A spring, or any other mechanical part for that matter, is meant to do a certain action. It will continue to do that action until it is either forcibly stopped or until the action of other factors causes it to stop. On the other hand, the spring will not automatically start moving without an action that sets it into motion and usually, will not continue to move unless there is energy driving it to do so. In the case of the spring, it will not move up and down without someone or something making that initial movement.

The spring, or other type of machine part, must function in the area that it is working in, under the type of conditions it was designed for. Some parts, whether they are meant to or not, can build up heat eventually which can lead to their destruction. In some machines, it is heat buildup and friction that leads to early demise in most cases. Heat causes damage because as the metal heats up, it will expand. Most designs have some allowance for this expansion; however there is still some possibility of damage to the part in question or the related parts. (more…)

Shock protection is an important consideration whether you are looking for protection of a huge machine or for a delicate and priceless item. There are also other applications for shock protection that can include in sports or just for people who are looking to make moving around easier and more comfortable to handle. Because there are so many different types of materials on the market, it is important to consider several factors before making your final decision.

Thick or Thin Materials for Shock Protection?

In some cases, the shock protection material can be as thick as you can find. In other cases, thicker material will not only be uncomfortable but may also hamper the effective use of the item it is meant to protect. Take the use of shock protection in a baseball player’s glove for instance. A ball that is coming off of a bat or is being thrown in from the outfield can be coming at speeds that are at least sixty miles per hour and are likely to be as high as double that number. When a player reaches out to catch the ball, they are protected by their glove, but that protection might not be quite enough for the upper numbers. (more…)

A material is usually thought of as just a solid or just a liquid. One that is visco-elastic may have both properties to some extent. Though not technically true, the material flows like a liquid in certain situations but performs like a solid in others. There are a number of different materials that count as visco-elastic, each behaving in the same or similar manner.

Discovered and developed in the late twentieth century, visco-elastic materials have been used in a number of different applications including as a buffer under heavy loads to prevent or reduce the damage that can be seen from moving those items or from operating them in place. The material developed by Sorbothane was introduced in the early 1980’s and is meant to flow under loads like a liquid. (more…)

Introducing Shocksox® – Helps Prevent Impact Injuries To Gymnasts

Developed by an orthopedic nurse specialist, Shocksox® will help prevent impact and overuse injuries to gymnasts, dancers and cheerleaders. These supportive open-toe socks feature a “built-in” Sorbothane® pad that can absorb up to 94.7% of impact shock.

The inspiration for Shocksox® was Olympic Gymnast and World Gold Medal winner, Alicia Sacramone. Alicia, like many other gymnasts suffered from impact related injuries. Worn consistently Shocksox® will help prevent the incidence of impact injuries and allow the body to maximize its full potential. After testing – Shocksox® became Alicia’s reliable training companion. (more…)

Vitamix® Launches THE QUITE ONE™, The quietest Commercial Blender Available

Vitamix® has partnered with Sorbothane, Inc. to create THE QUITE ONE™, a powerful, premium blender that provides unparalleled sound reduction.

The Quiet One utilizes three exclusive Sorbothane® components to set it apart from the competition in the arena of noise reduction. An innovative door seal design, coupled with patent-pending floating technology significantly reduces vibration transmission and improve airflow. The combination dramatically reduces the amount of sound produced during blending while maintaining the drink quality expected from Vitamix.

Thanks to its dramatic sound reduction capabilities The Quiet One fits perfectly, and quietly, into front-of-house operations in high-end bars and coffeehouses. It was designed to create a more enjoyable customer environment and operates at 18 decibels below its closest competitor. According to independent testing The Quiet One would be perceived as being four times quieter. (more…)

100% Sorbothane® Full Sole Insert
The Original – Breakthrough Sorbothane® Full Sole Insert

• Naturally Cradles Your Foot
• Podiatrist Recommended
• Head-to-Toe Sorbothane® Protection
• Proven Effective – Long Lasting Comfort
• Antimicrobial Cambrelle® Top Cover
• Universal Insert – Add-on or Replacement

SORBOTHANE® PROTECTION & CUSHIONING
RX Sorbo Classic Full Sole Inserts are made of 100% Sorbothane® from heel-to-toe. Sorbothane® is a unique material that provides comfort and protection to the entire body by absorbing up to 94.7% of impact shock. And unlike standard insole materials, which can bottom out and lose effectiveness, Sorbothane® ensures comfort step after step. Durable and long-lasting, Classic Full Sole Inserts retain their shock absorbing benefits significantly longer than any other insole on the market.

PROVEN BY OLYMPIANS
“For more than 20 years Sorbothane’s protection and cushioning has ensured that I can always enjoy running…”
- Frank Shorter, Olympic Gold Medalist – 1972 Marathon, Member RX Sorbo Advisory Team

RECOMMENDED BY PROFESSIONALS
Doctors, sports medicine specialists and professional trainers worldwide recommend RX Sorbo – Sorbothane® insoles.
“The Classic – 100% Sorbothane® Full Sole Insert helps to protect the entire body against impact related pain and injury” – Dr. Mark Mendeszoon, Member RX Sorbo Advisory Team

TRUSTED BY NASA
NASA trusts shock-absorbing Sorbothane® isolators to protect the Space Shuttle cameras during launch These Shuttle cameras are strategically placed to provide vital information used to verify the integrity of the protective heat shield tiles.

FEATURED BY WILSON®
Wilson® Sporting Goods turned to Sorbothane® when they needed a shock absorber for their high-tech baseball gloves. A unique Sorbothane® pad was engineered and strategically located to absorb the sting of the ball without rebound.

Sorbothane, Inc.
2144 State Route 59
Kent, Ohio 44240
800.838.3906

Email: sales@sorbothane.com
All RX Sorbo – Sorbothane Products Are Proudly Made By American Workers
www.sorbothane.com

What Engineers Use to Control Machine Vibration

Many people think that putting together and engine is simply about putting together parts that move in a certain way and achieve a certain end. This is true to some extent, but there are also many other factors to worry about when you’re creating an engine or anything with moving parts, actually. One of the things that has to be figured out is how to control vibrations.

Vibrations aren’t simply annoying things that make noises. In fact, every vibration has a frequency, which is why they make noises at all. Every part in a machine, too, has a resonant frequency – possibly more than one. This means that if any vibrations of that particular machine reaches the resonant frequency of another part, the second part will start to shake. In the short run, terrible vibrations can cause an engine to stop working, or they can simply cause excess noise that is annoying. In the long term, though, vibrations can cause a machine to wear down more quickly than it otherwise would have, even if the vibrations are slight. (more…)

What Products Can Be Used for Noise Control in Machines?
Noise is probably one of the most frustrating by-products of the technological era. Any time you have moving parts rubbing against one another, you’re going to have noise to some degree because friction always causes vibration. This means that since men have started creating machines with moving parts, they’ve been thinking of ways to create noise control. There are all sorts of materials that are used for controlling noise in today’s machines. Here are just a few of them.

One of the most basic ways to control noise is to get rid of as much friction as possible. You can do this between parts that need to slide past one another by oiling them or adding ball bearings. This cuts down on friction, vibration, and noise. However, sometimes friction is vital to a machine’s running well, so you have to find other ways to control noises that the various machine parts might be making. (more…)

If you’ve ever driven a car that needed a tune-up, you probably already know that sometimes sound vibrations can spell big trouble. In fact, listening for vibrations may be one of the first things a mechanic does for a car that’s experiencing some trouble. Certain issues just sound different when you’ve spent your life working with cars. Sound vibrations, though, can spell trouble for any machine, no matter how large or small it happens to be. Here are just a few of the things that sound waves, innocuous as they may seem, can do to machines.

For one thing, sound vibrations can cause a machine to wear out. Vibrations are signs of friction, and if there are too many of them, they can cause parts to wear down more quickly. Vibrations inherently cause things to shake a bit, and over time, even slight shaking can cause major wear and tear to the delicate moving parts of a machine. (more…)

Any time there are moving parts in any sort of machine, there are bound to be vibrations. This is because moving parts cause friction, which releases energy in the form of heat and noise vibrations. These vibrations can be pretty harmless, causing nothing but annoyance. Sometimes you can’t even tell that they’re present. Sometimes, though, vibrations can cause major problems for a machine with moving parts. When this happens, engineers have to bring in various vibration control techniques to take care of the problem. Here are some reasons that vibration control is vital for a successful machine.

For one thing, vibrations can cause parts of the machine to work improperly. You see, every part in a machine has a resonant frequency. When that part comes into contact with a vibration of that frequency, it will start to oscillate dramatically. Even a tiny vibration in the right frequency can cause huge movements. When parts start to hit resonant frequencies and to move too much, the machine can stop working almost immediately. (more…)