Why are some machine base bolts located within a piece of pipe before being anchored into the concrete base?

Placing some machine base bolts within a piece of pipe before anchoring them into the concrete base is primarily done to allow for any slight misalignment. This method serves as a flexible connection that can accommodate minor deviations in alignment that might occur during installation.

The use of pipes provides a certain amount of clearance around the bolts, enabling adjustments without the need to completely reposition the entire machine base. This flexibility is crucial because even small misalignments can lead to operational inefficiencies, increased wear on machine components, or potential failure in severe cases.

It’s important to ensure that machines are precisely aligned during installation for optimal performance, so incorporating a design that allows for corrections is a practical engineering solution.