| Author |
Message |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 04, 2002 - 8:31 pm: | |
(I posted this on the Mak board too)
I've seen some threads about how well those "Automatic" wheel balancers work...things like rings full of steel balls, mercury, etc bolted to wheels or driveshafts, or even bags of sand or golfballs poured into the tires- but I wondered how they actually do thier job. It seemed so much like a bunch of BS to me, and in researching the web, the manufacturers of these items have, well less than "scientific" explanations.
So I asked a physicist friend. I got a VERY scientific answer, which is the PDF file, URL of which is posted at the end of this. It took a while for his answer to sink in, but the jist of what I get from him is that (in simple terms) it's that physics is about as lazy as me, and if there's something imbalanced that's spinning around, nature will take the next thing in line and add it to the equation to make things balance out- in the case of a vehicle, it's the axle, hence vibration.
BUT if there's something close at hand that's easier to get to, like any one of the good inventions mentioned above, nature will try them first, leaving the axle out of the equation, hence no shake-a-da bus!
Simple! (if you're a genius!!)
http://www.heartmagic.com/zzwheelProblem.pdf
Here's the PDF file- have fun!
Cheers
Gary |
Bradd B. Smith (216.18.141.216)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 04, 2002 - 9:45 pm: | |
Hi Gary, excellent post. It makes perfect sense that the added weight would move to counter act the off set of the center point. Makes me wish I paid more attention in school. Thanks for the great information, Bradd |
Chuck Harris - PD4104 (207.172.11.147)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 7:40 pm: | |
An explanation this pdf file isn't!
It seems more natural to me that the steel balls would run "down hill" to the part of the wheel that is furthest from the center of gravity. This would make the problem much worse.
-Chuck |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 8:03 pm: | |
Hi Chuck,
yes it seemed that way to me as well, but it's a given that they "do" work because many companies are selling them and many customers are raving about them...that doesn't usually happen with a BS product, so our notions can't be right, and that's why I asked my physicist friend. And yes, the PDF doesn't tell the tale completely, but I'd love to hear a better explanation. From the PDF, at least I finally got a "feel" for what's happening... if you can find more to contribute, PLEASE do!!! |
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