Optical Alignment Survey

It is important to have an Optical Alignment Survey completed before your machines are aligned during running conditions.

Hot alignment checks, theoretical calculations, and manufacturer specifications are better than not considering any dynamic movement; but they do not tell you the whole story. Dynamic movement is due to a combination of thermal and torsion stresses introduced to the machine after start up. The only way to compensate for how much these forces affect your machine is to measure them.

Actual thermal growths and movements can vary greatly from installation to installation. A movement study performed on an individual machine identifies the actual movement from a cold non-running condition to a hot running condition. Based on this data, the ideal cold shaft alignment is identified and substituted for the generic O.E. M. recommended alignment.

At ACQUIP, our technicians have experience with a wide variety of machines and we know how to accurately measure dynamic movement without damaging your machines.

In an optical alignment survey, reference points are installed on the machine cases, bearing housings or other points of interest.

A precise optical alignment survey is conducted to measure each individual data points location referenced to vertical and horizontal benchmarks installed in the foundation, support structure, main building supports or other suitable reference points.

Data from a cold survey is compared to corresponding data from a hot survey. The movement observed is used to identify the ideal cold shaft alignment position.

The same optical measurement techniques may also be applied to movement surveys for other purposes such as foundation movement or settling, or piping movement.

Our Optical Alignment Survey facilitates maximum running efficiency and productivity.