quote:

Of course we all know the devil is in the base/feet/shim soft foot techniques.

Bill K; would this require grain, wine and oil cermony? Any cleansing? So, they don't get it right?

I have been using optalign plus since past five years. It is good device to use. What is extraordinary about this company is that their tech support / customer service is incomparable. They have great patience and help you to your satisfaction.

In another discussion, Bill Kilbey discussed how to check the calibration of a laser system simply by using a straight bar with the heads mounted on it (similar to checking bar sag with reverse indicator method). I thought this was a good solution to the question of whether to trust the alignment.
I started out using the face rim method of alignment in the early ‘70s. When I was introduced to the reverse indicator method, I found it a better system in theory. I didn’t fully buy into it until I was introduced to the HP Graphing calculator in the early ‘90s. I had one of my sons program mine to do the reverse indicator alignment and was happy. In 2001, I was told to order a laser system. This was a neat gadget. I used it exclusively until I began to have battery problems with one of the heads. After much frustration, I went back to the reverse method and wrote my own program for the calculator. Now I have a system that I feel confident in and don’t have to worry if the batteries are going to fail in the middle of an alignment. If they go bad, I just slip another set in.
The original program my son programmed into the calculator required me to keep track of what movements I was going to make. The one I wrote has all the moves on the same screen. I enter the values on one screen, enter the dial readings on a second screen, then read the moves on a third screen.
It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles the commercial unit s have, but it gets the job done just as accurately.
I guess the next thing would be for someone to write an application for an iPod, etc.

InstructionsForMachineAlignment.doc (584 KB, 22 downloads)

Yes; the indicators are field proven and accurate and fast. You can easily plot or calculate or carry a computer or whatever. I have mine in in cell phone and it will do the calculation in seconds and update every point or change in reading at every foot for both machines; either can be fixed. Gives a bolt-bound solution fast.

lol you guys make me laugh sometimes! We are spoiled for alignment systems where I work we have 4 Rotalign Pro's and 2 Rotalign Ultras. It is amazing how fast you can get used to the newer units. Trulay amazing is the only way to describe the ultras. I have regularly had to do 10 gearbox machine trains. Did one last week in about 4.5hrs that was with training someone on how to do it. I sent pictures into Ludeca on that one, they loved it.

TorpTorp,

I'm with you. I wouldn't trade my UU for anything.

D