Angular misalignment results in higher vibration at what?

Angular misalignment in rotating machinery introduces vibrations primarily at the fundamental rotational frequency of the shaft, which is expressed as 1xA frequency. This fundamental frequency arises because the misalignment causes the rotor's center of mass to shift from the geometric center, leading to uneven force distribution and vibrations as it spins.

When a shaft is perfectly aligned, the forces acting on it are balanced, and the vibration levels should be low. However, when angular misalignment occurs, the rotor experiences additional forces as it tries to compensate for the misalignment, generating vibrations at this fundamental frequency (1 times the running speed, or 1xA frequency).

Higher harmonic frequencies such as 2x or 3x are typically associated with other issues, such as imbalance or structural resonances, but angular misalignment primarily manifests at the 1x frequency. Therefore, understanding this key relationship is vital for diagnosing vibration issues related to angular misalignment in machinery.