Abstract: A component (10) to be balanced is fixtured between rotatable fixtures (22, 24) that establish a simulated rotational centerline and is rotated to a preselected rotational speed where the magnitude and angular location of maximum imbalance is determined. An automatic control system (50) generates a laser light pulse locally at the location of imbalance while the component is rotated to remove material of the location with the laser light pulse having a power and/or duration dependent on the amount of material that needs to be removed from the location of imbalance. The sequence is repeated by the automatic control system for additional revolutions of the component until the balance satisfies a preselected balance tolerance range.