Turbine Gearbox to Generator

Laser level? Well, it's cheap.

Three-Beam Magnetic Torpedo Laser LevelModel: 40-6184

Yes...However I wish to complete this task more rapidly. Without turning over a 10000 lb. rotor 20 times by hand as I shim each foot (or soft foot).

Yes...However I wish to complete this task more rapidly. Without turning over a 10000 lb. rotor 20 times by hand as I shim each foot (or soft foot).

You will have to rotate the assembly to align it, no matter what tools you decide to use.

The good computer based lasers only require 180deg shaft rotation to determine how far out you are and how much to alter the mount(s) height, but then to be sure its aligned properly, you will have to re-do the alignment steps.

Apprentices are great for turning heavy shafts, even if they are 10,000# rotating masses, their bearings MUST allow them to rotate rather easily.

Apprentices are great for turning heavy shafts, even if they are 10,000# rotating masses, their bearings MUST allow them to rotate rather easily.

True enough. It's stopping them in the right spot that gets the expletives flowing.

I video camera the alignment, that way you can stop the video and see the measurements.

Even better would be below:

http://www.vibralign.com/shaft-alignment-tools/shafthog/

That Shaft Hog demo was fun.

Yes true, It's starting and stopping that kill me.

Where do the batteries go and how do I connect it to my cell phone through a blue tooth app?

that would be that there dongle between your ears

Does this have the right cost/quality ratio?

Learn one thing first.. stop being cheap, cheap things have no value and valuable items are not cheap. I have used 4 different brands of laser alignment tools and all work well. However I have found that they are not ideal for soft food. For this I use the dial indicators and I test both on tightening and releasing of the foot clamp bolt. The dial indicator method is also accurate but a bit more time consuming more important is the sequence of adjusting the planes. Open a good millwright book for this information. Follow it and the job will be done correctly and in good time..

You feel that a dial is better than a laser for soft foot condition? Thanks.

Yes for sure at this time based on my experience. You can chase a soft foot for considerable time with a laser for some reason or you can have a soft foot that does not show. With the dial indicators you either have movement or not. Again I like to do a compression and a release procedure just to be sure as a soft food can cause serious issues in distortion and failure. It has been three or four years since I used a laser so there may be newer models that are better at soft foot however I have problems trying to figure out how a laser on the shaft can be accurate on a soft foot issue let alone the location and required shimming.

What is the best (lowest cost, highest quality)
Two different things. I use either TOF(Time Of Flight) laser or a triangulation laser depending on the accuracy requirements.

An inexpensive laser tool will give you no better of an alignment then using a dial indicator. Dial indicators in the hands of a skilled craftsmen is a good tool for this job, but they have limitations. The accuracies of the dial indicator is the biggest issue. A high quality laser unit is by your terms quicker, but more importantly more accurate. .00000 on some of this units is not un heard of. You will not get that close with a dial indicator, maybe .0000 and that is with some guess work and good eyes.

Go for the laser. If you can not afford to purchase one then hire someone to do the alignment.

Thanks All. I have decided to purchase a ROTALIGN tool.