摘要 |
An apparatus and method for balancing a high speed rotary tool assembly (1) is provided, wherein the apparatus includes a rotary tool holder (3) having an axis of rotation (11), a cutting tool retainer (13) in the rotary tool holder (3) having a lockring (23) that circumscribes the axis of rotation (11) of the holder (3), and a pair of axially spaced balancing rings (35a, 35b) for balancing the entire rotary tool assembly (1) which are rotatably mounted around bearing surfaces (37) circumscribing the lockring (23) so as to be angularly positionable around the axis of rotation (11) of the tool holder (3). In the method of the invention, the unbalance of the tool holder (3) and cutting tool (17) is first determined, and then the rings (35a, 35b) are rotatably adjusted about the bearing surface (11) on the lockring (23) to create an unbalance which cancels out the determined unbalance of the tool holder (3) and cutting tool. The balancing rings (35a, 35b) are then secured in the unbalanced-neutralizing position by means of set screws (50). The positioning of the balancing rings (35a, 35b) on an existing lockring (23) of the assembly (1) advantageously allows the apparatus of the invention to be easily retrofitted onto a standard rotary tool holder with a minimum amount of machining and parts. |