Belt Alignment

[Ralph2]

Hello
Can anyone provide any definitve specifications on sheave / belt alignment.... Is there an ISO specification SAE? API?

Ralph

 

[mizzoueng]

For what? A fan motor? If it is for a fan, contact the motor rep or the fan rep and have them send you some info. Any reptuable company will have those on hand as it directly affects the life of the fan/motor combo.

 

[Ralph2]

Thanks mizzoeng...
We are a jobbing shop that does those installations... And would like to be able to rely on more definitive and tracable criteria.

Ralph

 

[nnjunger]

I don't know that I have seen specs from ISO or anyone else on that. Rather I have seen specifications from Gates, or other belt and sheave manufacturers, as well as some general guidelines from alignment companies (such as vibralign, skf, etc.) that make belt alignment tools. There are also criteria that play into the installation that can be just as critical as alignment such as distance from bearings (especially for overhung loads), shaft deflection, matched belts, belt tension, proper belt installation, etc.

These are all factors that need to be considered as part of the installation practices.

 

[Ralph2]

Thanks nnjunger..
Quote.. <These are all factors that need to be considered as part of the installation practices>

I agree, and that is why I would assume there would be some standards...

I have seen standards from couplings "Lovejoy" that imply a straight edge is adequate.. Specs from most gear manufactures "Falk" give the maximum miss alignment that the "coupling" can withstand... not the optimum for vibration free operations.

It surprises me that with more and more documentation to form industial standards this issue seems to still rely on vague "rules-of-thumb" and a string

 

[nnjunger]

I have seen individual charts from various sources, usually related to vibration training from Entek, etc. that gives coupling misalingment charts as a function of both shaft diameter and turning speed. I do not remember the original source of these charts though.

As far as any published "standards" I am not aware of any, or what the appropriate source would be. I think that some of that would depend on industry, application, criticality, etc.

If you do find some, I would love to see them and build them into our training programs.