Low-Cost Test Rig for Demonstrating Single Plane Balancing Using Vibrations

Abstract

Rotary unbalance is the main cause of vibrations in high-speed rotating machines. Thus, a test rig is required for training personnel relating to this area. The existing balancing test rigs are costly. Availability of low-cost sensors and development boards like Arduino Uno helps in fabricating the test rigs at low cost. The rig contains four masses mounted on a disc such that radial position can be varied. Vibrations are measured when the disc is rotating. For measuring vibrations, pre-calibrated ADXL335 accelerometer, which is available off the shelf, is used. This is interfaced to PC using Arduino. The measured unbalance is found to be in good agreement with that of theoretically calculated value. This test rig helps in bringing an insight into students as to how unbalance can be estimated and corrected as well as use of various commercially available vibration measurement sensors.