Why Do We Need Balancing Machines That Work at So Many Different Speeds?

The need for balancing machines capable of operating at a wide range of speeds depends entirely on the variety, size, and dynamic characteristics of the part to be balanced. Each part must be balanced at a different speed range, depending on its inherent structure and operating conditions. For example, for small, uniform parts used in mass production, machines operating at a fixed or narrow speed range are generally sufficient. These machines maximize efficiency by repeating the same process repeatedly. However, balancing parts such as large and heavy rotors encountered in industrial environments is much more complex. Because the mass distribution of these parts is not known in advance, balancing is generally started at low speeds and gradually increased speeds to minimize safety risks, collecting unbalance data.

This versatile speed adjustment is crucial for accurately balancing critical parts, especially flexible rotors. Because flexible rotors can deform as they approach their resonant frequency, such machines must be tested at different speeds. At MBS Balance, we design our machines with the ability to operate at different speeds. This allows for both precise balancing of small, lightweight parts and safe balancing of large, heavy parts. This flexibility allows businesses to meet a wide range of balancing needs with a single machine, reducing investment costs and increasing operational efficiency.

The engineering reason behind the different speed capability is that bearing force increases with the square of the speed. If a large, heavy rotor with high initial unbalance is spun at high speed, the force can exceed the machine's bearing and transducer limits; therefore the process is started at low speed and the speed is gradually raised after the coarse unbalance is removed. Conversely, to read a very small residual unbalance clearly, increasing the speed moderately improves the signal-to-noise ratio.

For flexible rotors, measurement at multiple speeds close to the critical speeds is essential in order to excite each bending mode. In addition, in belt drive the slip limit and the part's safe peripheral speed also determine the speed range. With its machines offering wide, stepless speed control, MBS Balance combines both the safe low-speed balancing of heavy rotors and the high-speed verification of precision parts on a single platform.