At Hannover Fair 2015 in Germany earlier this year, SKF presented an innovative shaft alignment tool. The TKSA 51 is the first instrument designed for intuitive shaft alignments using tablets and smartphones. The app makes it quick and easy to set up of motors, drives, fans, gearboxes, pulleys and couplings, even by operators who use the instrument for the first time.

The new TKSA 51 comprises two compact and lightweight laser measuring units, designed to suit almost any application. Using the versatile shaft brackets, the instrument can be mounted on small machines with limited space, whilst extension chains, rods and magnetic holders are supplied for mounting the tool on large machines.

Connected wirelessly, the app uses real time data to provide a live 3D view of the measuring units. This gives operators the possibility to rotate the virtual machine at their convenience in all directions, making the alignment as intuitive as possible. Measurements are made by a simple touch of a button or by the hands-free automatic measurement function, which just needs the shaft to be rotated to the next measurement position.

Jens Kammann, Product Manager at SKF Maintenance Products, points out that, “Shaft misalignment is one of the main causes of machine failure. It creates additional forces and vibration that can damage machine components such as bearings, seals and couplings, adding considerably to operating and maintenance costs. Often, we find shafts not being aligned correctly because the applied method or instrument is time consuming and difficult to use, leading to mistakes and incorrect alignments. The TKSA 51 eliminates these problems, making it the ideal companion for every alignment task. As a result, engineers can significantly increase uptime, with the confidence that machines are correctly setup for efficient and cost-effective operation.”