The Problem

Aligning the shaft of a vertical turbine, pump,

or any other vertical shaft to the plumb line.

The Solution
PERMAPLUMB® uses a laser transducer mounted
vertically. The beam is reflected off a self-adjusting mirror.
Since its surface will always be parallel to the horizon,
plumbness of the laser beam (and shaft) can be accurately
determined. From a single 270° rotation of the shaft, the
system calculates and displays angularity of the shaft from
plumb as well as corrective moves. A “MOVE” function
allows monitoring of the corrections as they are being
performed. PERMAPLUMB requires less than 14” of axial
space along the shaft. The resolution is better than
0.00002”/ft., (more accurate than required by NEMA and
IEEE), yet measurement takes only a few minutes, the
time required to rotate the shaft just 270°.

Permaplumb is a registered trademark of Prueftechnik AG. ©2002 LUDECA, INC.

 Setup Display Screen

The Advantages
Quick Setup
It only takes seconds to
attach the measuring
unit magnetically to
the shaft.
Measure Screen
Reliability
With a single 270°
rotation, two complete
sets of readings are
obtained which provides
unequaled accuracy and
certainty of the results.
Unaffected by vibration
Since readings are
randomly averaged over
user-controlled time spans,
vibration does not interfere
with readings. Adjacent
equipment can continue
to operate while the shaft
plumbness is measured and Result Screen
the shaft is being aligned.
The Software
Accuracy The WINPLUMB™ program handles the communication
Laser measuring between the laser transducer and computer so that the
resolution of 1 micron user does not need to manually record readings. The
guarantees alignment accurate compensation for vibration is a software
accuracy exceeding NEMA engineering feature that makes the PERMAPLUMB
and IEEE standards. effective. WINPLUMB can be configured for up to 2 radial
Time Savings or guide bearings, and a thrust bearing (3 to 12 pads). The
Total alignment time is result screen will show the angle of the shaft from plumb in
reduced from days to 2 planes 90° apart. In addition, it will show the correction at
just hours. each bearing or thrust pad in both planes. The thrust pad
corrections can be displayed “all pad moves up” (shim
type) or “all pad moves up and down” (adjustment screw
type). WINPLUMB features a “MOVE” function that
displays changes to the centerline plumbness while you
make corrections. In essence, using WINPLUMB it is now
possible to simply move the shaft (by adjusting either pads
or guides) until the display shows zero. At that point the
centerline will be plumb. WINPLUMB also contains
Phone: (305) 591-8935 • www.ludeca.com
functions for evaluating rigidity across a vertical shaft
info@ludeca.com • Fax: (305) 591-1537 coupling. It is also useful for monitoring changes to
1425 N.W. 88th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172-3017 plumbness, while balancing the load on the thrust pads.