Spin doctors prevent wobbles

Ensuring that there are no wobbles is a basic part of asset management. Around half of all breakdowns in rotating machinery are caused by shaft misalignment, according to SKF, whose new alignment tool may be a valuable aid for maintenance managers.

Each TMEA 1Pex unit houses a laser diode and a positioning detector, which is attached to the shafts of the rotating machinery. As the shafts are rotated through 180 degrees, any parallel or angular misalignment causes the two beams to deflect from their original positions relative to each other.

Any adjustments to the machine's feet needed to correct it, are calculated automatically and shown on the display unit.

The devices, which are intrinsically safe, also contain spirit levels, and come with a basic set of precut shims to adjust the machine's position.