Rim & Face alignment

April, 2015

Imagination at work.
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Imagination at work.
Laser alignment

Agenda
• Intro
• Check List
• Soft foot
• Distance Between Shaft End
• Alignment specification & form
• Alignment reading
• Alignment correction

Imagination at work.
Intro

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Intro

Why performing shaft alignment

How to set the machine skids soft foot
How to set the machine Distance Between Shaft Ends (D.B.S.E.)
How to read an alignment specification
How to perform fine alignment with dial gauges

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Intro

When the shaft alignment is performed

• After machine skids positioning on foundations
• Repair or installation of a major component
• Process pipes connection from centrifugal compressor

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Intro

Proper shaft alignment is necessary to ensure

• Low vibration levels
• Optimum efficiency
• Reduced maintenance
• Increased service life

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Check List

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Check List

Strictly follow the sequence indicated in

the check list

&
The RIC 8952047 Alignment Execution
procedure for turbo-compressors and
turbo-generators

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Soft foot

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 Soft foot RIC 8952131

• The soft foot on every anchorage point must be

checked by dial gauge and, if necessary, corrected.

• The maximum value of soft foot must be lower or equal

than 0.05 mm

• The nuts of the foundation bolt must be tightening at the value of :

Fig. 1
• 8 kg ∙m for GT skids (See Unit Foundation DWG)
• 80 kg ∙m for compressor\motor skids. (See Unit Foundation DWG)

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Soft foot RIC 8952131

 After positioning and centering the basement, tighten the nuts of

the bolts by using the torque values shown in the relative machine
foundation design drawing.

 With the machine leveled and shimmed and the tie rods slack, place
a dial gauge near the tie rod and tighten any single tie rod to the
torque indicated on the foundation drawing; the dial gauge shall
not display a high variation over 0.05 mm.

 In case of greater distortions shims shall be added as many as the

above indicated requirement is met. Repeat the check for all the tie
rods and complete the form with the final readings for every tie
rod.

 For the gas turbine skid is normally used a torque value of 28 Kgm,
leave the skid blocked for 24 hours, afterwards unloose the bolts
and block again with a torque value of 8 Kgm, and verify with a
comparator and a magnetic base that the basement does not go
down more than 0.05 mm.

 In this case correct by applying adequate shims. Refer to the

values shown on the machine foundation drawing

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Distance Between Shaft
End

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 D.B.S.E. RIC 8952047

D.B.S.E. is verified in the:

• Coupling Assembly Drawing The real value should be measured

• Foundation Drawing by an inside micrometre and
• Alignment Specification corrected by moving the
• Alignment instructions
skids\units.
• OEM Manuals

In order to be exactly at the design value.

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D.B.S.E. RIC 8952047

In case of missing information, the shaft reference position for different machines is
defined below:
For turbine and compressor the reference position is obtained pushing the shaft against
the activethrust bearing.
For electric motor and electric generator the reference position is obtained positioning
the shaft in the magnetic center.
For gearboxes with herringbone/double-helical gears the reference position is obtained
positioning the shafts in the middle of axial displacement; for gearboxes with different
gears design the reference position is obtained pushing the shafts against the active
thrust bearing, when the active thrust bearing is clearly located; in case of missing
information the shafts has to be positioned in the middle of axial displacement
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Alignment specification &
form

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Alignment specification & form
RADIAL/AXIAL

RADIAL

Radial alignment is the relative

position of the machines to be coupled
on the vertical and horizontal planes.

AXIAL

Axial alignment is the relative position

between the perpendicular planes to
the axes of rotation of the two
machines to be coupled.

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Alignment specification & form

….. “Parallel” misalignment (rim)

….. “Angular” Misalignment (face)

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Alignment specification & form

….. usually Both are Always Combined

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Alignment specification & form

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Alignment specification & form

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Alignment specification & form
Download from EDM the alignment
specification specific for your Job
Number .

Decide which method of alignment

you would use:
• Double Radial (Rim) alignment
(called also Reverse alignment)
• Radial (Rim) + Face alignment

Record the specification value on the

alignment form CC – B/ PCL – TYPE -
1010.

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 Alignment specification & form
The alignment form CC – B/ PCL – TYPE - 1010 must be
filled for any group of machines.

Example: if there is a train composed by a gas turbine,

gear box and a generator, you should fill a CC – B/ PCL –
TYPE - 1010 for the alignment between gas turbine and
gearbox and a CC – B/ PCL – TYPE - 1010 for the
alignment between gearbox and generator.

WRITE HERE THE SPECIFICATION VALUES

WRITE HERE THE ALIGNMENT VALUES

BEFORE THE OVERHAULING

WRITE HERE THE FINAL ALIGNMENT

VALUES

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Alignment specification
Radial Dial Gauge

Axial Dial Gauge (A1) Disk

Alignment Fixture

Axial Dial Gauge (A2)

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Alignment reading

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Alignment reading
Radial reading
For performing the alignment both shafts need to be turned and therefore it is
necessary, in order to eliminate the run-out of the disk, to mark the dial
gauges reading position as showed below:

270°
0 90°

180°
IMPORTANT:
When doing the alignment first rotate the disk of 90° clockwise, then rotate the alignment
fixture of 90° clockwise in order to have the radial gauge matching the sign 0°.

Set the dial gauge to + 5.00 mm in order to have the full travel of the dial gauge available
during the readings.

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Alignment reading
Radial reading

A Example
0 Readings in mm

DRIVER DRIVEN R
(z)+ 1,32 + 1,32 (Y)

+ 2,64 (X)

The readings of the radial misalgnment should be read for every 90° rotation of the shafts.
The values should be recorded on the apposite form.

The value of radial misalignment on the vertical plane will be equivalent to half of the
reading made on the dial gauge after a rotation of 180°.

In this example the driver shaft is higher than the driven of 1,32mm (see the + sign).
If the sign was – it would have meant that the driver shaft was lower than the driven.
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Alignment reading
Axial reading

A Example
0 Readings in mm

DRIVER DRIVEN R
(z)+ 1,32 + 1,32 (Y)

+ 2,64 (X)

The value of radial misalignment on the horizontal plane

will be equivalent to half-difference in the reading made
on the dial gauge after a rotation of 90° (y) and 270° (z).

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Alignment reading
Axial reading

A1
DRIVER DRIVEN Important Note: always remember
D to check the distance (D) between the
A2 two dial gauges as showed in the
diagram.

For the axial misalignment two dial gauges must be used due to the fact that,
during Rotation of the two flanges, axial displacement of one of the two elements
to be coupled may occur.

By using two dial gauges, any displacement along this axis is nullified, while
displacement on the faces of two flanges to be coupled remains unaltered.

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Alignment reading
Axial reading

A1
DRIVER DRIVEN IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT
D THE A1 DIAL GAUGE IS THE ONE CLOSEST TO
A2
THE RADIAL GAUGE

0 180° (X)

270° (z) 90° (Y) 90° (Y) 270° (z)

0
180° (X)

Readings in mm

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Alignment reading
Axial reading

The value of the axial misalignment on the vertical plane will be given by the
algebraic half difference in the readings made on dial gauges A1 and A2 after a 180°
rotation.

0 180° (g) 0

270° (z) 90° (Y) 90° (h) 270° (f)

0
180° (X) ()

Readings in mm

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Alignment reading
Axial reading

EXAMPLE

Let’s simulate now a axial reading on the vertical plane.

For this we will do a rotation of the disk and the tool of 180°.

-0,02
0 180° (g) 0

270° (z) 90° (Y) 90° (h) 270° (f)

0
180° (X) +0,045
+0,07 Readings in mm

By using

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Alignment reading
Axial reading

The value of the axial misalignment on the horizontal plane will be given by the algebraic half-
difference in the readings (considered with their sign) made on dial gauges A1 and A2 after a 90°
and 270° rotation.

0
0 180° (g)
() ()
270° (z) 90° (Y) 90° (h) 270° (f)
0
180° (X)
Readings in mm

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 Alignment reading
Axial reading
EXAMPLE

Let’s simulate now a axial reading on the horizontal plane.

For this we will do first a rotation of the disk and the tool of 90°.

0 180° (g) 0

270° (z) 90° (Y) 90° (h) 270° (f) -0,01

-0,04 -0,02 0
180° (X)
Readings in mm

By using the formula we will have:

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Alignment reading
Axial reading
EXAMPLE

Now, that we have completed the radial readings and the axial readings let’s see
what we will write on the alignment form:

0 0

+ 1,32 R + 1,32 +0,05 -0,01

+ 2,64 +0,045
Readings in mm

NOTE: the algebraic sum of the values read on the horizontal plane
(90° and 270°) will be the same, except for minor errors, as the value
read on the vertical plane (180°).
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Alignment correction

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 Alignment correction

Once the reading has been taken it

should be evaluated the movement
to be done on the unit in order to
meet the specification values.

• Before the AXIAL displacement is

corrected.
• Is will proceed to adjust the
radial alignment.

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 Alignment correction
Example data:
• Diameter D: 300 mm A
• A = Axial Error
• S = shims to be added/removed
• and : vertical movement of the shaft

Driver D
S

1230
900 Driven
G E

Measured values (only vertical plane):

Specification values (only vertical plane):
0 0 0 0

A R A R

- 0,04 + 0,15 + 0,04 + 1,23

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 Alignment correction
Example data:
• Diameter D: 300 mm A
• A = Axial Error
• S = shims to be added/removed
• and : vertical movement of the shaft

Driver D
S

1230
900 Driven
G E
ERROR values (only vertical plane):

0 0

A R

S = 0,24 mm
0,08 + 1,08

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 Alignment correction
ALIGNMENT CORRECTIONS
Example data:
• Diameter D: 300 mm A
• A = Axial Error
• S = shims to be added/removed
• and : vertical movement of the shaft

Driver D
S

1230
900 Driven
G E

Now we have found the amount of shims that needs to be added on y2 feet for
having the axial value as per specification. Note that we could not add +0,24 due
to the fact that the minimum shim thickness is 0,05 mm.

S = 0,24 mm S = 0,25 mm
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 Alignment correction
ALIGNMENT CORRECTIONS
Example data:
• Diameter D: 300 mm A
• A = Axial Error
• S = shims to be added/removed
• and : vertical movement of the shaft

Driver D
S

1230
900 Driven
G E

As you can understand, from the figure above, if we add 0,25 mm on feet y2
than the flange will move down and then the radial reading will change.

S = 0,25 mm
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 Alignment correction
ALIGNMENT CORRECTIONS
Example data:
• Diameter D: 300 mm A
• A = Axial Error
• S = shims to be added/removed
• and : vertical movement of the shaft

Driver D
S

1230
900 Driven
G E

NOW REMEMBER THAT THE VALUE y MUST BE MULTIPLIED BY 2 IN ORDER TO HAVE

THE VALUE OF THE RADIAL READING ON THE VERTICAL PLANE.
In this example the value to be considered is 0,68 mm.
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 Alignment correction
ALIGNMENT CORRECTIONS
Example data:
• Diameter D: 300 mm A
• A = Axial Error
• S = shims to be added/removed
• and : vertical movement of the shaft

Driver D
S

1230
900 Driven
G E

In theory now we have that:

we need to add to 0,25 mm on the y2 feet for correcting the axial value and by doing
this the radial value will change from +1,23 to +1,91 ( 1,23+0,68=1,91 mm).
So to complete to correct the radial we will need to add from all 4 feet of the unit the
following shims:

1,91 – 0,15 = 1,76 mm / 2 = 0,88 mm 0,90 mm

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 Alignment correction
ALIGNMENT CORRECTIONS
Example data:
• Diameter D: 300 mm A
• A = Axial Error
• S = shims to be added/removed
• and : vertical movement of the shaft

Driver D
S

1230
900 Driven
G E
RE - CAP

For correcting the axial we need to add 0.25 mm on the back feet
For correcting the radial we need to add 0.90 mm on all the 4 feet
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE AMOUNT OF THE SHIMS WE COULD PROCEED WITH
THE ADJUSTMENT AND THEN TO TAKE A NEW READING TO VALIDATE OUR
CALCULATION.
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Thank you.

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