Wow! Way over my head but that is impressive use of technology. Thanks for posting this Gary. Makes me feel like a caveman. Regards, John.

Agreed - how accurate is accurate?

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Let's get our technology correct here.

Use an optical laser to perform tramming is not the state-of-the-art.

Using laser technology to measure distances from fixed points or the creation of a "point" cloud is the state-of-the-art.

3D laser scanning has come into its own with advances in the hardware and software. It is being used in the power generation field for component replacements. I've recently witnessed demonstrations to challenge the accuracy and quality of the products. Coupled with high resolutions photographs, the results are amazing.

Scaling this back, the technology can be applied to creating a 3D model of a locomotive frame with all the key planes identified. With fixed reference points, the scanning device can be located in numerous locations around the locomotive and the software is able to assemble the data into a single model. Cylinder centerlines can be located and referenced to any location needed, verticality of shoe faces and angularity of wedge faces can be found, spring rigging points known, etc. Add in your actual driving box dimensions and you soon have your shoe and wedge dimensions.

I think this is exciting technology and we're currently employing it with USSC 148.

G. Mark

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I have used wires for alignment work and years ago learnd a good trick from Matt Gray Baldwin's last employee. When taking measurements to the wire using a ID Mike connected to a battery power buzzer. One electric wire is connected to the wire the other to the mike the end of the mike which contacts the fix point is insulated [I just use a piece of tape adding its thickness to measurement] When mike touches wire you get a buzz and wire is not displaced. Repeatable accuracy about .002 . Baldwin used it for crankshaft bearing alignment checks .
I have also used optical alignment equipment instead of wires very accurate that was the method before lasers used in industry there are optical alignment scopes, transits and optical levels all available on eBay at good prices they will read in .001 easily at 25'
Dennis Daugherty

Kelly,
We do not own any of the equipment. We have contracted laser scanning companies to come in and do the initial work. Then our CAD guy has all the info in his program to develop all the needed Drawings.
Also, many machine and millwright shops own the digital laser tracker. We hire them to come out at about $1,000 per day to read cylinder and valve bores and all relevant frame locations. For most work on smaller engines, this gets you enough data to do a fine job of running gear alignments. Several hundred points taken in 2 days for $2,000.

At about 3:50 or so into this video on the work Atlas does is some of the equipment talked about. I think. Amazing technology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W519_INEviA

So is this process usable when say making a new boiler and trying to keep basic dimensions so the new boiler fits the same as the one that was removed? And appliances fit like when they were removed? I know that the close tolerances in tramming is not in the same ball park with dimensions needed in boiler work. But wondering if the scanning would also be used in the process of new boiler mfg especially when trying to duplicate original shapes. Mainly incorporating into a CAD drawing? Between the CAD software and the measuring of the scan seems like true rocket science. No doubt some of my terminology is not correct.

Regards, John.

I am not too familiar with how driver tramming works but I do have some experience with laser alignment work. We recently switched over to laser shaft alignment at work and it is good to 0.0001" tolerances on high speed shaft alignment but you won't find such systems for $100 at home Depot.

These guys make some of the nicest laser alignment equipment and there are some competitors but I bet you are looking at around $30K+ range to get started. https://www.pruftechnik.com/us/solution ... nment.html

This may be another option for the serious project in addition to scanning