Efficient Balancing Optimization of a Simplified Slider-Crank Mechanism

High-speed link motion produces reactions that are transmitted to the base of mechanisms causing undesired effects such as vibrations, wear, and fatigue. These problems can be reduced or even better eliminated if a balancing technique is performed. To this day, most of the papers in the literature dealing with the balancing of mechanisms obtain the balancing conditions with the use of Cartesian coordinates, which result in complex equations that involve trigonometric functions difficult to simplify. This work presents the balancing optimization of a simplified slider-crank mechanism by obtaining its balancing conditions with the use of natural coordinates. Numerical results show the effectiveness of this approach: the Shaking Moment and the Shaking Force dynamic reactions can be decreased in 97.76% and 94.58%, respectively.