Laser shaft alignment maximizes the life of bearings, seals and couplings, which saves you money. The vibrations from misalignment can cause premature wearing and failure of equipment. Vibrations also cause equipment to use more energy to work, which increases operating costs. The misalignment can further cause the final product to have a higher defect rate, further increasing the cost of production.

Laser shaft alignment is a very effective way to maintain industrial rotating machinery. Misalignment occurs when the centerlines of rotation of two or more machinery shafts are not in line with each other. Laser shaft alignment is a natural compliment to vibration analysis. Properly aligning shafts eliminates one of the major causes of vibration in rotating machines and also drastically extends bearing life.

Utilizing a state-of-the-art laser measurement system, a technician will measure and align couplings, universal joints and belts. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Program (ITP), which promotes energy efficiency, recommends the annual inspection of shaft alignment in production critical equipment. It has observed that performing coupling alignment on a scheduled basis will make machinery last longer and perform more efficiently

Large electric motors can be directly, rigidly coupled or flexibly coupled. Rigid couplings do not compensate for any motor-to-driven-equipment misalignment while flexible couplings tolerate small amounts of misalignment. The ITP recommends that parallel offset alignment tolerances not exceed 2 mils at 1200 rpm, to 0.75 mils at 3600 rpm. With excessive misalignment, even flexible couplings can contribute to premature bearing, seal, or coupling failures. Other effects can include loosening foundation bolts and coupling bolts. Qualified technicians can detect this "soft foot" condition.

Laser shaft alignment prevents angular misalignment, when the electric motor driveshaft is set at an angle to the driven equipment. It also prevents parallel misalignment, when the two shafts are offset vertically or horizontally, displaced to the left or the right, or positioned at different elevations.

To ensure laser coupling alignment measurements, use service technicians qualified to do that work. It is up to them to find out if the alignment is in within OEM tolerances. Their analysis should take into consideration "thermal growth" for the expansion of the shaft as it reaches operational speed and heats up. You should receive accurate reports about either vertical or horizontal machines.