AXILINEAXILINE: engineers who balance rotors where they work
AXILINE carries out on-site dynamic rotor balancing, vibration diagnostics, and supplies Balanset instruments. We're based in Vila Nova de Gaia, near Porto, and we work across all of Portugal. Our principle is simple: measure first, decide second. If the measurement shows balancing won't help you, we'll say so plainly and explain what to do instead.
What AXILINE does
We solve one problem: reducing vibration in rotating equipment. Fans, pumps, electric motors, crushers, mulchers, centrifuges, shafts and drums. To do that we do three things, and they connect to each other: measurement shows the cause, balancing removes the unbalance, and the instrument lets you do the same thing with your own hands.
Our base is in Vila Nova de Gaia, near Porto. We travel across all of Portugal: the first 20 km from the base are included in the visit price, and beyond that we charge 0.60 EUR per kilometre, round trip.
On-site balancing
We balance the rotor right in its own bearing housings, at running speed, with no removal and no transport. The influence-coefficient method (calculating the weights from how the rotor responds to a trial weight), in one or two correction planes — the cross-sections of the rotor where the weights are fitted.
Vibration diagnostics
We measure and analyse vibration: the overall level, the 1x component with its phase (the vibration at the rotor's running speed — the main sign of unbalance), and the spectrum — the breakdown of vibration by frequency. We answer the question of what's actually shaking the machine, and what to do about it.
Supplying Balanset instruments
We sell the Balanset-1A to those who want to balance in-house: service teams, repair shops, equipment manufacturers. We provide advisory support.
Approach: measurement first, decision second
Vibration rarely has a single cause, and unbalance is only one of the possibilities. So a visit doesn't start with fitting weights — it starts with a measurement. We mount sensors on the bearing housings, take the overall vibration velocity, extract the 1x component and its phase — the angle that shows where the rotor's 'heavy spot' is — and look at the spectrum.
From there the logic is simple. If 1x accounts for most of the level and the phase is stable from run to run, unbalance is confirmed — on-site balancing will remove most of the vibration. If, instead, the main peaks in the spectrum aren't at running speed — twice running speed (2x), a comb of harmonics, bearing frequencies — weights on the impeller won't help. In that case, instead of balancing you get a finding: what the measurement showed, which cause is likely (shaft misalignment, loose fasteners, a bearing fault, resonance), and where to start the repair.
Sometimes that means we leave without balancing anything. We consider that a normal outcome for a visit: a measurement that saves you from pointless work is worth more than it costs. We go through how to tell the causes of vibration apart in detail in the articles on finding the cause of vibration, on the difference between unbalance and shaft misalignment, and on the cases where balancing won't help.
What we work with: the Balanset-1A, which we build ourselves
On site we use the Balanset-1A. It's a two-channel measuring and balancing kit: two vibration sensors (accelerometers), a laser phase sensor (tachometer), a USB module with preamplifiers, integrators and an ADC, and Windows software. The instrument balances in one and two planes using the influence-coefficient method, and measures running speed, amplitude and phase of vibration velocity. It builds an FFT spectrum and a polar plot, works out the residual-unbalance tolerance under the G grades on its own, and checks whether the trial weight was well chosen.
An important detail: the engineers who come to your site are the same ones who design and manufacture the Balanset instruments and balance with them on site themselves. We know the instrument from the inside, not from a manual. That helps in non-standard situations: limited access to the correction plane, splitting a weight across fixed positions such as blades or mounting holes, or working from saved influence coefficients on repeat balancing jobs.
You can buy the Balanset-1A from us: 1975 EUR plus VAT for the complete kit in a case, 1735 EUR plus VAT for the OEM version without the case. The OEM version is also used as a measuring system for soft-bearing (above-resonance) balancing machines. We sell directly and through our shop on eBay. A detailed description of the kit and its functions is on the instrument's page.
Sources: Balanset-1A manufacturer specification · Balanset-1A operation manual
What you get after a visit
The result of the work is numbers, not impressions. After balancing, we take a check measurement at the same points and under the same conditions as before, and show you the difference.
- Vibration levels before and after, in mm/s RMS (root mean square), for each measurement point.
- The 1x component with its phase, and the rotor's running speed.
- The masses and angles of the correction weights fitted, and the correction planes used.
- Residual unbalance compared against the tolerance for the agreed G grade.
- Recommendations if the measurement revealed other problems, from the condition of fasteners to bearings.
A detailed written report is included in the vibration diagnostics. What should be included in a balancing report, and why it matters when handing over the work, is covered in a separate article.
Standards we work to
We calculate the permissible residual unbalance under ISO 21940, using the G grades. For most machines balanced on site, the part of the standard covering rigid rotors applies, but we check the part and edition against the specific rotor: flexible rotors are subject to different requirements and a different procedure.
We assess the machine's vibration condition under ISO 20816: vibration velocity in mm/s RMS on the non-rotating parts, in zones A through D. The applicable part depends on the type and power of the machine, so we confirm the zone boundaries for a specific machine against the relevant part of the standard and the manufacturer's documentation.
For us, a standard is a reference point, not dogma. If the machine's manufacturer has set its own vibration limits or its own balancing grade, the manufacturer's documentation takes priority.
Sources: ISO 21940-11:2016 · ISO 20816-1:2016
Where our responsibility ends: what we don't do
Honesty is cheaper for everyone in this line of work, so we state our limits upfront.
- We don't promise to remove, by balancing, vibration caused by shaft misalignment, resonance, loose fasteners or a bearing fault. Balancing only reduces the component that comes from unbalance.
- We don't balance a rotor on failed bearings: the measurement will be misleading, and the result won't hold. Bearing replacement comes first, balancing second.
- We don't give an exact price from a single photo. The package depends on the rotor's mass, power and access to the correction planes, so we confirm the data first and fix the price second.
- We don't promise a specific vibration figure before the measurement: the level you can achieve depends on the condition of the machine, not only on the weights fitted.
- We don't treat standards as a universal law: we check the applicable part and edition of the ISO standard against the specific machine and cross-check it with the manufacturer's limits.
Fitting and welding work (removing guards, preparing sensor mounting spots, welding on weights) can be carried out by your own staff, in which case it's included in the package. If our specialists carry it out: +150 EUR per rotor without welding, +400 EUR per rotor with welding (a second welder comes out).
How to work with us
- 01
Send us the machine's details
Photos of the machine and its nameplate, the power, the running speed, and a description of the problem. WhatsApp is the easiest way: +351 931 831 229. Email works too: axilinegeral@gmail.com.
- 02
We agree on the package and date
Diagnostics: 300 EUR per machine, plus balancing by rotor size: S +250, M +450, L +700, XL from +1200 EUR — a total of 550 to 1500 EUR and up per machine. One or two correction planes are included. Higher precision: G2.5 +175 EUR, G1.0 +350 EUR.
- 03
Work on site
Measurement and diagnostics, then balancing with trial runs and a check measurement. Plan for a minimum of 4 hours on site, and for the machine to be started and stopped several times.
- 04
Result and payment
You get the before-and-after figures, and a written report is included in the diagnostics. The minimum invoice per visit is 500 EUR, with 50% paid in advance, and all prices exclude VAT.
Get in touch
For a specific answer, send us three things: photos of the machine and its nameplate, the power and running speed, and a short description of the symptom — when the vibration appeared, after what work, and under which conditions it gets worse. If you have a video of the machine running or any measurement data, attach that too.
Phone and WhatsApp: +351 931 831 229. Email: axilinegeral@gmail.com. Instagram: @axiline.pt. Address: Rua das Colectividades 76 R/C ET, 4430-625 Vila Nova de Gaia (Porto). We'll tell you which package fits your machine, what to prepare before the visit, and whether it's worth calling us out at all, or whether it's cheaper to start by checking the fasteners yourselves.
Frequently asked questions
Do you only work in the Porto area?
No, we travel across all of Portugal. Our base is in Vila Nova de Gaia, the first 20 km from it are included in the visit price, and beyond that 0.60 EUR per kilometre is added, round trip. For sites further away, it makes sense to fit several machines into one trip: travel is charged once per visit.
Who comes to the site?
The engineers who design and manufacture the Balanset instruments, and who balance with them on site themselves. We work with the same Balanset-1A that we sell, so we know its capabilities and limits first-hand, and we give advisory support to buyers of the instrument.
Can I buy the Balanset-1A without ordering a service visit?
Yes. The complete kit in a case costs 1975 EUR plus VAT, and the OEM version without the case is 1735 EUR plus VAT. We sell directly and through our shop on eBay. The OEM version is also bought as a measuring system for soft-bearing (above-resonance) balancing machines.
What happens if you come out and balancing isn't needed?
You'll get a measurement and a finding: the vibration level, what's causing it, and where to start the repair. The minimum invoice per visit of 500 EUR still applies. That's less satisfying than a nice balancing report, but it's more honest: fitting weights to a machine with shaft misalignment or a damaged bearing means taking money for work that won't produce a result.
Which standards do you use to assess the result?
We compare residual unbalance against the tolerance for the G grades from ISO 21940, and assess the vibration condition against the ISO 20816 zones. In both cases, we check the applicable part and edition of the standard against the specific machine. If the machine's manufacturer has set its own limits, those take priority.
How long does on-site balancing take?
Plan for a minimum of 4 hours on site. The time depends on preparation: access to the correction planes, the ability to start and stop the machine quickly, and sensor mounting spots ready in advance. How to prepare the equipment, and what makes up the working time, is covered in separate articles.
Related content
Balancing and vibration diagnostics services: where to start in your case
We do four things. We balance rotors right on site, in their own bearing housings, without removal. We run vibration diagnostics when the cause of raised vibration isn't obvious. We measure and analyse vibration for acceptance after repairs and for condition monitoring. We supply Balanset-1A instruments to those who want to balance in-house, with consultation support while they learn the ropes. If you already know you have unbalance, start with balancing. If you don't know the cause, start with diagnostics: it costs less than three wasted trial runs and a second visit.
Articles on balancing and vibration
Written by the people who do the work on site: how to measure, how to read the numbers, when balancing fixes it and when the problem is something else.
Balanset-1A instruments: the kit, the OEM version, and how to order
The complete Balanset-1A kit costs 1975 EUR + VAT, and the Balanset-1A OEM version without the case costs 1735 EUR + VAT. The kit includes two vibration sensors (accelerometers), a laser phase sensor, a two-channel USB module with preamplifiers, integrators and an ADC, Windows software, and a case. The instrument balances in one and two planes using the influence-coefficient method. You provide your own Windows laptop. You can buy directly from AXILINE or through our shop on eBay. Availability, delivery times and warranty terms are confirmed when you order.
Describe your equipment and the problem
We'll answer your questions, clarify the details, and let you know what's needed for an estimate and a visit.