Guide Line Sp 001

Spindle Balancing

The rotating components are balanced and assembled into the spindle.
Often certain components are attached to the spindle shaft after
assembly into the housing. At this point there may be some residual
mass imbalance.  This imbalance is compensated by trim balancing the
completely assembled rotating group. Usually imbalance is measured
while running the spindle at full operating speed. Running at full speed
allows for the finest tuning to be accomplished.
Often high end spindles have a series of tapped holes around the
periphery allowing the addition of various sized set screws. Appropriate
installation of these set screws allows a trained technician to virtually
eliminate the effects of residual
imbalance.  

1.1 What is ISO 1940/1 G0.4.?

ISO 1940/1 is an international standard used for qualifying the balance of rotating rigid bodies. G0.4 is
a particular balance grade within the overall standard. Compliance with this standard requires that the
maximum residual imbalance falls within certain limits dependent on the overall mass of the rotating
body. Grade G0.4 is on the finer end of the spectrum and typically the qualifying range for high speed
precision spindles.

Some standard ISO grades and their applications are listed below:

 G16 Drive shafts, engine components, engine crankshafts

 G6.3 Marine main turbine gears, pump impellers, electric armatures
 G2.5 Gas and steam turbines, turbo compressors, computer memory drums
 G1 Grinding machine drives, small electric armatures, phonograph drives
 G0.4 Gyroscopes, Spindles, precision grinders         `

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1.2 What is imbalance and how is it

corrected?

Imbalance is caused by the displacement of the mass centerline

from the rotational axis which is a function of eccentricity in the
distribution of the rotor mass. It is measured in units of mass and
distance, e.g., gram-millimeters or gmm.  Imbalance
is considered in single plane modes and dual plane modes.
 Guide Line Sp 001

Balancing is the correction of this mass displacement by the removal, addition or adjustment of mass
to the component to compensate for centerline error. Most high speed spindles are balanced by the
appropriate removal of mass. Some larger machine tool spindles have pre-drilled and tapped holes for
the addition of set screws which facilitates the addition of mass to compensate imbalance.There are
two general forms of balancing: "Static" and "Dynamic".

Static balancing (which is not really static) involves installing the component into a balancing machine
and measuring the "heavy" point in relation to the centerline, while the part is rotating. If the required
balance correction is at a single axial point on the rotor the balance is said to be "Single-Plane". Single
plane balancing is adequate for rotating bodies with a low length to diameter ratio (l/d).

Dynamic or "Dual-Plane" balancing is required for components or assemblies of significant length.

Rotors with some axial length can have two "heavy" points at opposing ends of the component, acting
independently on the mass center line. In order to balance the component, both planes must be
corrected for center line error. Dynamic balancing is required for components such as shafts and
multi-rotor assemblies.