Gimbaled missile seeker on a
gimbal balance machine

Product Documentation

Product Sheets:   Gimbal Balance Machines (Imperial Units)   Gimbal Balance Machines (Metric Units) Specifications:   Gimbal Balance Machines

Technical Papers

Critical Balancing of Gimbaled Sensor Platforms (8.74 MB)   Static Balancing a Device with Two or More Degrees of Freedom (2.93 MB)   Mass Properties Factors in Achieving Stable Imagery from a Gimbal Mounted Camera (pdf, 1 MB)

OVERVIEW

is the world's only comprehensive set of solutions for balancing gimbaled platforms. It combines both static balancing and dynamic balancing methods.

Many parameters influence the set of balancing instruments and methods needed to achieve the mission requirements. Depending on the application, Space Electronics will offer a set of static and dynamic balancing methods to achieve the best balance solutions for one particular gimbal.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

Our gimbal balancing solutions apply to all types of gimbals, with as many axes of rotation as desired. Typical applications include missile seekers and airborne cameras mounted on UAVs, helicopters, aircrafts.

STATIC BALANCING

Static balancing is performed using a specific gimbal balance machine and a proprietary process to statically balance a gimbaled assembly about its own axes. This eliminates most of the jitter in gimbaled assemblies.

Gimbal Balance Machines are highly sensitive, automated, center of gravity measuring instruments used to achieve static balance of gimbaled sensor suites such as missile guidance seekers, gimbaled cameras and sensors, and tracking devices. A high degree of balance is needed so that acceleration of the vehicle will not apply excessive torque around any rotation axis of the gimbal. Space Electronics gimbal balancing machines will quickly balance a gimbal about each rotation axis within a tolerance as small as 0.1 gram-centimeter (0.0001 lb-in). The gimbal can be balanced in its fully assembled "ready-to-fly" configuration with wire bundle and fiber optic guide masses included. Learn how to choose the right gimbal balancing machine for your application.

Learn more about the advantages of the Space Electronics gimbal balancing Method. We invented the concept of orienting the gimbal axes at 45º to the horizontal and measuring the change in horizontal CG position as the gimbal is rotated about its axes. Also, the concept of "permanently calibrated" moment sensing using a closed-loop servo to return the mechanism to its original state, and many of the conventions and standards used to define gimbal balance were originated at Space Electronics. All the gimbal balance machines in use today were manufactured by us.

DYNAMIC BALANCING

Dynamic balancing is highly dependant on each gimbal. Space Electronics has developed a set of methods that cover a large range of gimbal configurations. Parameters such as allowable residual unbalance, maximum travel angles on each axis, mass and inertia distributions of subassemblies, gimbal type, rotational speeds, and range of gimbal configurations influence the choice of an appropriate balancing method.

Visit our explanation page to understand the difference between static and dynamic unbalance.

Contact us via the form below or by phone to get started on your balancing process.

Note: is the trademarked method from Space Electronics used to balance gimbals. The Space Electronics method overcomes problems inherent in other methods.