Student Name:..

Student Number:

Laboratory Date:

CURTIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
MECHANICS 234: LABORATORY EXPERIMENT
DYNAMIC BLANACE OF A ROTOR
1. OBJECTIVE
To achieve dynamic balance of a rotor assembly by attachment of masses in the correct
angular and axial position
2. APPARATUS
Tecquipment Dynamic Balancing Machine. The machine consists of a balanced
cylindrical shaft mounted in ball bearings attached to a rigid frame. A set of four blocks
in provided. These blocks are of different mass and may be clamped to the rotor in any
angular and axial position on the shaft. A protractor scale and linear scale are provided to
allow accurate angular and axial positioning of the blocks on the shaft. The frame
carrying the rotor will be rigidly attached to the main machine structure by screws (to
check for static balance). The rotor frame will also be suspended from the machine
structure by a spring system (to check for dynamic balance).
3. PRE-LAB ASSIGNMENT To be completed prior to the lab session in groups.
The mr value for each mass has been determined as listed in Table I.
Table I
Block No.
1
2
3
4

mr

(a)

Select:
(i)
any two blocks;
(ii)
any angle between them;
(iii)
two axial positions (length scale), use lengths between 0 to 170mm so
that the blocks fit onto the actual laboratory shaft.

(b)

Enter the appropriate values in Table II and Table III.

Dr. Howard, Senior Lecturer

Table II
Block No.
1
2
3
4

mr

Selected

Calculated

(c)

If the shaft is DYNAMICALLY balanced it will also be STATICALLY

balanced. Because, in this particular experiment the mr values of the
remaining two blocks are known we can find their required angular positions
from a force polygon. Draw the Force Polygon on this sheet and list the
calculated values in Table II and Table III.

(d)

Note: Any plane may be used as a reference plane for l, eg. Zero on the scale.
Table III

Block No.
mr
l
mrl

1
2
3
4

The remaining couples (mrl) in Table III can be found by constructing a couple polygon
to scale and hence the remaining l values may be found.
NOTE: You must show your completed force and moment polygons and Table II and
Table III prior to being given entrance into the laboratory session. In particular the length
values must be realistic, that is, the masses must actually fit onto the shaft. The minimum
distance between masses must be at least 10mm.

Dr. Howard, Senior Lecturer

Force Polygon

Dr. Howard, Senior Lecturer

Moment Polygon

Dr. Howard, Senior Lecturer

4. LABORATOTY WORK
The actual laboratory session will consist of the students, in groups, attaching the four
masses to the rotor in the angular and linear positions given by their calculations as
tabulated in Table II and III. The rotor will be checked for both static and dynamics
balance. Marks will be given for the accuracy and completeness of the prelab work and
the successful demonstration of static and dynamic balance of the shaft. Marks will be
deducted if the shaft is not balanced on the first demonstration.

Dr. Howard, Senior Lecturer