Several factors may cause a Soft-Foot. Maybe the underlying foundation is warped, bent, uneven, or damaged. The same may be true for the machine foot. The gap between the foot and the foundation may already be filled with compressed/bent or otherwise damaged shims. This condition may distort the machine’s frame as the foot is drawn down to the base by the foundation bolt’s tension. In our business, we call this a squishy foot. But also consider environmental factors like dirt and debris, which may have worked their way in-between. A more complex Soft-Foot is caused by forces external to the machine, like stress-induced forces created during any stage of the alignment process. What’s more likely is that you will find a combination of the above causing a Soft-Foot: