment
Shaft alignment by using computer.

Shaft Aligning procedure

Preliminary Checks
Visually check coupling, pipe hangers, base bolts, coupling
spacing etc.
Check for coupling & shaft run out.
Sag Check

Clamp the brackets on a sturdy piece of pipe

Zero both indicators on top, and then rotate to the bottom.

The difference between the top and bottom reading is the sag

Each time alignment reading is taken then the sag must be

accounted for subtracting

Shaft alignment by Dial Test Indicator (DTI)

Horizontal Alignment (Parallel)

Pump

Motor

Aligning the shaft's centerlines from side to side

The indicators are zeroed on the left and read at the right
Make sure that you always view the DTI from pump side
There is no sag compensation on the horizontal move
Record the indicator reading and move the motor to the required
distance for horizontal alignment.

Shaft alignment by Dial Test Indicator (DTI)

Vertical Alignment (Angular)

Pump

Motor

The indicators are zeroed on the top and read at the bottom
Record the indicator reading and consider the sag compensation by
subtracting it from the recorded reading
Move the motor to the required distance for vertical alignment by
adding shims in place
Tighten all bolts and take and check the readings
If the readings are within tolerance than the equipment is aligned

Principle of Alignment (DTI)

Arrangement of DTI in Alignment

Horizontal
(Parallel)

Vertical
(Angular)

Shaft alignment by Using LASER Equipment

Lay out of Laser Alignment

Parallel or Lateral misalignment

Angular misalignment

Shaft alignment by Using LASER Equipment

Measuring head 1

Measuring head 2

Display unit

General lay out of LASER Alignment Technique

General Lay out

Laser beam on the

measuring head

Alignment procedure (LASER)

Vertical Alignment

Alignment procedure (LASER)

Horizontal Alignment

Alignment procedure

Aligning Motor to Pump

LASER Aligning Display Unit

Reading Shows Angular &

Parallel Deviation

Aligning of Equipments

Aligning Engine to Alternator

Aligning Motor to gear box