Skip to content
Balancing How To #1 – Setting Up for Balancing
The recent blog on troubleshooting balancing ( https://acoem.us/other-topics/smc-touch-tip-using-the-smc-when-unbalance-is-diagnosed/ ) brought up some additional questions from our readers, so let’s tackle them in order. The first one is setting up to perform a balance job.
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR BALANCING
If you have gone through the checklist and confirmed unbalance, you will need:
- A machine to perform the measurements (the Fixturlaser SMC or OneProd Falcon are great!), with the necessary software.
- A balancing kit, consisting of at least (1) single channel accelerometer, and a laser photo tachometer (or a timed strobe light, used on older balancing machines), and cables. If using a laser photo tachometer, reflective tape will also be needed. The tape should be mounted on the rotor to be balanced, so it can be targeted by the photo tachometer.
- Balancing weights of various sizes.
- Scales, to measure the weight.
SETTING UP FOR BALANCING
- Shut down the machine and make it safe.
- Mount the accelerometer on the bearing and direction of the highest vibration. If the highest vibration is on the ODE (Opposite Drive End) bearing, in the vertical direction, place the sensor there.
- Clean off a surface to mount the reflective tape to, and mount it. It can be mounted on the rotor, or the shaft.
- Aim the laser photo tachometer toward the reflective tape. Be sure it is far enough away from the rotor to be safe (most laser photo tachometers can work when mounted several inches away from the rotor).
- Be sure all cables are secure, and free from rotating equipment, BEFORE you start the machine back up.
THE PROCESS
As seen in our video ( https://acoem.us/video-library/balancing-concepts-rotational-unbalance/ ), balancing a rotor requires at least two inputs:
- Force – how much vibration at running speed. There may be vibration from more than one source. But balancing can only reduce the vibration at running speed (1 times rpm) of the rotor. It can not reduce vibration from misalignment, belts, etc.
- Direction – a phase angle, which represents the relationship between the high spot and heavy spot of the rotor. While it is not impossible to calculate, it can be complicated, and typically, the calculation is not needed to balance a rotor. For the purposes of this blog, let’s just think of it as – how much the rotor vibrates and which direction it shakes.
When the machine is started up, the balancing program will give us an initial unbalance, in a force(in amplitude) and a direction (in degrees).
Share Blog Post
Stan Riddle
Stan Riddle joined VibrAlign in 2008. He has over 35 years experience in aligning industrial machinery. Stan received his AAS Degree in Machinist Technology from Surry Community College in Dobson, NC, and also holds a diploma in Industrial Systems Technology from Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, NC, where he was also an instructor in the program.
Stan began his maintenance career working as a machinist and millwright for companies such as Weyerhaeuser, R.J. Reynolds, and Tyco Electronics. He also has over 25 years experience in Predictive Technologies, such as vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, and ultrasonic inspection. He is a certified Level III Vibration Analyst with the Vibration Institute, and is a Past Chairman and Board Member of the Piedmont Chapter.
Stan and his wife live in Yadkinville, NC.