X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (2024)

  • ByTom Shelton
  • February 1, 2018

Shaft AlignmentGeometric MeasurementMachinery DiagnosticsMachinery MaintenanceOther Topics

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (1)

Everything must have perspective, a point of view, to be communicated. To communicate the three spatial dimensions, we use the X,Y, Z coordinates. These denote height, width and depth. In referring to machinery we use the same X,Y, Z denotations, but we give them different values or meanings. To make it even more interesting, there are no specific rules governing the meaning leading to confusion when attempting to communicate in these planes.

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (2)

Figure 1, This is the “Hand Rule” used by the electrical trades to denote Thrust, Current and Field.

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (3)

Figure 2, This is the “Right Hand Rule” used to denote the 3 axes.

Although the Right-Hand Rule shows the three axes, the spatial aspect is still not known in relation to a machine. This reference is used in the Machine Tool Trades. It is taught that the Z axis is referencing the vertical axis which is the center of rotation referred to as the axial plane.

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (4) X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (5)

Figure 3 This denotes the rotational axis of a CNC machine. This does not however denote a moniker of X, Y or Z. The direction of the thumb is referencing axial plane.

Knowing your axis reference is critical to understanding the information that is being conveyed. Your industry or trade may dictate the directional meaning. Figures 1-3 illustrates that knowing what the reference is, is like a key to a secret language known only by a select group. If you don’t have the key you may not understand the message.

Vibration analysis and precision shaft alignment are no different. They each have their own set of “rules” regarding the X, Y, Z axis that are task and/or tool specific.

Using a machine analyzer, such as the Fixturlaser Smart Machine Checker, the axis reference changes based on the position of the tri-axial sensor (accelerometer). The tri-axial sensor measures vibration levels in all three axes at once. This allows for many sensor position options. The only rule is that you must tell the display unit how reference mark on the sensor is positioned relative to the 3 axes by simply selecting the correct picture on the Smart Machine Checker display screen.

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (6)

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (7)

Figure 4, Note the sensor position reference in the top right corner. In this position, the X is Axial, Y is Radial Horizontal and the Z is Radial Vertical.

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (8)

Figure 5, In this one the X is again Axial, but the Z and Y have reversed. Notice the sensor position reference in the top right.

When performing precision shaft alignment on horizontal rotating machinery, the Z axis refers to the rotational axis or rotational centerlines. The Y axis refers to vertical position (perpendicular to the base) and the X axis refers to the horizontal position (parallel to the base). As seen in Figure 6a below.

When aligning vertical rotating machinery, the Z axis is also the center of rotation, however X and Y are used to reference the two axial planes 90 degrees from each other as in Figure 6b.

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (9) X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (10)

Figure 6a & 6b

Another question that surfaces frequently during a horizontal shaft alignment is regarding positive and negative alignment values of the movable machine in relation to the stationary machine or reference shaft. Once again perspective or point of view is the key. When discussing the vertical position of the movable machine we typically say positive is up and negative down. +Y or -Y in Figure 6a above. Another way to say it may be positive is away from the base and negative is toward the base.

In the horizontal plane the positive and negative position (left or right) of the movable machine is again qualified by the point of view. When viewed from the back of the movable machine negative is to the left and positive is to the right of the reference shaft. -X and +X in Figure 6a above. This is the point of view when using Fixturlaser Shaft Alignment Systems.

Regardless of what trade or industry you are communicating (working) in, it is necessary that you know what plane is being referenced by each of the 3 dimensions to be able to correctly utilize the information you have gathered before taking corrective actions. Using incorrect references may lead to incorrect diagnoses of a condition or unclear communication of a problem or design between mechanics. Be sure to understand the reference before acting upon information regardless of the source.

Share Blog Post

Recent Posts

Blog Post

Inadequate Piping Support’s Impact on Alignment

READ MORE >

Blog Post

The 4 Senses of a Vibration Technician

READ MORE >

Blog Post

AT-Series: Laser Shaft Alignment Tools Overview

READ MORE >

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (11)

Tom Shelton

Tom comes to us as the result of a positive customer experience with VibrAlign. After 16 years with Wausau Paper in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, he was transferred to a greenfield project in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. One of this tasks was to research alignment tools. As Tom tells it, “I was amazed at the ease of use the VibrAlign tools offered. Then to understand the values of VibrAlign… I wanted to be part of this team.”Tom is a Journeyman Millwright/Pipefitter with 16 years in the paper industry and customer service training provided by Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

2 Comments

  1. X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (12)Dale McInnes on September 15, 2019 at 4:18 pm

    I really enjoyed but it would really help if I had a clear understanding of what is meant by the base. Thanks

  2. X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (13)Tom Shelton on September 23, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    The base is what the feet of the driver and driven element are mounted/bolted to.

    The base of a machine is commonly referenced as the plane to which the driven an driver are directly mounted. The axial plane, the X axis, typically references the parallel plane to the machine mounting base. The Y and Z axis are in reference to the radial planes of machine rotation. One being horizontal (parallel) to the base, the other being vertical (perpendicular) to the base.

Subscribe to the
Acoem USA Blog

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA (2024)

FAQs

X, Y, Z Axis. What do they stand for? - Acoem USA? ›

When performing precision shaft alignment on horizontal rotating machinery, the Z axis refers to the rotational axis or rotational centerlines. The Y axis refers to vertical position (perpendicular to the base) and the X axis refers to the horizontal position (parallel to the base). As seen in Figure 6a below.

What is the x and y and z axis? ›

Usually, the x-coordinate is measured along the east–west axis, the y-coordinate is measured along the north–south axis, and the z-coordinate measures height or elevation.

What does the X and y-axis stand for? ›

The x and y-axis are two important lines of the coordinate plane. The x-axis is a horizontal number line and the y-axis is a vertical number line. These two axes intersect perpendicularly to form the coordinate plane. The x-axis is also called the abscissa and the y-axis is called the ordinate.

What does XYZ stand for in math? ›

An X-Y-Z matrix is a three-dimensional structure whereby the x-axis and y-axis denote the first two dimensions and the z-axis is the third dimension. In a graphic image, the x denotes width, y denotes height and the z represents depth. An X-Y-Z matrix is also known as a 3D matrix.

What does the Z axis tell us? ›

The Z axis is perpendicular to the ground plane; think of it as a line drawn between the device and the center of the Earth. The value of the Z coordinate is positive upward (away from the center of the Earth) and negative downward (toward the center of the Earth).

What do xy and z represent? ›

The x-axis and y-axis represent the first two dimensions; the z-axis, the third dimension. In a graphic image, the x and y denote width and height; the z denotes depth.

What is Z on the axis? ›

What is this for? The Z axis allows you to add information from an additional variable to the graph, either: Adding color (either shading by a numerical value in Z, or coloring by a category of Z) Grouping the samples according to a category of Z.

What does the y-axis represent? ›

A y-axis is the vertical axis on the Cartesian coordinate plane. The y-axis starts at negative infinity and increases to positive infinity. The y-axis is also the starting, or 0 point, for measuring how far a point extends horizontally on a graph.

Is x first or y? ›

The x-coordinate always comes first, followed by the y-coordinate.

What does the x-axis represent? ›

The x-axis is a fundamental component of a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. It represents the horizontal dimension of a graph or plot, providing a reference for measuring and plotting data points along the left-to-right direction.

What is Z stands for in math? ›

Integers. The letter (Z) is the symbol used to represent integers. An integer can be 0, a positive number to infinity, or a negative number to negative infinity.

What does the XYZ stand for? ›

Phrase. XYZ. Initialism of examine your zipper: a discreet warning that one's trouser fly is undone.

What is xy and Z in algebra? ›

The basics of algebra taught us how to express an unknown value using letters such as x, y, z, etc. These letters are called here as variables. An algebraic expression can be a combination of both variables and constants.

Should z or y be up? ›

In case of land vehicles like cars, tanks etc., which use the ENU-system (East-North-Up) as external reference (World frame), the vehicle's (body's) positive y- or pitch axis always points to its left, and the positive z- or yaw axis always points up.

Why is it called XYZ axis? ›

The axes may then be referred to as the X-axis and Y-axis. The choices of letters come from the original convention, which is to use the latter part of the alphabet to indicate unknown values. The first part of the alphabet was used to designate known values.

What is meant by z-axis? ›

noun. , Mathematics. , plural z-ax·es [zee, -ak-seez]. (in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system) the axis along which values of z are measured and at which both x and y equal zero.

How to tell xyz axis? ›

Spread the first three fingers of your right hand, as seen on the right. By virtue of the right-hand rule, your thumb becomes the positive x axis, the index finger, which is at a right angle from the thumb, becomes the positive y axis and the middle finger becomes the z axis.

What are x, y, and z called? ›

Coordinate Points

Coordinate points refer to the position of an object in a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional plane. The Cartesian coordinate system is represented as x , y , z . The reference point is called the origin whose coordinate points are 0 , 0 , 0 where the three planes intersect.

What is the xyz axis called? ›

There are no standard names for the coordinates in the three axes (however, the terms abscissa, ordinate and applicate are sometimes used). The coordinates are often denoted by the letters X, Y, and Z, or x, y, and z. The axes may then be referred to as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, respectively.

What is the axis of Z? ›

in a three-dimensional space (= one that has height, length, and width), the line along which the values of z are shown on a graph, diagram, etc., perpendicular to the x- and y-axes and usually starting from a point at which both x and y have the value 0: These values are marked along the z-axis.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Reed Wilderman

Last Updated:

Views: 6176

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Reed Wilderman

Birthday: 1992-06-14

Address: 998 Estell Village, Lake Oscarberg, SD 48713-6877

Phone: +21813267449721

Job: Technology Engineer

Hobby: Swimming, Do it yourself, Beekeeping, Lapidary, Cosplaying, Hiking, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Reed Wilderman, I am a faithful, bright, lucky, adventurous, lively, rich, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.