Balance Test Indexing Tool for Balance-Testing a Rotor

A system, comprising:

• a modular balance test indexing tool system for assisting with balancing a rotor of machinery on a balance testing machine having a drive mechanism, said modular balance test indexing tool system including:
• a rotor mount face disposed on the rotor;
• a balance testing machine arbor configured to be coupled between the drive mechanism of the balance testing machine and said rotor mount face, wherein said rotor mount face and said balance testing machine arbor cooperate with one another to provide a first indexing coupling between the drive mechanism and the rotor when the rotor, said rotor mount face and said arbor are installed in the balance testing machine;
• and
• a balancing simulator configured to be coupled between the drive mechanism of the balance testing machine and said rotor mount, wherein said rotor mount face and said balancing simulator cooperate with one another to provide a second indexing coupling between the drive mechanism and the rotor.

A system, comprising:

• a balance testing machine having a drive mechanism;
• a rotor for a piece of machinery, said rotor being installed in said balance testing machine;
• a balance test indexing tool for assisting with balance testing said rotor in said balance testing machine, said balance test indexing tool coupled between said drive mechanism and said rotor and including:
• a rotor mount face disposed on the rotor;
• and
• a rotor mount receiver coupled between said drive mechanism and said rotor mount face;
• wherein said rotor mount face and said rotor mount receiver cooperate with one another to provide an indexing coupling between said drive mechanism and said rotor.

A method, comprising:

• providing a balance testing machine;
• providing a rotor of a piece of machinery;
• providing a balance test indexing tool;
• setting the rotor at a first index position using the balance test indexing tool;
• operating the balance testing machine to spin the balance test indexing tool and the rotor so as to test the rotor for unbalance at the first index position;
• setting the rotor at a second index position, different from the first index position, using the indexing tool;
• and
• operating the balance testing machine to spin the balance test indexing tool and the rotor so as to test the rotor for unbalance at the second index position.

A balance test indexing tool for use in balance-testing a rotor, the rotor being a component of a separate rotating machine having a machine function other than balance-testing and a radially extending, at least substantially planar, rotor surface perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the rotor, said tool comprising:

• a rotor mount receiver having a flange extending radially from a shaft, said rotor mount receiver defining a receiver face;
• a first portion of a kinematic mount disposed on said receiver face;
• a mount face formed directly in the planar rotor surface, said mount face including a second portion of the kinematic mount, such that said first portion and said second portion together form a kinematic mount between the rotor and rotor mount receiver;
• and
• means biasing the mount face and receiver together.