Soft-bearing balancing machines can typically perform at slower, safer speeds compared to hard-bearing machines. In today’s article, we’re going to dig into the two machines’ sensitivity and why each needs to perform at different speeds for best results.

The balancing speed range of soft-bearing balancing machines are above the natural frequency of the suspension system, and the rotor is essentially isolated by the pendulum action of the suspensions. This allows accurate balancing without being influenced by the mass or stiffness of the supporting structure and its foundation. This assembly frees the machine to be mounted very easily and quickly at any location that is capable of supporting its static weight and that of the rotor.

The free-moving suspensions and support rollers of soft-bearing machines provide a high degree of sensitivity because they do not restrain the free vibratory motion of the rotor. This provides optimum balancing accuracy at low rotational speeds, and linear response to unbalance vibration displacement throughout the balancing speed range.

The balancing operation is such that machines can be manufactured using a lightweight airframe construction. The soft-bearing balancing machine’s compact, self-contained, and lightweight design, along with the minimal power needed to drive the rotors at low and safe speeds, makes it ideal for transporting. The machines are also very adaptable in the field for handling rotors of all types, sizes, and configurations without affecting their high degree of balancing sensitivity.