Computer implemented balancer

A centrifugal balancing apparatus, comprising:

• supporting bearings;
• means for rotating in said support bearings, a work piece to be balanced at an angular velocity predetermined to be within an optimum range for centrifugally balancing said work piece;
• mark sensing means for determining when said work piece is rotated to a predetermined orientation;
• vibration sensing means for providing signals representing a magnitude of vibration of the work piece in the planes of said supporting bearings;
• an electronic interface means for converting outputs of said mark sensing means and said vibration sensing means into digital data representing vibration magnitude and phase;
• and
• a computer for calculating a balance weight location on said work piece based on said digital data.

A computer implemented method of balancing a work piece, comprising the steps of:

• entering a balance speed into said computer;
• entering a trial weight and angle into said computer;
• rotating said work piece at said balance speed;
• detecting magnitude and phase of vibrations of said rotating work piece;
• entering said detected magnitude and phase of vibrations into said computer;
• calculating, in said computer, a weight placement of said trial weight from said balance speed and said detected magnitude and phase of vibration, said computer providing said calculated weight placement to an operator;
• and
• balancing said work piece by a trial weight adjustment and placement in response to information provided by said computer.