iLearnAlignment: Computer-based, self-paced Precision Shaft Alignment training
Quick facts
iLearnAlignment provides step by step training from the comfort of your workplace or home. iLearnAlignment covers a quick introduction to shaft alignment, and a far more detailed tour through dial indicator alignment, laser alignment, soft foot correction and more.
The 3D animations ensure that the concepts are well understood, and the procedures will be remembered.
iLearnAlignment can be installed on a PC so that Internet access is not required, or it can be accessed via our "ilearn-online" learning portal so that installation is not required. Larger organizations can license our portal or iLearnAlignment can be installed in your Learning Management System.
Licensing: iLearnAlignment is licensed per-person. Each person can access the training for six months.
Languages: English
Quick links
iLearnAlignment [Intro]
iLearnAlignment [Master]
Licensing options
Computer requirements
Ordering
Details
iLearnAlignment is an interactive, computer-based training course for shaft alignment. It will take you step by step through the principles behind shaft alignment, and teach you how to align shafts with dial indicators and laser alignment systems.
Our interactive training, 3D movies, and excellent simulation program make iLearnAlignment a very effective training system.
Shaft alignment is a tough skill to master. We firmly believe that a person should be trained in dial-indicator methods in order to be successful with laser alignment - but that choice is yours.
The iLearnAlignment [Intro] product provides an introduction to shaft alignment (see below). It is intended for those who will not perform shaft alignment but who wish to understand it.
iLearnAlignment [Master] goes into far more detail:
- Alignment math review,
- Pre-alignment preparation,
- Soft foot checks and correction,
- Dial indicator operation,
- Reverse-dial and rim-face methods,
- Laser alignment operation,
- Moving the machine,
- Dynamic movement (& thermal growth),
- Machine train alignment.
While our training covers all of the essential procedures, and is filled with valuable tips and tricks, one of the greatest benefits is that our training will help people understand misalignment. We have developed over 50 3D animations that demonstrate procedures, explain how things work, and clarify confusing concepts.
So many 3D animations
To help explain the many technical concepts and procedures, we have created over 50 3D movies/animations that clarify even the most complex issues.
Laser alignment and dial-indicator alignment
The training system also discusses laser alignment systems: how they work, their benefits, and how they are used. We cover the methods used by all of the major laser alignment companies.
We also discuss the technology and methodology used by all of the leading laser-alignment systems.
iLearnAlignment [Intro]
If you need an introduction to shaft alignment in order to understand the benefits and the procedures, then all you need is iLearnAlignment [Intro]. The training comprises 190 narrated slides filled with 3D animations.
> Skip ahead to iLearnAlignment [Master]
The topics include:
Introduction to Shaft Alignment
Introduction
- Why is misalignment so important?
- Bearing damage
- Seal damage
- Coupling damage
- Vibration
- Energy consumption
- Product quality
- Downtime and production capacity
- Detecting misalignment
What is misalignment?
- What is misalignment?
- A closer look at misalignment
- Shaft fatigue
- Even bent shafts have rotational centerlines
- Offset and angular misalignment
- Alignment conventions
- Specifying misalignment
- Using feet corrections to specify misalignment
- Using Total Indicator Readings to specify the misalignment
- Using offset and angularity to specify alignment targets
- Angularity targets
- Visualizing tolerance
- Tolerances and speed
- Spacer couplings (jack shafts) conventions and tolerances
- Published tolerances
- Dynamic movement
Pre-Alignment checks and soft foot
Determining the alignment state
- Determining the alignment state
- Using a straightedge or feeler gauge
- Using dial indicators
- The Rim and Face method
- The Reverse Dial method
- Reverse dial method
- Dial indicator limitations
Laser alignment systems
- Laser alignment systems
- Moving the machine
- Moving the machine vertically - shimming
- Moving the machine laterally
- Summary
iLearnAlignment [Master]
If you will perform shaft alignment then you needs the complete iLearnAlignment [Master] package. It builds on the [Intro] package with the topics listed below.
The following topics are covered:
Shaft Alignment Mathematics - A Primer
Offset, angularity and alignment mathematics
- Introduction
- Equal triangles
- Triangles and alignment
- A triangle from two offsets
- Dealing with negative numbers
Understanding Dial Indicators
Dial indicators
- Introduction
- What can go wrong?
- Zero the dial
- Bar sag
- Total Indicator Readings (TIR)
- Hysteresis
- Clock positions
- Backlash
- Why do we rotate both shafts?
Using dial indicators for shaft alignment
- Using dial indicators for shaft alignment
- Rim measurements
- Face measurements
- Axial end-play and float
- Repeat all tests
- Validity rule
Pre-Alignment Checks and Corrections
Pre-alignment Checks
- Introduction
- Plan and review maintenance history
- Why is the machine not aligned?
- Installing a new machine
- Decide on the required tolerance and coupling gap
- Pipe strain
- Mechanical looseness
- Bent shafts and coupling runout
- General preparations on site: Safety
- General preparations on site: Clean up
- General preparations on site: Shims
- General preparations on site: Jacking bolts
Soft Foot Checks and Corrections
Detecting and Correcting Soft Foot
- Introduction
- Different types of soft foot
- Rocking soft foot
- Short foot - parallel air gap
- Even foot
- High foot
- Bent foot
- Squishy foot
- Induced soft foot
Why is soft foot important?
- Why is soft foot important?
- Shaft fatigue
- Bearing distortion
- Impact on the alignment task
Testing for soft foot
- Testing for soft foot
- Taking soft foot measurements
- Recording results
- Using dial indicators to measure soft foot
Correcting soft foot
- Correcting rocking soft foot
- Short cut number one: The Casanova method
- Short cut number two: The 80% Rule
- Using feeler gauges
- Using a "stair" of shims
- More complex shim patterns
- Detecting and correcting induced soft foot
- Mysterious soft foot
- Summary
The Rim-Face Dial Indicator method
The Rim-Face dial indicator method
- Introduction
- What if only one shaft can be rotated?
- Accuracy issues
- Setup problems
- Axial end-float
- Rim-Face Measurement Procedure
- Compensate for bar sag
- Alternative method
- Determine the alignment corrections
- Performing the calculations
- Computing the offset
- Computing the angularity
- Computing feet movements
- Shim calculations
- Move calculations
- Example calculations
- The graphical method
- Summary
The Reverse-Dial Method
The Reverse Dial method
- Introduction
- Reverse dial procedure
- Compensate for bar sag
- Performing the calculations
- Computing the offset
- Computing the angularity
- Computing feet movements
- Shim and move calculations
- An example
- Example:
- The graphical method
- Summary
- Alternative method
Laser Alignment
Laser alignment systems
- Introduction
- The basic components in a laser alignment system
- Benefits of laser alignment systems over dial indicators
- How do laser alignment systems work?
- Using a Prism - Return Beam Method
- Beam Splitter - Single Beam Method
- Twin Emitter/Detector Pairs - Dual Beam Method
- Using a horizontal beam and a vertical detector
Using the laser alignment system
- Performing the laser alignment
- Pre-alignment
- Preparing the coupling
- Attaching the brackets
- Attach the brackets
- Check the optics
- Mount the laser heads
- Aim the heads
- Zeroing the beam
- Check for repeatability
- Rough alignment ("roughing-in")
- Correcting gross angularity
- Correcting gross parallel offset
- Dealing with gross misalignment
- Rough alignment with a laser system
- Dealing with distance and angularity
- Cones and circles and distance
- Enter the machine dimensions
- How accurate should the dimensions be?
- Entering the coupling diameter
Performing laser alignment measurements
- Performing the measurements
- The 3:00-12:00-9:00 method
- Swept measurements
- Getting the results
- Aligning spacer shafts or jackshafts
- What if you can't rotate one shaft?
- What if the shaft can't be rotated easily?
- What if you can't rotate either shaft?
- Limitations of laser systems
- Backlash
- Vibration
- Heat, steam, sunlight, water vapor
- General comment about commercial systems
Moving the Machine
Moving the machine
- Introduction
- Perform the vertical move first
- Gross misalignment
- Using a laser alignment system
- Moving the machine vertically - shimming
Base bound and bolt bound
- Base bound
- Machine the feet
- Moving the machine horizontally
- Using a dial indicator to measure the horizontal move
- Using shims to measure horizontal machine moves
- Bolt bound
- Turn-down the bolts
- Open the bolt holes of the machine feet
- Moving the stationary machine
- Drill new holes
Dynamic and Thermal Movement
Dynamic and Thermal Movement
- Introduction
- Which machines will be affected?
- Thermal effects
- Manufacturer's supplied offsets
- Sources of heat
- Internal or system sources of heat
- External sources of heat
- Mechanical effects
- Pipe strain
- Oil wedges
- Jacking fluid
- Catenary sag
- Foundation changes
Dealing with dynamic movements
- Dealing with dynamic movements
- Temperature compensation
- Take 'hot' readings
- Monitoring the movement of the shaft or bearings
- Using laser heads to measure relative movement
- Issues to consider
- General issues to consider
- What do you do with the offset data?
- Manufacturer's offset data
- Determining targets graphically
- Summary
Machine Train Alignment
Machine Train Alignment
- Introduction
- Repeat your measurements
- Plan ahead
- Graphical method
- Optimizing the alignment
- Movement limitations
- Move in the vertical direction first
- Summary
Licensing options
iLearnAlignment is licensed on a per-person, time-limited basis. By default a user may access the training for six months. Only one person may access an account. If additional people require training, then additional accounts may be purchased.
Computer-based
The training system can be installed on your computer. The training system is easy to install and provides fast access to the content.
The user will have an account and will be given six months to complete the training. The life of the system can be extended. Additional licenses can be purchased and accessed via a single computer or via separate computers.
Web-based
Each person is provided with a user account. Only one person may use the account.
[These accounts are monitored for usage and access locations (via IP addresses). If misuse is suspected the account will be closed and the user will be contacted.]
iLearn-online Learning Portal
We are able to establish a portal for your organization. A special domain will be created for you, e.g. http://yourorganization.ilearn-online.com The portal can hold numerous accounts, and managers can track user's progress and quiz scores. Pricing can be established in two ways:
1. We can pre-define a select number of user accounts. Additional user accounts can be purchased.
2. You can create new accounts as required, and we will invoice you each quarter based on the number of new accounts created.
Learning Management System
The iLearnAlignment content can be added to your Learning Management System. We offer pricing plans for a set number of users (which may be extended later) and for open systems, where we invoice each quarter based on the number of new users. However we cannot offer this option unless we have access to the usage records of your LMS.
Computer requirements
Web-based and iLearn-online Learning Portal
Internet Explorer, Fire Fox and Safari are all supported. You just need to have Java enabled and Flash installed and you will be good to go!
Computer-based
iLearnAlignment requires a computer with a CD drive a sound card and a resolution of 1024x768 or better. The computer does not have to be powerful to run iLearnAlignment.
Learning Management System
The iLearnAlignment lessons and quiz questions are SCORM and AICC compliant.
What next?
iLearnAlignment [Intro] and iLearnAlignment [Master] provide excellent training. The result is faster shaft alignment jobs with performed greater precision; and therefore greater reliability.
You can subscribe to iLearnAlignment here and order the CBT version here. If you are interested in having your own portal, or simply want additional licenses, please contact your local Mobius Institute reseller or write to Mobius Institute here.