Movement is created by using energy to push or pull an object forward, backward, up or down from its original position. In some cases, the energy that is used is only a small amount and the speed created is low. In other cases, the energy amount that is needed for movement is high. In all cases, the expenditure of energy creates additional responses. The more parts that are involved in the movements, the more likely that some vibration is to be expected. However, that vibration can interfere with the working of the machine or application and may cause serious problems.

While the designers assume that there will be some vibration, there are other factors that can increase the rate of vibration. The age of the machine and the sum of its parts, its overall weight (including when in use) or the way that it is used, can increase vibration. That increased vibration can then cause fatigue, breakdown or premature failure. (more…)

The design of a product depends on what it is being used for and what is most desired from the design. For some machines, components or other applications, it might be speed, while for others it is quiet operation while in use or comfort or a combination of these factors. Everyone has different standards for what is appropriate, and everyone will have different goals when they set out to create a certain item. But, there is something else to consider as well: what is designed and then produced can be modified or changed by the person once they put it into use. Those modifications and adjustments can mean a serious difference in the way that a component is going to work from what the original design intended.

Testing is generally done on an application as it is designed and does not take into account the modifications. That can mean that new solutions for old problems will have to be created as well.

Vibration solutions are usually employed during the design process. For instance, a high speed, high output blender is discovered to have too much vibration from the rotating blades plus the motor, which makes it noisy to operate, causes the motor to become too hot (which hastens its eventual demise) and finally, makes the blender creep along the counter, which can be quite a problem in the typical kitchen setting. Reducing the majority of the vibration in the blender motor can change those issues and improve its overall value. (more…)

Pacific Design and Manufacturing Show

Anaheim Convention Center – Anaheim, CA

February 14 – 16, 2012

Booth # 3525

Kent, Ohio – Sorbothane, Inc. announced today they will exhibit at the 2012 Pacific Design and Manufacturing Show. A demonstration of the new Water-Resistant Sorbothane® will be featured at the Sorbothane booth.

Sorbothane, Inc. will also display standard and custom molded products for applications requiring shock absorption, vibration isolation and acoustic damping.

Sorbothane® is recognized worldwide as the ultimate material for attenuating shock, isolating vibration and damping noise. No other material can dissipate energy as effectively. Sorbothane® is a highly damped, visco-elastic polymeric solid that “flows” like a liquid under load. Unique applications call for unique solutions. Our engineers are ready to help design the ideal damper or isolator to meet individual product objectives. (more…)

Vibration is rarely the desired effect in any application from industrial, athletic or other industries. Vibration is usually a detriment and can cause problems such as fatigue in the human components or damage in other components. One of the simplest to understand examples is a runner running along a cement or paved road path. As his feet hit the ground, they pound the solid ground, creating energy that propels them forward. However, some of that energy compacts and instead of being absorbed by the ground will be sent rebounding back into the feet and legs. That leads the runner to feel tired faster and may prevent him from running greater distances or achieving higher speeds.

In other words, the runner is not progressing in his running program. But, vibration and finding methods of vibration reduction is seen in larger scale applications as well. (more…)

(more…)

Kent, Ohio – Sorbothane, Inc. announced today that test results show Sorbothane® is compatible with Cleanroom Class 100 conditions.

Cleanrooms are used extensively in semiconductor manufacturing, scientific research, biotechnology and fields that are sensitive to environmental contaminants. Acorn Industries Inc., Ultraclean Products Division tested a 65 durometer Sorbothane® Vibration Isolation Pad. The results show the Sorbothane® Pad to be compatible with Cleanroom Class 100 conditions per Federal Standard 209 and Class 5 conditions per ISO 14664-1 Cleanroom Specifications. Testing also showed Sorbothane® to be a collector of particles not an emitter of particles.
(more…)

Vibration damping is important, especially in sensitive sound equipment. Vibration can come from either inside or outside of a machine and can cause damage to delicate structures. In most cases, sound equipment, either for recording or for listening to music, can be greatly damaged and the sound quality comprised by excessive vibration. To solve this issue, vibration damping is typically used.

In some cases, the vibration damping material can be something as simple as cotton to muffle some of the distortion caused by the vibration, but this does nothing to reduce the actual vibration, which means that none of the actual damage is avoided. The longer the damage is allowed to continue, the more potential harm can be accumulated.

Choosing a Better Vibration Damping System with Sorbothane

There are some suggestions for vibration damping, but some are far inferior to Sorbothane. For instance, suggestions that include rubber can be a problem because rubber, while a durable material, is not temperature stable and can be damaged under certain situations. Excessive cold can make the rubber material become brittle and break. And, while rubber is stretchable, it does have limitations. The further that you stretch rubber past its safest stretch point, the more likely it will be to break under the stress. It may also collapse under heavy loads.

Sorbothane is unique in that it has the properties of liquid materials as well as those of solids. Created to be strong and pliable, it can be used in delicate machines that could otherwise be harmed by poorly constructed materials. Sorbothane is also meant to have a very low creep rate and to be more temperature and load stable than other materials. (more…)

Most machines, even those that are fairly basic or rudimentary, are made of parts that spin, rotate or move to and fro. In many cases, these movements can cause vibrations that may make the other parts move in ways that are different from how they were designed to move. That additional movement can make the machine move out of place, be excessively noisy or, in the case of a vehicle, to be uncomfortable to ride in.

Over time, that vibration can also cause parts to break down, leading to the expense of either repairing the machine or replacing it, depending on which makes more sense. It is far simpler to try to prevent some of this damage from happening in the first place by using a vibration isolator to protect some of the parts from the vibrations of others.

One machine part that is intended to vibrate may eventually transfer some of its motion to other parts that are not meant to move – which is a major mechanical problem.

Sorbothane Vibration Isolator, the Perfect Solution.

Sorbothane is a unique material, one that acts like a liquid but is actually a solid. Comprised of visco-elastic polymers, it is meant to absorb excess vibrations without hampering the performance of the machine itself. It can be made to be as thin as possible or can be made to be thicker, depending on the actual design needs. (more…)

Vibration can be damaging to sensitive working parts in a motor or other component. The more sensitive the part, the more likely it is to suffer damage if there is excessive vibration. There are a number of ways that you can solve the problem of vibration isolation, but not all of them are going to be effective in every application. In some cases you will either have to tolerate the vibration, knowing that you are shortening the life span of your component, or sacrifice some of the performance to slow the vibration speed down.

Taking Vibration Out of the Equation

In some cases, slowing down the speed of the motor or component may be an effective in vibration isolation, but that will certainly cause a loss of velocity. Some motors cannot work correctly if they are not allowed to gather speed and move as rapidly as they were intended. It can not only destroy the way the motor performs, but can also cause damage to other parts.

In some cases, the vibration might be caused by a rapidly turning fan that is meant to keep dust or debris out of the motor as well as to help cool it down. If this fan is not turning fast enough, then the motor can become too hot and may be damaged by that.

A vibration pad is typically used to control at least some of the vibration that is dangerous to your application. (more…)

Vibration control is crucial to your machine’s internal working, even when that machine is your own body.

What is Vibration Control?

In any mechanical application, vibration, or extra motions and movements can be generated which can lead to increased damage and other issues. The harder or faster the parts move or the more frequently it is put into use, the more serious the damage caused by vibration can become. That means that vibration control can help protect delicate applications from damages caused by increased speed, weight or frequency. It is better to prevent damage than it is to continually have to replace parts and components time and time again.

It is not always mechanical applications that require vibration control. There are parts that are needed for the human body that requires vibration control. A shoe that is worn by someone in a factory setting will need to be comfortable and supportive but still allow for the protection of the foot as well.

How to Find a Vibration Control System

Energy cannot be created or destroyed within any system, according to the laws of physics. Instead, that energy can be dissipated, or used depending on the needs. Energy that does not need to be used is turned into heat and that heat is then transferred throughout the rest of the system.

The right vibration control system is one that allows all parts to work freely and properly and reduces potential damage that might occur. It is also one that is not damaged by the heat that is created in the process. Some materials become sticky when they heat up and then get brittle once they cool back down. Eventually, those materials will crack or break as well, reducing their usable life cycle. That broken part can also destroy other parts, causing a chain reaction.

How Sorbothane Can Help

Created from visco-elastic polymers, Sorbothane has the properties of both a solid and a liquid. Technically solid, it glides like a liquid when it is under pressure during use. Because it has a high breakage point and can be exposed to higher temperatures, it can be used in a number of applications from simple to technically complex machinery. It can be used in audio equipment where vibration control is vital to protect sound quality. It has a number of additional, real world uses that makes it the solution to turn to no matter what your needs might be.

Standard or Custom, The Choice is Up to You

While there are a number of standard sorbothane applications listed on the web site at http://www.sorbothane.com for various uses, if the one you need is not listed there, you can have customized items created to suit your needs. The parts that you need have to be right or you run the risk of increasing the potential for damage and lessening the length of time you can use the machine or item. The perfect solution can be found or can be created with just a simple process.