Shaft Alignment & Balancing
How precision shaft alignment and rotor balancing protect bearings, seals and couplings on rotating machinery — from straightedge checks to laser alignment and field balancing. For maintenance technicians, fitters and reliability engineers.
52m
Total time
4
Competency levels
12
Lessons
What you'll learn
- Explain how misalignment and unbalance shorten the life of bearings, seals and couplings
- Distinguish angular from parallel (offset) misalignment and recognise their vibration signatures
- Compare alignment methods — straightedge, dial indicators, laser — and their accuracy trade-offs
- Carry out pre-alignment checks for soft foot, pipe strain and runout before correcting alignment
- Apply thermal growth offsets and speed-based tolerances when setting alignment targets
- Describe the causes and symptoms of unbalance and the concept of single-plane field balancing
Curriculum
Progress through each competency level in order.
1
Awareness
- 3mWhy alignment and balance matterKnowledge
- 2mAngular and parallel misalignment, and what unbalance feels likeKnowledge
- 7mAwareness check: alignment and balance basicsAssessment
2
Knowledge
- 2mAlignment methods: from straightedge to laserKnowledge
- 3mPre-alignment checks: soft foot, pipe strain and runoutKnowledge
- 8mKnowledge check: methods and pre-alignment checksAssessment
3
Skill
- 3mThermal growth, tolerances and the balancing conceptKnowledge
- 3mPerform and document a precision alignmentAssignment
- 8mSkill check: targets, tolerances and correctionsAssessment
4
Mastery
- 2mBuilding a precision alignment and balancing standardKnowledge
- 3mLead an alignment and balancing improvementAssignment
- 8mMastery assessment: precision maintenance leadershipAssessment
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