Although a Falk F coupling is known for its ability to tolerate misalignment, it’s critical to keep your couplings operating within acceptable design limits. By optimizing motor shaft alignment, you can help preserve the life of your F coupling as well as any other likely-to-fail components.
Hazards of Motor Shaft Misalignment
Properly aligned shafts permit a smooth and efficient transmission of power between the motor and the driven equipment. However, when the centerlines of the two shafts are not lined up, problems can occur, including:
- Excessive vibration and noise.
- Rising temperature within the F coupling and bearings.
- Premature failure of couplings, shafts or bearings.
Types of Motor Misalignment
When the motor lies at an angle to the driven equipment, angular misalignment occurs. If you were to extend the centerline of each staff, the two would cross each other rather than run along the same line. Angular misalignment can be horizontal, vertical or both and can severely damage both the motor and the driven equipment.
With parallel misalignment, the shaft centerlines remain parallel but are offset from each other. In other words, they do not superimpose, or share the same centerline. This type of misalignment can also be horizontal, vertical or both.
When both parallel and angular misalignment are present, it is known as combination misalignment.
Impact on Couplings
While F couplings are flexible enough to accommodate minor misalignment – and to absorb some of its vibrational effects – they shouldn’t be counted upon to correct extreme misalignment. The design of the F coupling prevents load from being transferred to the connecting shaft, but the excess flexing can cause the coupling itself to fail prematurely.
By employing the right equipment to ensure proper motor shaft alignment, such as laser alignment tools, you can squeeze the most life possible out of your F couplings.
Posted under Machinery Maintenance, Tips and Tricks on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013