Precision Machinery Shaft Coupling Alignment

BACKGROUND:

Precision alignment is the process of accurately positioning the shafts of rotating equipment, such as pumps, compressors, and turbines, to ensure they are aligned within specified tolerances. This minimizes vibration, reduces wear on components, and enhances the performance, reliability, and lifespan of the machinery.

In rotating equipment, vibrations often result in severe problems and may cause loss of production. Excessive vibrations not only endanger the equipment itself but may also affect other connected equipment. One common cause of vibration is misalignment or imbalance. Shaft and coupling alignment is a technical skill categorized as a specialty. It requires measurement instruments and relies on technicians’ skills and experience to achieve good results on pumps, compressors, turbines, and similar equipment. This workshop training provides integral knowledge and hands-on experience in shaft and coupling alignment to address misalignment issues in rotating machinery.

OBJECTIVES:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and techniques for performing proper shaft/coupling alignment.
• Identify and address misalignment issues, which are responsible for over half of all excessive machine vibrations.
• Recognize the impact of misalignment on premature bearing and seal wear, machine life, production availability, and plant profitability.
• Apply precise and consistent alignment practices to:
  • Reduce maintenance costs and unscheduled downtime.
  • Improve process quality and machine performance.
  • Extend the operational life of rotating equipment.
• Gain hands-on experience with alignment tools and techniques, tailored to client-specific needs (e.g., Reverse Dial Indicator or Rim-and-Face methods).

RECOMMENDED PARTICIPANTS:

• Maintenance technicians and engineers responsible for rotating equipment.
• Reliability and condition monitoring professionals seeking to improve equipment alignment practices.
• Plant operators and supervisors aiming to enhance operational efficiency and reduce downtime.
• Mechanical engineers involved in the design, installation, or maintenance of pumps, compressors, turbines, and other rotating machinery.
• Professionals looking to gain hands-on experience with precision alignment techniques and tools.

COURSE OUTLINE:

1. Fundamental of precision alignment
2. Alignment calculation that save time & eliminate errors
3. Align machines using the reverse indicator and Rim & Face Methods
4. Preliminary Precision Alignment Check List
5. Shim calculation
6. Preparing for the Alignment Tasks
7. Shaft alignment: principles, practice & methodology
8. Machinery alignment problems
9. Soft Foot
10. Pipe Strain
11. Target specification & thermal growth
12. Alignment application
13. Calculating with a Graph, calculator
14. Hands-on Reverse Indicator, Rin & Face demo at the Client selected machine
15. Solution to special alignment problems
16. Precision Alignment Benefits
17. Fixturelaser NXA Pro:

• Laser precaution
• Menus

ABOUT THE COURSE LEADERS:

Ir. Soetrisno Sonto, M.Si.

Ir. Sutrisno Sonto, Msi, Senior Reliability Specialist, This highly skilled specialist offers maturity, experience and commitment in the field for more than thirty solid years of experience in oil/gas offshore and onshore.

Other than formal educations he is also certified in:

• Infrared Thermograph Specialist, Indonesia
• Vibration Specialist Level 1 & Level 2, Indonesia and Singapore
• In-situ Balancing, Indonesia
• Advance Vibration Analyst, Indonesia
• Machinery Alignment, Singapore
• Machinery Vibration Analyst Level 1, Singapore

He has domestic and international professional memberships which are USA Vibration Institute, TRUC Reliability User Conf and Indonesia Oil/Gas discussion forum.

Started his career in 1988 in Arun LNG Project, in Aceh, Indonesia as a Vibration Leader. He moved to Singapore for two years taking the Job Responsibility as Vibration Support Manager with the duties on vibration & sound monitoring, Technical Services and Sales continued to work in O/G companies Company in Indonesia until he retired.