Seeking Balance? The Benefits of Balanced Tools

We could all use a little balance in our lives - especially when talking about rotating tool assemblies in modern machine tools.  While it might not seem apparent, out of balance tools can wreak havoc on your operations.  Part finish, size, insert life and cycle time are all affected by the balance of the tool assembly.  Less obvious is what out-of-balance tools do to the machine tool, especially the spindle.

Higher production is often achieved with higher spindle speeds.  Machine tool spindle speeds have continued to increase over the past two decades.  These higher spindle speeds accentuate any out-of-balance conditions.  Think about your washing machine; when the laundry is somewhat balanced the machine runs smoothly.  When the laundry is out of balance the machine sounds like it is going to come apart.  The more out-of-balance or the higher the speed; the more apparent the condition is.

Most tool assemblies, applications, and machine tools can benefit from balancing.

The tool pictured here is a typical external threading tool.  This tool rotates around the part and cuts threads.  It has three identical inserts spaced equally around the "business end" of the tool.  You would think that this tool is "balanced" right out of the box. This tool made good parts but the customer was looking for ways to reduce cycle times - increase production.

Upon our initial inspection we found the tool to be 141.3 grams out of balance.  Initially tested at a speed of 176 RPMs.  Imagine this tool running at 8,500 RPMs!  With a quick check on our Haimer Tool Dynamic balancer and some re-balancing (adding or removing material as needed) we were able to significantly improve the balance of this assembly.

The tool now measures 2 grams at 8,500 RPMs.  The difference can be felt and heard.  The tool runs noticeably smoother and in-turn can be run faster.  The end result is a better part, made faster, with less wear on the machine tool.

Isn't that what we all want?

The provided screen shots show the actual before and after tool condition.  These reports can be provided with each tool balance we perform.

To summarize; balancing your tool assemblies can improve surface finish, allow for increased speeds & feeds, improve cutting edge life (indexable insert life), and reduce wear and tear on the machine tool.

To learn more about Haimer balancers or our balancing services contact us.