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Balancing
Balancing .............................................................. 2
Downloading and plug-in installation .......................................... 4
Step-by-step procedure .................................................... 7
Balancing parameters .................................................... 12
Unbalance ............................................................. 13
Channel setup .......................................................... 15
Measurement screen ..................................................... 16
Dual plane example ...................................................... 17
Options ................................................................ 22
Analyse ............................................................... 28
Export ................................................................. 29
Balancing video ......................................................... 30
Experimental evaluation ................................................... 31
Frequently asked questions ................................................ 35

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Balancing
Balanced rotors are essential for most kinds of rotating machinery. Unbalance will create high
vibrations, reducing fatigue life, causing material defects. In most cases the rotor unbalance is the
major problem of vibration, it is related to the first order (= rotational frequency).

We assume, that we consider the so-called “rigid rotors”, which is true for nearly all practical cases.
That means the operating speed of the machine is below 70% of its first resonance frequency. The
resonance frequency is the critical speed, where structural resonances cause heavy vibrations. At
the resonance, the phase is turning quickly and it would be impossible to make a correct
measurement.

The requirement in terms of sampling rate depends on the first order (e.g. 3000 RPM/60 = 50 Hz ?
required sampling rate ? 3520 Hz). Also, a precise vibration sensor signal is mandatory.

The goal of balancing is to minimize vibrations related to the first order. Basically it works like this:
We measure the initial state, then we add a trial weight of known mass, calculate the position and
mass of a counterweight, remove the trial weight and put the calculated weight on the opposite side,
to cancel out the imbalance.

When an unbalance exists, the first order A correction weight is added (or material is
(rotational frequency) can be seen clearly. As removed) on the opposite side, which cancels out
shown in the example below, on the rotor exists the major part. This procedure can then be
uneven distribution of mass. repeated until satisfaction.

Single and dual plane balancing

Depending on the machinery, single or dual plane balancing is used. Selecting one plane or two
plane balancing generally depends on two factors. One of the factors is the ratio of the length of the
rotor (L) to the diameter of the rotor (D). The other factor is the operating speed of the rotor. As a
general rule of thumb, we can refer to the table shown below.

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The procedure for single plane or dual plane balancing will be different, depending on which option
is chosen. But basically the following steps have to be taken:

initial run
trial run
correction run(s)

Needed equipment
1 (for single plane) or 2 (for dual-plane) acceleration sensors
1 angle sensor (for measuring RPM and absolute angular position, therefore the angle
sensor must have a zero-pulse: rotary encoder with A,B, Z signal, optical tacho probe with
reflective sticker, inductive probe, CDM with zero,...)

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Downloading and plug-in installation
The balancing Addon is included in the Dewesoft full installer, you just need a license key to enable
it.

Download the latest version of the DEWESoft® Rotor balancer visual control instrument HERE and
then extract it to your DEWESoft installation folder (e.g. D:\DEWESoft\Bin\X2\Addons)

The plugin is compatible with DEWESoft® X1 and X2.

The plugin requires a valid DEWESoft® license. An additional license for the plugin is needed, it can
also be written into the Dewesoft® device. To test the plugin you can use a 30-days-Evaluation
license.

You can request an Evaluation license from our homepage: http://www.dewesoft.com/registration

When you have received your trial license key, open DEWESoft®, go to Settings ? Settings ?

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Licensing.

Select "Create new license" and enter the license Then your new license key will show up in the list
code. Click "ONLINE license registration". of Active licenses and should have the status
TRIAL.

Please copy the latest version of the file “RotorBalancer.vc” into the Addons folder of your
DEWESoft® installation. (e.g. D:\DEWESoft\Bin\X2\Addons\), then start DEWESoft®.

The plugin can be found under Settings ? Settings ? Extensions. If the list is empty, you have to

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If you are using Windows 7, you must click the Register plugins button (the button with two curved
arrows) once and restart DEWESoft before the plugin shows up in the list of Extensions. This
usually requires admin rights.

register the plugins first.

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Step-by-step procedure
The first step of balancing procedure is to do an initial run. The machine has to be run up the
operating speed. The vibration velocity is detected. The velocity level and phase angle give together
a vector that represents the original unbalance of the rotor. The length of the vector is equal to the
vibration amplitude and its direction is given by the phase angle.

The second step is to add a trial mass. A trial mass has a known weight and it is fixed at a known
radius at an arbitrary angular position on the rotor. The machine is again run up to operational
speed. We get a new vibration velocity level and a new phase angle. These values represent the
resultant effect of the initial unbalance and the trial mass.

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The tips of vectors V0 and V1 are joined by means of the third vector VT, which is marked so that it
indicates the V0 to V1 direction. This vector represents the effect of the trial mass alone. A vector is
drawn parallel to the vector VT, with the same amplitude and direction, but starting at the origin.

In the opposite direction to V0, there is a vector VC and it represents the position and magnitude of
the mass required to counteract the original unbalance.

Now we have sufficient information for the vector diagram with vector lengths proportional to the
measured vibration velocity levels.

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The procedure in DEWESoft is guided by the visual control instrument. The flowcharts below show
the routines for single and dual plane balancing. Instead of adding correction weights you can also
remove material on the opposite position (angle + 180°).

Single plane balancing procedure

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Dual plane balancing procedure
By adding the correction weights for both planes at the same time, we save one additional step.

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Balancing parameters
A frequency analysis of the vibration signal also guides us in the selection of the best parameter for
measuring the vibration. The vibration can be measured in terms of:

acceleration,
velocity,
displacement.

The three curves have different slopes, but the peaks in the spectrum occur at the same frequencies
in each case. The same information about the vibration levels is contained in each curve, but the
way the information is presented differs considerably.

The parameter selected for vibration measurement is usually the one with the flattest curve (the
most horizontally aligned spectrum). This parameter requires the smallest dynamic range in the
measuring instruments, so the signal-to-noise ratio is higher - the parameter with the flattest curve is
velocity and this is also the parameter that is most frequently used.

Tha advantage of Dewesoft dual-core technology is the wide dynamic range and can detect a very
small or very high vibrations at the same time. So there is no need to select the parameter with the
smallest dynamic range when performing balancing with Dewesoft equipment. But the velocity is the
most commonly chosen parameter because it is used in most standards.

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 Unbalance
Unbalance is a result of uneven distribution of mass, which causes the machine to vibrate. The
vibration is produced by the interaction of an unbalanced mass component with the radial
acceleration due to the rotation, which together generates a centrifugal force. Since the components
rotate, also the force rotates and tries to move the rotor along the line of action of the force.

Static unbalance
Static unbalance is an eccentricity of the centre of gravity of a rotor, caused by a point mass at a certain
radius from the centre of rotation.

An equal mass placed on the opposite side (180 deg) will balance the rotor.

Couple unbalance
Couple unbalance may be found in a rotor whose diameter is less than 7 to 10 times its width. In the
case of a cylinder, it is possible to have two equal masses placed symmetrically about the centre of
gravity, but positioned at 180° from each other. The rotor is in static balance (there is no eccentricity
of the centre of gravity), but when the rotor turns, the two masses cause a shift in the inertia axis, so
that it is no longer aligned with the rotation axis, leading to strong vibrations.

The unbalance can only be corrected by taking vibration measurements with the rotor turning and
adding correction masses in two planes. Couple unbalance rotor is stationary, the end masses
balance each other. However, when it rotates, a strong unbalance is experienced.

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Dynamic unbalance
Dynamic unbalance is a combination of static and couple unbalance and is the most common type
of unbalance found in rotors. To correct dynamic unbalance, it is necessary to make vibration
measurements while the machine is running and to add balancing masses in two planes.

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Channel setup
The channel setup of the plugin in DEWESoft X2 is very simple now. The whole Order tracking
algorithm does not need to be setup separately anymore, everything is done automatically in the
background.

The plugin is split into following sections:

Vibration inputs for planes - here you select your acceleration sensor. They should be
mounted close to the shaft (e.g. on the bearing).
Balancing settings - specify the method of balancing (single or dual plane) and the operating
speed of the machine.
Tacho input - a speed sensor with a zero pulse is needed (e.g. encoder, tacho probe with 1
pulse/rev, CDM with zero...).
Output channels - get a quick preview of the signals (time domain of the first order and
speed), useful for checking if the tacho input is working correctly.

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Measurement screen
When you have setup the balancing module in channel setup, there is an automatically generated
display called “Balancing” in Measure mode.

It is basically a visual control instrument (the RotorBalancer), which will guide you step-by-step
through the procedure. On the top you see the current step, with explanation which action has to be
taken, on the right there are the interactive buttons “Back”, “Next”, “Measure”.

The table below is empty at first and will fill with the results after each step. The polar plot on the left
shows the vibration levels (amplitude and angle) of each run (the unit depends on the input, mm/s or
mm/s² or g is usual).

The graph on the right helps when it comes to mounting the correction mass.

On the right column you can see system characteristics and the overall unbalance. The correction
weight and angle is also displayed here.

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Dual plane example
Let's make a practical measurement example on a machine. Here we will show a dual-plane
balancing procedure on a grinding machine. The planes have been modified for demo purpose, so
we can mount screws as unbalance/trial/correction weights.

A 360 pulses encoder is installed on one side, two acceleration sensors are mounted (one on left
and one on right bearing; only one shown on photo) and connected to a SIRIUS measurement
instrument.

In the channel setup of the balancing plugin, we need to specify the acceleration sensors of both
planes for input (plane1, plane2), as well as the "dual plane" procedure.

The machine is an asynchronous one, so it will run with approx. 3000 rpm.The procedure will be
done according to the dual-plane step-by-step procedure.

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Initial run
Some weights have been mounted before at random angular position to simulate a bigger
unbalance. Other than that, we leave the machine unmodified and just start it. When we have
reached operating speed, click on Measure.

The button will change to a stop button with running dots, showing that the measurement is in
progress. After that, the button will change back to Measure again, meaning that you also can
repeat the measurement if something was wrong.

Trial 1
Now we have to mount trial weights sequentially, first for the Plane #1.

We apply a screw of known mass at a random position. Please remember to mark this position, as it
will be the reference (= 0 deg) angle for the correction mass in future steps!

Then we enter the trial weight mass.

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Start the machine and perform the Trial 1 measurement.

Note the warning below in red, showing that a bigger trial weight will give a better result. So, the
difference with/without trial weight is too small in our example and we need to mount a bigger trial
mass.

Trial 2
Stop the machine, remove trial weight #1, and mount a known trial weight on plane #2. Then enter
the mass in the plugin.

Then run the machine again and collect the data.

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After the measurement we can already see the calculated correction weights on the right side:

Plane 1: 0,599 g at 101,2°

Plane 2: 2,487 g at 345,4°

When you click on Next, you will see a draft of the correction weight positions. Trial weight position
is 0° and the angle is positive in direction of movement.

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Correction run
Now remove the trial weight #2, before you continue.

Then mount the correction weights and start the measurement.

In our example the result for both planes has been improved, the “1.run” vector has smaller
amplitude than the “Initial run” vector. Actually it worked better for the first plane, so we would have
to go for a second corrective run.

The weights for the next run are already suggested. As you can see, the mass is already
significantly lower. It should decrease further with each following run.

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Options

View options
The “Show names in graph” option – as seen in previous screenshots – adds the names to the
vectors of each run, e.g. Initial run, Trial, 1.run, Current...

To check if amplitude and phase are stable at the operational speed, it may be helpful to trace the
current vector over the change of RPM, this can be done by selecting “Trace current measure”.

Weight splitting
When you have a rotor/plane with a certain number of slots/blades/holes, where the weights can be
mounted, it would be much easier just to know the position number and split the weights instead of
the absolute angle.

This can be done by selecting “Divide plane xx to xx” from the properties. In our example we have a
plane with 24 holes, so we mount weights in positions 3 and 4.

After adding the trial weight, and before adding the correction weight, there is a possibility to check
the option “Leave trial weight on rotor”. This is a nice feature for any situation, where removing the

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trial weight is too big effort.

Measure options
During the procedure, when you click the Measure button, the data is averaged over the time shown
below (Automatically stop measuring after xx seconds).

To ensure, the measurement is performed always at the same RPM, you can additionally set a
target value and boundary.

Link multiple instances

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Sometimes – when amplitude and phase of the signal are not stable – you have to find a different
location for mounting the sensor, to get a better signal.

To save time, you can mount multiple sensors and measure them at once, and then decide which
signal to take. The whole procedure is the same, but you only need to operate one VC (visual
control), all the other instruments will follow, of course providing different results.

Therefore, in Measure mode please check the “Link options” (left lower part).

The Rotor Balancer visual control can be picked from the instrument toolbar in Design mode. The
channels “Speed” and “xxx/Time domain harm” have to be assigned to it.

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Which of the results should now be chosen for the correction?

The one where amplitude and phase are stable.

The one with the smallest influence vector.

The influence vector describes the relation between the vibration pattern changes on a specific
mass change. 1g/mm/s tells us that 1g will change the vibration level of first order for 1mm/s. If the
influence vector is 0,5g/mm/s we only have 0,5g to get the same vibration change. So we should
carry on balancing where a small trial mass will give us a high vibration signal. So the unbalance is
clearly seen on the structure and not damped. So, we should carry on where the influence vector is
0,5g/mm/s!

Initialize with system characteristics

If Balancing was already done on a particular shaft, and the system characteristic is known, a trial
weight run is not necessary once again; the system characteristics parameters can be entered
manually instead, to get the correction mass calculated immediately.

This could be used if a shaft is balanced multiple times at a certain interval.

The system characteristics describe the relation between mass and vibration.

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If a previous setup was stored and loaded again, the system characteristic was stored in the
balancing visual control, too. Now it could be entered manually or RESET ALL VALUES could be
pressed.

After that is done, the procedure will start on “Enter Sys.Char.”. After the Initial run (chapter 4.2.1),
instead of a trial mass, the VC will automatically overwrite the previous system characteristics.

To rebalance a system with the use of the previous system characteristics value, following
requirements have to be met:
- the rotor was previously balanced with a trial mass
- the rotor characteristics have not changed
- the position of the first trial mass must be known (mark on shaft/disc)
- if an optical tacho probe was used: the reflective sticker (trigger zero signal) must stay at the same
position
- an optical tacho probe and vibrations sensor must have the same angle relative to each other
- the same balancing speed (RPM)

Acceleration to velocity calculation

Since DEWESoft X, it is possible to directly integrate from acceleration to velocity in the channel
setup. Just activate the checkbox, and set the according filter (recommendation 4th order, 4 Hz).
Due to the mathematical integration, there is a constant added to the result, which must be filtered
out. If the filter order is too high and the Low frequency is too low, you can see a slow-moving offset,
even if there is no signal at the input! - In this case please adjust the filter properly, use an FFT to
check for your lowest interesting frequency.

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Removing mass
Instead of adding the correction masses, mass can be also removed from the rotor (e.g. by
grinding). You just have to apply it on the opposite side (+ 180°).

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Analyse
During the whole process all raw data is stored, see below the green curve in the overview
instrument. Additionally, when we reload the data file in Analyse mode we will have angle and mass
data of all runs (initial, trial, correction).

As expected, the last run has the smallest amplitude (=less vibrations), which means our rotor has
been balanced successfully.

The RotorBalancer visual control shows the polar plot with the vectors of each run, in the table you
can see the correction masses and angles for each run.

Balancing only works “live” in Measure mode!

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Export
After we had successfully balanced a rotor and collected the data, you can export the data of all
runs.

Therefore click on the RotorBalancer visual control element to be active, then select Edit ? Copy
data to clipboard.

Then you can paste the data e.g. to Excel, as shown below.

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Balancing video
Please take a look at the following video for an easier understanding of how balancing procedure is
done with Dewesoft hardware and software.

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Experimental evaluation
Experimental evaluation of the balance quality requirements is often carried out for mass production
applications. Tests are commonly performed in situ. The permissible residual unbalance is
determined by introducing various test unbalances successively in each correction plane, based on
the most representative criterion (e.g. vibration, force, noise caused by unbalance).

In two-plane balancing, if no tolerance planes are used, the different effects of unbalances with the
same phase angle and of those 180° apart shall be taken into account.

In the table below, there is a guidance for balance quality grades for rotors in a constant (rigid)
state.

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In the picture below, there are shown permissible residual specific unbalance based on balance
quality grade G and service speed n. The picture contains generally used areas (service speed and
balance quality grade G), based on common experience.

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The white area is the generally used area, based on common experience.

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Frequently asked questions
This section should help to find quick solutions for known problems.

Amplitude and phase not stable

The amplitude and phase must be stable to get a reliable result. For verification, you can use the
option “Trace current measure”. The curve must be stable and not jump at the operational speed. If
it does jump, there can be several reasons.

Vibration signal is too small/noisy. -> Please mount the accelerometer on a different position.
RPM signal is not stable. -> Check tacho signal and readjust trigger level.
Balancing is done close to or on the structural resonance frequency. The operating speed is
close to the resonance frequency of the structure. Therefore, the phase is changing for
180deg. If first order falls on such a resonance, a small frequency change (rpm change) will
create a big phase change. Below a modal test has been done on a structure. The machine
is operated at 50 Hz (3000 RPM), where amplitude and phase are stable, you will get a good
result. Please compare to the region of around 300 Hz. There is a big phase jump, where it
would be impossible to get a stable initial run vector.

Rotor balancer visual control not found

The visual control called “RotorBalancer.vc” has to be located in the Addons folder of your
DEWESoft installation (e.g. D:\DEWESoft\Bin\X2\Addons). If it's not there, please restart the
DEWESoft Full installer, select “Modify” and activate at least the Plug-ins and Visual
controls of the Add-ons section.

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 After you have ensured, the plugin exists in the correct folder, please check under Settings
and do the “Register plugins”.

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