Tool tackles hazardous shaft alignment tasks

The TMEA 1PEx is an intrinsically safe, laser-driven, shaft alignment tool, designed for use with high-speed machinery in hazardous areas.

Approximately 50% of breakdowns in rotating machinery are caused by shaft misalignment.

However, organised and implemented alignment can reduce downtime, mechanical degradation of components and energy consumption.

This has lead SKF to introduce the TMEA 1PEx, an intrinsically safe, laser-driven, shaft alignment tool, designed for use with high-speed machinery in hazardous areas, such as those found in the petrochemical industries.

The TMEA 1PEx uses two measuring units, each housing a laser diode and a positioning detector, which are attached to the shafts.

As the shafts are rotated through 180 degrees, any parallel or angular misalignment causes the two beams to deflect from their initial relative positions.

Any misalignment of the shafts, and the resulting corrective adjustments which should be made to the machine feet, are automatically calculated and shown on the display unit.

Accurate alignment is further simplified with the integration of spirit levels within the unit, on screen instructions and a basic set of precut SKF machinery shims for adjusting the machine's position.

The operator can immediately document the alignment process using the lightweight thermal printer to produce pre- and post-alignment reports.

The TMEA 1PEx has received the European Standard (CENELEC) intrinsically safe approval, classification EEx Ib IIC T4 and can be provided with optional connection rods, measuring 320 or 150mm, or a complete set of shims.

Each TMEA 1Pex is supplied in a sturdy carry case.

(This was Engineeringtalk's Top Story on 28 October 2002).

Back to top