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© Copyright 2000 Further Education National Consortium Version 03

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ASSEMBLY AND ALIGNMENT OF
PARALLEL SHAFTS
Two parallel shaft systems Correct shaft alignment is important
supported by bearings require the as poor alignment will cause
shafts to be: vibration and lead to rapid wear of
couplings, bearings, seals and other
x# horizontally aligned
rotating equipment. It is normal
x# parallel to each other practice to adjust the position of the
x# a specified distance from a datum driving machine relative to the driven
machine. When both are mounted
x# square to mounting plate
on the same base plate, a
x# assembled so that axial loads are shimspack may be installed under
absorbed by the bearings both machines to make vertical
adjustment.

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Alignment in the vertical and horizontal directions should be carried out
separately using a dial test indicator or straight edge, the vertical adjustment
should be completed first to avoid disturbing the horizontal alignment.

Parallel alignment may also be checked using a dial test indicator.

Where a datum height is specified this may be checked using a vernier height
gauge.

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All couplings need to be checked for The thermal movements that occur
alignment and any packing beneath as machinery warms up to its
the driver or driven unit adjusted, or operating temperature can be
fitted, to obtain satisfactory significant.
alignment at design operating
These displacements have to be
temperature.
allowed for when aligning a half
An off-set for cold conditions has to coupling of a driving machine to the
be calculated using the actual other half fitted on a driven unit, like
dimensions, temperature rises under a pump or compressor, under
working conditions and coefficients ambient conditions.
of thermal expansion.

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A driven unit may also be affected by Before doing this it is necessary to
thermal movement which must be remove the driving pins, or other
taken into account when calculating connecting devices, to allow the two
the correct alignment off-set for cold halves of the coupling to be turned
conditions. independently.

Accurate alignment between driving First mark the periphery of each

and driven machines is normally coupling at the top, sides and bottom
carried out by mounting a dial so that repeat readings may be
indicator on one half coupling to taken in identical positions after any
registers on the perimeter or face of adjustments to the packing have
the other half coupling. been made.

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The half coupling with the indicator If two half-couplings are in perfect
fixed to it, is rotated around the other alignment and have been accurately
half coupling and any variation in the machined and fitted concentrically
indicator readings are recorded. on their shafts there should be no
From these readings the amount of variations in the dial gauge reading
packing to be added or removed in any position. In practice, some
may be determined. It is customary small variations usually occur. For
to set the dial gauge to zero in the high speed machinery the total
top position and then move the dial indicated reading on the dial gauge
gauge around to record each should not generally exceed 0.254
reading, at each side and at the mm depending on the type of
bottom, underneath the half-coupling coupling, its speed of rotation, size
where the dial indicator may be and length between shaft ends.
difficult to read.

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There are different procedures for If the dial gauge remains in a fixed
checking alignment. One method is position mounted on one stationary
to record dial indicator readings at half-coupling, and the other half-
intervals of 90qýtraversing around coupling on which it is registered is
both the periphery (to obtain one set rotated, only the concentricity of the
of readings) and the face of a half- rotated coupling will be indicated.
coupling (to obtain a second set).
The alternative called the reverse
Both sets of readings are obtained procedure removes the requirement
with the DTI mounted on the other to traverse around the face of the
half-coupling which has to be rotated half coupling and is advantageous
(along with the DTI). because many half-couplings are too
close together to allow such
readings to be taken.

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The differences in gap in between A second set with the dial indicator
the half-couplings can be determined mounted on the driven half-coupling
by measuring the gaps in each registered on and rotated about the
quadrant with feeler gauges and any driver half-coupling.
lack of linearity determined.
These two sets of readings permit
However, the reverse alignment the exact adjustment of packing
procedure eliminates the need for beneath the plant supports to be
this by taking two sets of peripheral calculated.
readings. One with the dial indicator
Shims may then be added to, or
mounted on the driver, registered on
removed from, the plant supports
and rotated around the driven half-
and the required alignment
coupling.
achieved.

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After any adjustments to the packing Examine some examples of heavy
and transverse positions have been plant and machinery to see how the
made it is necessary to check the various items have been dowelled to
results. prevent them from moving out of
alignment and to enable them to be
If the resulting alignment is
repositioned correctly.
satisfactory both the driver and the
driven units should be properly Couplings are designed to operate in
secured in position by fitting tapered alignment and usually have a very
or parallel dowels between the limited capacity to accommodate
supports and the baseplates. misalignment as a result of thermal
changes.

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If this limit is exceeded, If there is any doubt, compare
misalignment will cause rough alignment before the pipework has
running, imbalance and vibrations been fitted with that after the pipes
and may cause coupling or plant have been attached.
failure.
Activity
Alignment is critical for safe and
With your tutor's permission and
satisfactory operation of machinery
help, if necessary, visit your
but can be badly affected by other
workshops and inspect shafts and
influences on an assembly.
note the methods used to adjust
One of these can be the fitting of their alignment. Use the table on the
misaligned pipework by bolting it on following screen to record your
with heavy flanges. findings.

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MACHINE SHAFTS METHOD OF ALIGNMENT

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