Reduce costs with laser shaft alignment. E. Daintith and P. Glatt. Hydrocarbon Processing, August 1996, 75(8), 55--60.

Misaligned couplings in rotating machinery are described as the cause of more than 50% of breakdowns that result in lost production. Methods of vibration analysis are described as unreliable, cost-intensive, and labour-intensive. A new method using laser shaft alignment technology is described and illustrated. This system determines misalignment by measuring radial displacement over a known axial distance. A low-powered laser emitter is attached to one half of the machine shaft and a receiver unit is mounted on the other coupling half. Laser-optical alignment technology reduces power consumption, provides faster alignments, reduces costs, and increases mean-time-between-failures. A typical applicational example is discussed. 4 refs.