This process is called balancing. The machine component is then balanced and runs without vibration. During imbalance, the principal axis of inertia or centre of gravity of the rotating machine component is outside its axis of rotation. Imbalances on rotating machines are often the cause of disruptive vibrations and noise. By adding or removing masses, the centre of gravity or the principal axis of inertia can be shifted so that both coincide with the axis of rotation.
Learning Objectives And Experiments:
Comparison of static, dynamic or general imbalance
Demonstration of imbalance vibrations at different speeds
Perform a balancing operation
Determine an imbalance.
Features:
Static and dynamic imbalance.
Representation of the fundamental processes involved in balancing.
The imbalance of a rotating machine part may cause harmful vibrations in the entire machine. A familiar example is unbalanced tyres on a car. In rotating machines such as turbines or pumps, vibrations due to imbalance lead to comfort problems or even damage related to overloading. If this balancing is done not on a particular machine but directly on the machine in operation located on-site, it is known as field balancing. These cause annoying and unpleasant vibrations in the steering. This is why almost all rotating parts are balanced.
Learning Objectives And Experiments:
Measure and assess machine vibrations
Static, dynamic or general imbalance
Occurrence of imbalance vibrations
Field balancing in one plane
Field balancing in two planes
Dependence of imbalance vibration on position and magnitude of the imbalance
Basic principles of balancing
Using a computerised vibration analyser
Assessment of balancing quality.
Features:
Single and two-plane balancing
Measurement of imbalance vibrations.
