This paper presents design guidelines for the automatic ball balancer in CD/DVD systems with varying eccentricity. In these systems, the size of balancing balls should be limited by the restricted race space so that determination of the number and mass of balls should consider the radii of the race and the balls. In addition, the effects of viscosity and friction also should be taken into account for sufficient balancing. Based on the static equilibrium conditions, the number and mass of balls corresponding to the range of varying eccentricity have been determined. Dynamic simulation with viscosity and friction shows sufficient viscosity must exist to ensure stability and friction between balls and race must be minimized to guarantee accurate balancing.