AI-based measurement of rotational imbalance beyond the 0.1 micrometer limit

The first successful domestic development of a high-end, high-precision automated balancing machine capable of automatically and accurately measuring and correcting minute mass imbalances in rotating components has been achieved. This achievement is particularly significant in that equipment classified by Japan as a strategic material essential to key national manufacturing industries has been developed using domestic technology and successfully commercialized through deployment in actual industrial production environments.

Dr. Byeongock Kim, Principal Researcher at the AX Convergence Research Center of the Virtual Engineering Platform Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM, President Seog-Hyeon Ryu), under the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST; Chairman Young-Sik Kim), in collaboration with P&S Co., Ltd. (CEO Bong-Soo Park), has developed the core technology for a high-precision automated balancing machine. This technology is the outcome of two projects which have been supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) since 2020.

The research team focused on achieving the repeatability and durability required in real industrial environments and implemented an intelligent architecture that enables the equipment to autonomously diagnose its own condition and manage measurement accuracy. As a result, the reliability of equipment performance and repeatable precision were comprehensively enhanced, and an automated balancing machine technology directly applicable to production lines was successfully developed.

A balancing machine measures mass imbalance in rotating components and corrects it to within the tolerance limits specified by the international standard ISO 21940-11. Conventional foreign systems largely rely on manual or semi-automated operation and primarily focus on measurement and correction functions, which limits overall system reliability and the ability to maintain repeatable precision.

The automated balancing machine developed by KIMM applies vibration sensor–based high-sensitivity imbalance measurement and high-speed signal processing technologies, enabling precise detection of minute imbalances at the milligram scale. In addition, AI-based data processing algorithms automatically eliminate abnormal signals and noise generated during measurement, ensuring both measurement reliability and repeatable accuracy.

In addition, a closed-loop correction algorithm integrating cutting speed, depth, and position automatically determines optimal correction conditions based on variations in the geometry and material properties of rotating components, as well as rotational speed. This enables high-precision correction performance while also incorporating a self-calibration function that allows the system to autonomously maintain accuracy.

The developed balancing machine is equipped with intelligent diagnostic logic that monitors sensor anomalies, measurement errors, and unstable operating conditions in real time, thereby improving system reliability and operational stability. In addition, its key components are modularized, allowing rapid adaptation to user requirements and enabling immediate use as a standard quality-control system in production lines.

The technology achieved successful commercialization through the signing of its first supply contract in July 2025 with a manufacturer of eco-friendly automotive components. By replacing fully imported automated balancing machines with domestically developed equipment, the technology is expected to reduce supply-chain uncertainties and enhance quality competitiveness across national strategic industries, including automotive, energy, aerospace, and defense.

Principal Researcher Byeongock Kim emphasized, “This development is significant in that it establishes domestic technological self-reliance in automated balancing machines, which are classified as strategic materials, and demonstrates their successful application in real industrial environments.” He added, “We will continue to advance the technology and expand its application so that it can serve as a core equipment for enhancing quality and reliability in precision manufacturing processes.”

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Reference Material: Photo(Principal Researcher Kim Byeongock, KIMM’s High-Precision Automated Balancing Machine Technology)

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The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) is a non-profit government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT. Since its foundation in 1976, KIMM is contributing to economic growth of the nation by performing R&D on key technologies in machinery and materials, conducting reliability test evaluation, and commercializing the developed products and technologies.