This week’s photo shows laser alignment in progress. A FEECO Customer Service Engineer is performing the laser alignment on a rotary drum.
A state-of-the-art laser tracking system uses a laser beam to measure 3D coordinates (angles and distances) along the rotary drum, which is then recorded and analyzed through an advanced software program. As seen in today’s photo, a service technician holds a reflector, to which the laser beam is directed, and then moves the reflector along the drum to capture numerous points.
The advantages of using a laser tracker for alignments include:
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- Precise results. Whereas traditional alignment methods relied on capturing measurements by hand, and thus increasing the potential for human error, the laser can accurately record extremely tight tolerances.
- There is no need to move equipment, because the laser is portable and can be used virtually anywhere.
- Benchmarking allows one to track historical data, and refer back to it as needed.
Rotary drums can naturally fall out of alignment over time due to normal wear and tear, so regular inspections can help catch any alignment issues before they escalate and negatively affect other drum components.
Our Customer Service Engineers can travel directly to your facility to perform the alignment, and they work with both FEECO and non-FEECO equipment. To learn more, contact us today!