Balancing a Rotor

[DadHav]

Hi Guys, Maybe you have a good way to do this already. I've been balancing my rotors by adding a small point to the ends of the motor shaft. This allows me to use my magnetic prop balancer for doing rotors. I had to drill the holes in the bottom section of the balancer all the way through the plastic housing so that the magnet holding uprights could be moved closer together. If I didn't already have one of these, I would be making one from those really strong magnets that can be salvaged from old hard drives.
Any other good ways to do this?
C YA
John

[Felix]

Hi Guys, Maybe you have a good way to do this already.

Hello John, I considered doing the same thing but decided not to becasue I didn't want to have to customize every shaft. Also, my neighbors have no sense of humor and would probably complain about airplanes flying around with sharpened tips sticking out the front :D . Does bring up some fun images though.

I was thinking about using a collet like the one http://www.aircraft-world.com/shopexd.asp?id=2852 and sharpening the bolt end rather then sharpening each shaft. I guess I would then have to balance the collet but think it might work. Thoughts ?

Felix

[Felix]

Whoops, I can scratch the idea of using that collet. Turns out its shaft is not magnetic.

Felix

[DadHav]

Hi Felix, What you're saying has good merit. For me, I have every shaft in the lathe at one time or another anyway, so it's noting to add the point. I have thought of making a small sleeve to go over the end of the shaft instead. The sleeve would be a slip fit on the haft and then have the point on it. Depending on the equipment used or machining technique, there would be no need to balance the adapter. Most collets for small lathes run so close that the part should come out near perfect. Maybe I'll make one and see how it works.
Oh, I have a few of the collets like the one from the site you entered. They are pretty nice.
C YA.

[Felix]

Maybe I'll make one and see how it works.
C YA.

If it works, you might consider marketing it. Let us know how it turns out.

By the way, how much difference do you find balancing makes? Do you see an improvement in smoothness ? I'm still looking for a practical way to balance mine.

Thanks,

Felix

[Q]

ah, come on guys. Don't make things more difficult than they should be. Just use a high point balancer and you can balance anything that can rotate. I use the one from Dubro
http://www.ewtech.com/hhi/cat/bladebalancer.jpg

[DadHav]

Hi Felix, Bert, Bert is right. I never used the DuBro balancer that he has, but it looks like it sould do the trick. Felix, I'm not really sure that balanciing is necessary in most cases. The conversion motor that I did and showed under one of the other strings was sticking out 2" from the fire wall. That along with some custom filed air vents in the front end bell did dictate a balance job. I had some vibration that went away after balancing.
C YA