Session No: 08

“To balance two rotating mass (disturbing mass) with a single mass
(balancing mass) rotating at different radius 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 provided in the formulation, for
the same radii and two masses.
It is for different radii and single disturbing mass.
v. Calculate angle for the disturbing mass as:
θb = θd + 180°
 vi. Balancing weight at the balancing angle at the same radius, as was the disturbing
weight was clamped.
vii. Finally, the motor was turned on to check the stability of the masses.
viii. Experiment was repeated for different masses for three times.

Observations and Calculations

Sr. m1 r1 θ1 m2 r2 θ2 Fd θd mb rb θb
No. (lb) (in) (º) (lb) (in) (º) (lbf) (º) (lb) (in) (º)
1 0.5 3 15 0.5 3 140 1.38 77.5 0.46 3 257.5
2 0.5 5 30 0.2 5 130 2.02 52.9 0.67 3 232.9
3 1 4 45 0.5 4 150 3.83 74 1.28 3 254
4 1.5 3 60 1 3 160 4.92 -83.4 1.64 3 96.6

Comments
• In this experiment a same mass is used to balance the two disturbing masses
rotating at the same radius. So, the balancing can be so high if the two disturbing
masses are chosen of high values first. Try to choose the small masses available in
the lab to avoid any error in the results.
• Care should be taken in mounting the masses that no nut or bolt be overly extended
as they also have masses that can disturb unexpectedly.