Session No: 10

“To balance three rotating mass (disturbing mass) with a single mass
(balancing mass) rotating at same radii in the same plane”
Apparatus
• Balancing apparatus
• Weights
• Nuts, etc.

Fig: Balancing Apparatus

Theory
“Balancing is the process of designing or modifying machinery so that the unbalance
is reduced to an acceptable level and if possible is eliminated entirely”
There are three types of unbalances:

1. Static balance – is where the mass axis is displaced only parallel to the shaft axis. The
unbalance is corrected only in one axial plane.
2. Couple balance – is where the mass axis intersects the running axis. For example: a
disk that has swash run-out with no static unbalance. The unbalance is usually corrected
in two planes.
3. Dynamic balance – is where the mass axis is coincidental with the rotational axis.
The dynamic unbalance is usually a combination of static and couple unbalance and is
corrected in two planes.
Balancing of Rotating masses

The balancing of rotating bodies is important to avoid vibration. In heavy industrial machines such
as gas turbines and electric generators, vibration can cause catastrophic failure, as well as noise
and discomfort. In the case of a narrow wheel, balancing simply involves moving the center of
gravity to the center of rotation.

Causes of Unbalancing

• Assembly error
• Machine tolerances
• Eccentric components
• Wear
• Corrosion
• Thermal distortion
• Mechanical distortion
• Material buildup
• Bent components
• Broken components

Applications
1. Wheel alignment of auto-mobiles
2. Balancing of amasses in flywheels of machines.
3. Avoiding vibrations in machines and in engines pats like cams and other similar parts
etc.
4. Balancing of swing and pendulum like joy riders in the playlands.
5. Balancing of masses in fans casings and other machines like this. A balanced casing
supposed to be have more quality and hence the cost.
Procedure
i. First, stability of the apparatus was checked by turning the motor on.
ii. Motor was turned after assuring the stability of the apparatus.
iii. The disturbing mass was clamped at a radius mention and available on the apparatus.
iv. After balancing mass was calculated using the formula for the different radii and
the two disturbing masses.
It is for different radii and two disturbing masses.
v. Balancing weight at the balancing angle at the same radius, as was the disturbing
weight was clamped.
vi. Finally, the motor was turned on to check the stability of the masses.
vii. Experiment was repeated for different masses for three times.
 Observations and Calculations

Sr. m1 m2 m3 r1 r2 r3 θ1 θ2 θ3 mb rb θb
No. (lb) (lb) (lb) (in) (in) (in) (º) (º) (º) (lb) (in) (º)
1 1 0.75 0.5 4 4 4 30 130 210 0.83 4 178.5
1 0.5 0.3 0.2 4 4 4 30 130 210 0.39 4 181.4
2 0.75 0.5 0.75 4 4 4 30 130 210 0.5 4 179.1
3 0.25 0.75 1 4 4 4 30 130 210 1.15 4 179.8

Comments
• The very first thing is that apparatus itself should be balanced and leveled as of no
masses mounted on it.
• Care should be taken to properly mount the masses to the wheel. No extended bolt of
the mass should be there which may hinder the rotation of the wheel.
• Angle of the balancing mass and the disturbing mass should be exactly as 180º m apart
in case of single disturbing mass and single balancing mass.
• As an innovation in the apparatus, we can add wheels in the apparatus with vertical
slots at different fixed angles, say at a difference of 10 or 15 degrees, rather with
circular slots as are available at present. This may allow us to mount the disturbing
and the balancing masses at any radius of our own choice rather to be restricted at 3, 4
and 5 inches only. As it was noticed during the experiment that sticking to fixed radius
of two or three choices decreased the versatility of the apparatus.
• We can also develop magnetic wheels to attach rotating masses at any angle and any
radius as sane happens in real life problems. Them we can set a reference line from
which angles can be measured of disturbing masses.
• Further, I would like to suggest that by using the magnetic wheels, first masses
should be balanced by hit and trial method then the angle and radius should be
justified and verified through the calculations of the formula rather to calculate
first and then simply mount the masses. This would increase student capability in
doing something based upon common sense.