Pump Alignment

I spent several years following a Journeyman Millwright learning to do coupling alignments. Learned to do the 3-1/2 pages of math to get all of the parameters to align properly. Learned about soft food calculations and so on and so on. It is very hard to take what you have provide and give you any help. Best source of info is to do a Google of topic. There is a lot of information on the subject out there. Or located a motor shop to bring in a computer alignment unit and have it done.

My grandfather had to perform soft food calculations...and so on

He said it was for good colon heath.....

If you are trying to get two shafts concentric, do one direction at a time. The 0 and -5 direction should be moved -2.5 to center it, then you should have 0 at top and bottom. Then center the horizontals.

Now you have to check face alignment, using a feeler gauge between the faces of the couplings. Do one direction at a time, just like the concentric adjustment.

When you have the faces parallel, re-check the run-out. If you have to do any adjustments on the run out, check parallel again.

Repeat until the shafts are concentric and parallel.

Sorry, I should better explain this. I am OK with aligning.

I'm just trying to visualise what the indicators are telling me. I've given hypothetical read-outs from an indicator (set zero at 0 deg). To confirm my understanding, I'm looking for some input into what the read-out would be,

a) if I had another indicator set zero at 90deg at the same time

b) if I had another indicator set zero at 180deg

thanks

Mike K pretty much has it right and from your response it seems you know the "how" of the alignment but you're just having trouble seeing the why.

The philosophy is the same no matter what method you use, you have 2 lines that you want to be the same and the easiest way to visualize it, IMO, is the graphical method. If you haven't learned it yet, just google "shaft alignment graphical method." I have a feeling it'll clear up the vision of what's going on for you!

My only two cents to add at this point is, keep learning! I witnessed an old timer use this method (graphical with dial indicators) for checking and CORRECTING a gas turbine alignment originally done by a technician with a high tech laser alignment set-up.