Marine Engineering

As with all vertical moves, using a dial indicator is not necessary to determine the change in the vertical direction, but it can be helpful to check for any soft foot created when moving the machine.  By using a micrometer, the exact thickness of the shims being installed can be determined for the required alignment correction. Be sure to measure every shim that is installed. Do not believe what is printed, stamped, or etched on the shim. Always check the shim to be sure.  When loosening the hold-down bolts, the first precaution is to loosen only two bolts at a time when making any shim change. If you loosen all the hold-down bolts at the same time and then raise the machine, the entire configuration at the feet may change. This is particularly true if any of the feet have been corrected for soft foot conditions using a tapered or step shim.  Leaving two hold-down bolts tight reduces the chances of an uncontrolled move. Any uncontrolled movement of the machine...