WHEN SHOULD YOU PERFORM A LOW-SPEED BALANCE MACHINE?
In general, balancing should be performed on any in-service rotor in which a significant amount of work has been perform
Changes made during the course of servicing a machine often create changes in its mass distribution.
Also, rotors that have higher vibrations from wear will benefit from a low-speed balance.
Low-speed balancing machine is only appropriate for rigid rotors.
The technical definition of a rigid rotor is a rotor that operates 30% or more below its resonant speed.
Practically, rotors that operate above their first critical, but below their second critical, can be successfully low-speed balanced provided that it has low run out.
ed. Turbine spindles are the most likely candidates for a low speed balance depending on their flexibility.
Due to their larger relative stiffness and large diameters, low pressure (LP) spindles are especially well-suited for low-speed balances.