What is the most common type of misalignment found in machinery?

The most common type of misalignment found in machinery is often a combination of misalignment types. This is because in practical applications, machinery components, such as motors and pumps, can experience both angular and offset misalignment simultaneously as they are installed and run.

Angular misalignment occurs when the shafts are not aligned in a straight line, resulting in an angle between the two shafts, which causes uneven wear and vibration. Offset misalignment, on the other hand, happens when the shafts are misaligned in a parallel manner but offset from each other either vertically or horizontally.

In many real-world situations, machinery components will experience variations that lead to both angular and parallel misalignments. This combination is prevalent due to the practical challenges of installation, variations in manufacturing tolerances, thermal expansion, and wear over time. Recognizing that misalignment is usually not just one type but a combination helps in better diagnosis and correction of alignment issues in machinery.