PUMP ALIGNMENT BY DIAL INDICATOR METHOD DATE: 12/04/012

Dial Indicator Alignment Procedure

The procedure for doing reverse dial indicator alignment is not a

difficult one. There are several steps which need to be taken for a
successful alignment job.

Step 1
Familiarize with terms, techniques and procedure.
*follow all safety rules and procedures

Step 2
Learn about the machine you are aligning.
1. Visually check coupling, pipe hangers, base bolts, coupling spacing etc.
2. Check for coupling & shaft run out

Step 3
Know the characteristics of your tool. Perform a Sag Check
 A sag check is a test that determines the amount an indicator bracket
will sag at a given distance.
 How to perform a sag check:
Clamp the brackets on a sturdy piece of pipe the same distance they
will be when placed on the equipment. Zero both indicators on top,
and then rotate to the bottom. The difference between the top and
bottom reading is the sag.

 Sag will always have a negative value, so when allowing for sag on the
vertical move always starts the dial indicator with a plus (+) reading.
For example if you have .002" sag; when you zero your indicators on
top put the needle on a +2 instead of zero to compensate for the sag.

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 PUMP ALIGNMENT BY DIAL INDICATOR METHOD DATE: 12/04/012

Step 4
Prepare the machine.
a. Remove all existing shims from under the feet
-if old shims are to be used, clean them thoroughly.
-always use minimum amount of shims.

b. Clean the base thoroughly.

-scrape and file away all rust, nicks, and burrs

c. Examine the base bolts and holes.

-Retap if necessary
-replace bolts if necessary
Step 5
Clean mounting surface, file off nicks and burrs.
b. Check indicators for sticking and loose needle.
c. Aim indicator stem directly toward center line of shaft.

Step 6
Measurement
-measure distance between the two indicators.
-measure distance between indicator and front feet.
-measure distance between front and back feet.

Step 7
Layout graph paper
-mark indicator position
-mark feet position.
-remember to mark + and - signs (this eliminates confusion)
example: graph layout

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 PUMP ALIGNMENT BY DIAL INDICATOR METHOD DATE: 12/04/012

Step 8
Preliminary Horizontal Move

 The horizontal move is the part of the alignment process that aligns
the shaft's centerlines from side to side. View the machine from the
pump end, zero the indicators on the left, and then rotate and read on
the right. Make sure that you always view the pump from the same
direction in order for you to keep the left and right directions correct.
There is no sag compensation on the horizontal move.

For Example:
The indicator on the pump reads -8
the indicator on the motor reads +10

The shafts are collinear at 1/2 the Total Indicator Reading.

 Using graph paper to illustrate the position. Under the indicator
position mark the point that is 1/2 the indicator reading. (-4 for the
pump and +5 for the motor) Connect these points and extend the line
past the motors feet. This will show you how much you need to move
the motor for horizontal alignment.
These indicator readings mean that you need to move
the motor:
front foot .006" left
back foot .007" left

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 PUMP ALIGNMENT BY DIAL INDICATOR METHOD DATE: 12/04/012

You can avoid graphing the horizontal move by zeroing the indicators on the
left and rotate them to right. Now turn the indicator needles half way to
zero and begin to walk the motor into place by moving the farthest foot
toward zero and then the nearest foot. Slowly walk the motor into place by
alternating the moves until you obtain two zero indicator readings.
Now begin the procedure for the vertical move. Be sure to check your
equipment for sag and soft foot.

Step 9
Check for Soft Foot
Soft foot is a condition in which one of the feet does not sit flat on the base.
The foot or the base may have been warped. When you tighten the bolt on
the foot, the machinery will distort.

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 PUMP ALIGNMENT BY DIAL INDICATOR METHOD DATE: 12/04/012

How to check for Soft Foot

1. Move indicators to 12 o'clock position, depress indicators and then
zero.
2. Loosen one base bolt. If indicator moves away from zero, place the
amount of shims that will slide under that foot. Retighten bolt and
make sure the dial indicator needle does not move.
3. Repeat this procedure for the remaining feet.
Step 10
Perform Vertical Move

The vertical move is the part of the alignment process that aligns the two
shaft's centerlines into their proper up and down position. Usually you will
have to add or remove shims in this step. The indicators are zeroed on the
top and read at the bottom. (start with a plus + reading if you need to
compensate for sag)
Example:
the indicator on the pump reads -12
the indicator on the motor reads +8
This means that the shafts are one half the total indicator reading from
being collinear at these points.
Using a square grid graph paper to illustrate the position. Under the
indicator position mark the point that is half the indicator reading. ( -6 for
pump side indicator and +4 for the motor side indicator) Connect these two
points with a line and then continue the line past the lines representing the
feet on the motor. The graph now shows that the front foot needs to have a
.003" shim added and the back foot needs to have a .001" shim added.

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 PUMP ALIGNMENT BY DIAL INDICATOR METHOD DATE: 12/04/012

Now with your shims in place. Tighten all bolts and take and check your
readings. If the readings are within tolerance than your equipment should
be aligned.

Step 11
Tighten all bolts and recheck indicator readings.

Step 12
Remove alignment brackets.

The more you become familiar with these steps the faster you will be able to
align your machinery.

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