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Rotalign

Customer loves his ROTALIGN Touch: “This tool is not going to let me down”

November 2, 2020 by [email protected]

RotAlign TouchNot everyone relishes doing difficult jobs at work. But Matt Joinson, owner-operator of Jaffray Millwright and Welding located in Jaffray, British Columbia, enjoys projects that may seem daunting.

“I like them all to be a little bit challenging—something different, something interesting,” he says.

Joinson works on a range of machinery across several industries, including lumber and mining. When every job offers new challenges and settings, it’s crucial to have reliable, consistent, easy-to-use tools.

One of Joinson’s go-to tools is the RotAlign Touch laser shaft alignment system from Prüftechnik. Leveraging its Adaptive Alignment features, such as single-laser technology and Active Situational Intelligence, Joinson can work on multiple machinery types—even in rugged environments.

He appreciates that the RotAlign Touch is designed for maximum durability in even the harshest conditions. He often labors in workplaces where the system’s waterproof, dustproof, and scratch- and temperature-resistant features may be put to the test.

“It’s reliable,” Joinson says. “I just know when I go in there and turn that thing on, it’s going to work. I trust it isn’t going to break on me when I’m using it. Everything is made well. This tool is not going to let me down.”

The biggest machines that Joinson services are not always the most difficult of his jobs. Sometimes small machines come with big problems.

“The most challenging ones, I find, are the smaller 75-horsepower units. The bases are in bad condition; you’re in a tight area,” He continued. “Those are probably the most difficult—they tend to have funny little issues you wouldn’t normally run into.”

Adaptive Alignment: ‘Move Simulator saved us a ton of effort’

When working in multiple industries and at various sites, your tools need to offer consistency and repeatability. The RotAlign Touch does, says Joinson.

“It’s accurate. It has repeatability. You have to have that.”

One of the distinguishing features of the RotAlign Touch is Virtual Move Simulator, or VMS. VMS simulates horizontal and vertical movements to calculate the moves needed to precisely align shaft couplings—it can even simulate the alignment of multiple couplings at once.

To use VMS, a millwright measures the alignment of the assets, enters an estimated amount of change or shimming, and gets predicted results on the screen. If the virtual moves will precisely align the couplings, the screen displays a smiley face.

VMS helped Joinson on a recent job. “The Move Simulator helped us make decisions on the most efficient and effective moves,” he says. “Having that helped us power through a job on a big conveyor drive. We were doing a pretty unconventional thing at the customer’s request. The RotAlign Touch made it easier.”

The RotAlign Touch can address almost any alignment situation and a wide range of asset types. Adaptive Alignment, a term used by Pruftechnik to describe specific features in alignment products, helps users make as few movements as possible while increasing the accuracy of alignment—regardless of the location, team, or other unique environmental factors.

“I did a reasonably large machine earlier this year, and the measurement features were able to deal with the backlash and the rough surfaces. The good-quality sliding bracket really made my job a lot easier when I had a fixed machine to deal with. It worked seamlessly, and I had repeatable measurements. On the same job, they asked me if I could do a machine train.”

Machine trains are more complex to align, but the RotAlign Touch kept it straightforward.

“I had good luck doing a machine train, and it was kind of an unconventional process they wanted me to do. It all worked out really well,” he continued. “There were two gearboxes, around 40,000 pounds apiece. The couplings were really large in diameter. The RotAlign Touch made that job go a lot smoother—everything was straight and true. It was quite a long process, and the battery held out all day.”

RotAlign Touch is a value from every angle

Joinson values his RotAlign Touch for reasons big and small. Prüftechnik goes to lengths to ensure build quality, customer value of features, and other such details. The goal being a product that customers will rely on for decades to come.

“The touch interface is good, even wearing gloves. The slide caps over the safety lenses—the Prüftechnik ones are robust compared to other brands. It’s those little things that really bring it over the top. And it’s easy to clean at the end of a job.”

According to Joinson, “When you work in mining, a clean tool matters.”

Matt Joinson can be reached at [email protected]

Related articles:

How Live Move reduces alignment time and increases precision 

What does it mean for a laser shaft alignment system to be adaptive?

Filed Under: Rotalign Tagged With: adaptive alignment, Blog, laser shaft alignment, Rotalign

Focus on the I-P Interval to maximize reliability

April 28, 2020 by [email protected]

Learn more about how the I-P Interval can help maximize reliability

Worker viewing graph on manufacturing floor

The Potential Failure (P-F) Curve is a chart used to assess the condition of an asset and its progression toward failure. The X-axis represents the time to failure, and the Y-axis represents resistance to failure. Using the P-F Curve for insight can help you extend the life of your assets and minimize failures.

The P-F Curve originated from a Department of Defense study, which found that managing assets based on their condition was more effective than calendar—or age-based—maintenance.

Every inspection method detects potential failures at a different point. More sensitive tools and more frequent inspections lead to earlier detections of failure, which can have immense benefits for an organization. The value of taking maintenance actions decreases the closer you get to failure. Potential failure, or PF, is when failure can be detected and degradation begins. Functional failure, or FF, is when an asset no longer performs as intended. It does not necessarily mean that the asset is beyond repair.

Most organizations focus their maintenance efforts on the P-F Interval, which includes the time between when potential failure is detected and when an asset reaches functional failure. As organizations move along their reliability journey, they reach a point where they can focus on the I-P Interval instead. Extending this interval means performing maintenance actions to prevent failures before they occur, and should be among the goals of mature organizations.

The P-F Curve starts with asset design and installation. The I-P Interval represents the time between equipment installation and when potential failure begins. Lengthening this timeframe requires precision and planning—ensuring that all components have the correct fit, clearance, alignment, and more. Creating installation standards is one way to eliminate some common recurring failures (such as leaks caused by the use of incorrect or substandard materials). During the I-P Interval, failure can be prevented—not just delayed.

Precision alignment and balancing can improve the lifespan of rotating equipment by reducing the vibration that leads to failures related to bearings, seals, and couplings. When properly aligned, assets experience less unplanned downtime, have a longer lifecycle, and consume less power. This can be accomplished using precision tools and techniques such as laser shaft alignment.

PRUFTECHNIK invented laser shaft alignment in the 1980s. Our newest laser shaft alignment tool, the ROTALIGN touch, takes advantage of today’s technologies to offer sophisticated capabilities that boost ease of use, including:

  • Mobile connectivity
  • Cloud data transfer
  • Software integration

Additionally, an integrated camera enables visual documentation, meaning subsequent alignment jobs are more straightforward.

The ROTALIGN touch makes it easier to transition from focusing on the P-F Interval to the I-P Interval. After all, the goal of reliability is not just to reduce failure, but ultimately to eliminate it. By moving your focus on the P-F Curve back to the I-P Interval, your organization can avoid the most significant number of failures and realize the highest amount of savings.

Filed Under: Rotalign Tagged With: I-P Interval, P-F Curve, Reliability, Rotalign

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