Originally Posted by
wrench1
We started getting the Micro at my day job just before I retired and since the Micro was designed and built by 2 ex-Chadwick engineers I thought it would be the go to equipment. But have to say I much preferred any of our other vib equip like RADS, Chadwick 177/8500, and VXP over the Micro. From a price point, yes they're on the low side, but if price is a concern look to the ACES Systems line of equipment. Much better interface and by far much better support. I went with an ACES 2020 for a side business I had for props then added a strobe for some helicopter work I picked up.
All vib equipment can technically be considered a "one-man" ops, but practically it's better to have one person minding the aircraft and one person minding vibration equip. Regardless, unless you are a mx shop and/or plan to be performing a lot of track and balancing, it's usually a better option to rent a kit or 3rd party the vib checks due to the initial cost and up keep costs like yearly calibration, etc.
With all the balancing equipment on the market, and purchased by companies I worked for, there were so many issues with engineers (experienced) being able to carry out a simple track and balance that I had to get back to basics to find out why we were spending so much money on balancing equipment, and the more we spent, the longer it took to balance the machines.
With the old Chadwick 177m from the seventies it was simple, then came the other models and makes of equipment, many many times after days of balancing and adjustments I would rip the balance equipment off the aircraft, put the 177m on it and balance it in an hour or so. Plus nowadays helicopter service intervals are larger than they used to be, and engineers "forget" how to use equipment (including myself)
So after a significant amount of frustration it transpires that engineers are not being trained how to balance anymore, from basic training, type training, continuation training, its never covered. If you do not know what you are balancing, how you are balancing and why you are balancing there is not much chance of carrying out the task efficiently. I have been asked to visit customers who have had balance issues on helicopters, found things had been installed on MRH upside down, wrong way round, inside out, worn out, wrong places, list goes on.
How many times have I seen an engineer installing a balance kit on a helicopter due to customer saying " I have a vibration" without inspecting the helicopter first for wear or damage, it amazed me. Something must be causing the vibration, it was not there a 100 hours ago, what is it, adjusting pitch links, trim tabs and weights is not always the solution. The trim tab tool was always out, adjusting blade tabs, what, why, nothing on the blade has changed.
How many times have I seen an engineer plug the wrong leads into the sensors, mixing vertical with lateral readings, here goes a week of balancing.........
For many years I use to conduct "track and balance" training days for engineers, even experienced engineers, after the 1 day course an engineer could even draw his own basic vertical and lateral balance charts for all types of MRH and tail rotors, its so simple at basic levels. After the course the engineer had a clear understanding of what he was trying to achieve and passed his knowledge on the the younger engineers.
Now asking a pilot to take readings, no not really, unless its built into the helicopter. Its best an engineer takes the readings, relaxed, calm, and under no pressure to say it feels ok when it needs adjusting.