VSR (Vibration Sorting Rig)

VSR (Vibration Sorting Rig):

Typical turbochargers are assembled from components which are separately balanced using conventional low-speed, hard bearing balancing machines. At the turbine end, the balance is not affected by assembly into the cartridge, but at the compressor end, small errors in the wheel, the shaft, the thrust collar and the nose nut can cause an accumulation of balance error. At extreme speed, these accumulations can cause bearing failure, oiling issue and noisy operation.

Turbonetics units are assembled by certified technicians by correcting this imbalance by running the assembled cartridge at high-speed in a computerized VSR (Vibration Sorting Rig) balancing machine. The VSR machine allows the technician to measure the vibration response and either changing the assembly position or removing metal from the compressor wheel nut to achieve an acceptable balance. Think of this process as a “dyno for a turbocharger.” The VSR machine is built specifically to test the rotational capabilities of the CHRA (Center Housing Rotating Assembly; turbocharger without end housings). This unique balancing procedure records the amount of imbalance and oil flow on a touch-screen monitor for correction.

Before the turbocharger is assembled and ready to be placed on the VSR, compressor and turbine wheels are balanced individually down to a quivering needle via Heins balancing procedure. A quivering needle is a term that refers to the compressor and turbine wheel balancing machine not being able to find a heavy spot on the wheel. Since the needle is constantly moving or quivering because it cannot locate a heavy spot.

Dedicated VSR technicians mount the CHRA on the machine with a simulated turbine housing. High-pressure compressed air stored in an industrial air accumulator is flowed across the turbine wheel of the CHRA. A special magneto pickup is used in conjunction with an accelerometer to determine the following:

• Where the unit is out of balance
• How much imbalance the unit has
• What speed the shaft is rotating at

Once the location of the imbalance is located, the technician removes microscopic amounts of metal material from the shaft nut securing the compressor wheel. Each and every Turbonetics units that leave our manufacturing facility is balanced to more than twice the typical OE quality standards; they are simply not good enough for Turbonetics. All Turbonetics units are ready to bolt on the minute they leave our building – guaranteed! Assembled cartridges are issued a serial number only after successful completion of VSR balancing. The data is saved with its unique serial number. The final results are placed on the unit with a VSR tag. trust Turbonetics to deliver the highest quality turbochargers available.