• Shaft alignment is an important part of properly functioning equipment. When aligned correctly, the equipment has no problems and will work in an appropriate manner. When it is misaligned, however, the equipment can have problems and eventually break down as a result. Knowing the types of alignment ensures that when the shaft is misaligned it can be fixed properly.
  
  

Offset

• An offset shaft alignment is slightly different on each side. The alignment of the shafts is parallel, but one side is slightly higher than the other or otherwise doesn't match up perfectly. The shaft can be vertical, horizontal or somewhere in the middle, but the shaft itself is slightly misaligned. When the shaft is offset, anything traveling through the shaft will only partially move through the shaft; the rest will spill out into the system.
  
  

Angular

• An angular shaft alignment occurs when the center of the shaft meets at an angle rather than straight. This means that one side is slightly bent compared to the other side so that the appearance of an angle forms instead. The middle line matches up closely, but the angle results in problems for the equipment. Anything traveling through an angular misalignment will not only leak out of the shaft, but will also not travel smoothly through the shaft.
  
  

Combination

• A combination alignment occurs when an offset and angular alignment combine to form a third category. The alignment has an angle so it is not straight and is offset, so the two sides do not match up in the middle. According to U.S. Motors Product Service Bulletin, the combination alignment is the most common misalignment problem. The combination problem not only creates the problems of angular misalignment, where anything traveling through the shaft does not travel smoothly, but also spills out in a similar manner to offset alignment.