What are the tolerances relating to imbalance when comparing carbon fiber rotors against metallic rotors?
Carbon fiber rotors are not susceptible to slight imbalances as do metallic rotors, because of their light weight. Carbon fiber rotors also do not elongate at high speeds as do metallic rotors, therefore imbalances of approximately 1% of sample volume per tube in small rotors, and 2.5% to 5% of sample volume per tube in large volume rotors can be tolerated in carbon fiber rotors. The metallic rotors are restricted to imbalance tolerance of 0.5% for small rotors and 2% for large volume rotors. In carbon fiber rotors tubes can be filled at equal levels “by eye” whereas with metallic rotors tubes must be filled and balanced within 0.1 to 2.0 grams per tube according to rotor volumes.
