The Magazine For Slot Car Enthusiasts
Balancing a Pancake Motor - Building a simple poising tool
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Start with two utility knife blades,
a block of wood (1" x 1" x 4")
and an Utility Knife:

1. Draw two parallel lines on the wood block, centered, and 3/8" apart, 50% longer than the blades.
2. Set the depth on the Utility Knife to the second deepest setting. Drag it along the lines till the blade is burried totally, and the groove is twice the thickness of the utility knife blades.
3. Insert the two blades as deep as possible.

Now you have to make certain the blades are level.
You need two levels:

1. Place the assembled unit on a level that you have leveled. Make sense?
2. Place a second level on top of the blades. Tap the blades into the wood untill they show level.

Now you're ready to balance the armature:

1. Set the tool on a level level (below).
2. Place the armature as shown (left).
3. The heavy pole of the armature will spin to the bottom. Add drops of glue, or other adhesives, to the other poles until the armature no longer spins. The alternative is to grind material from the heavy pole.

Note: In either case, remember that this is the area where the magnet affects the arm, so anything you do should be to areas where the distance between the magnet and the pole is not effected. For inline motors, simply increase the distance between the blades.
See our link on Rewinding Pancake Armatures
Start with two utility knife blades,
a block of wood (1" x 1" x 4")
and an Utility Knife:

1. Draw two parallel lines on the wood block, centered, and 3/8" apart, 50% longer than the blades.
2. Set the depth on the Utility Knife to the second deepest setting. Drag it along the lines till the blade is burried totally, and the groove is twice the thickness of the utility knife blades.
3. Insert the two blades as deep as possible.

Now you have to make certain the blades are level.
You need two levels:

1. Place the assembled unit on a level that you have leveled. Make sense?
2. Place a second level on top of the blades. Tap the blades into the wood untill they show level.

Now you're ready to balance the armature:

1. Set the tool on a level level (below).
2. Place the armature as shown (left).
3. The heavy pole of the armature will spin to the bottom. Add drops of glue, or other adhesives, to the other poles until the armature no longer spins. The alternative is to grind material from the heavy pole.

Note: In either case, remember that this is the area where the magnet affects the arm, so anything you do should be to areas where the distance between the magnet and the pole is not effected. For inline motors, simply increase the distance between the blades.