Methods for Designing Rotating Components for Compliance to ISO 1940 Balance Requirements using Generic 3D CAD Software

The benefits of specifying balance requirements in terms of an ISO 1940 balance quality grade instead of traditional mass-distance based requirements are discussed along with methods to convert ISO 1940 balance quality grades into permissible imbalance limits at the bearing supports. Methods are developed to determine the expected imbalance values at bearing supports using mass property data from generic 3D CAD software packages without the need for Finite Element Analysis. Practical exercises are presented using these methods to assess a part’s compliance to ISO 1940 while still in the conceptual 3D CAD design stage. These practical exercises cover the selection of appropriate geometric tolerances to ensure part balance without the need for post fabrication balancing as well as the design of nonsymmetrical components for ISO 1940 balance compliance.

Citation: J. Srodawa, “Methods for Designing Rotating Components for Compliance to ISO 1940 Balance Requirements Using Generic 3D CAD Software,” In Proceedings of the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium (GVSETS), NDIA, Novi, MI, Aug. 11-13, 2026.