What Is an Anti-Vibration System and Why Should I Select It?
The Sorbothane Anti-Vibration System refers to a highly advanced shock absorbent system. Though originally used in the creation of athletic wear, the technology advanced to the point where even heavy machinery can be controlled in terms of noise and impact.
Many people don’t realize it but whenever you have a huge industrial set up with hard-hitting parts you compromise the entire operation. You spend lots of money on maintenance and buying new machinery. This is because the constant vibration and noise affect the environment. Not only can the powerful impact affect the parts themselves but they can also cause injury to employees, damage the floor, and contribute to lost time on the production line.
This specific anti-vibration system is made using Sorbothane, which is a viscoelastic polymer. It is unique in that it combines the best features of viscous technologies and elastic technologies. This material has been used by NASA and was even used to transport the legendary Liberty Bell. In 2003, this bell was transported 935 feet from its former place to the new Liberty Bell Pavilion.
A specially designed pad-carriage (isolation mounts) supported this transfer. The purpose of using the anti-vibration isolators was to resist and shock or vibration that could potentially damage the piece or hurt nearby passersby. The Sorbothane Anti Vibration System pads can be customized to your preference.
For example, you get to determine the load (or weight) of the unit that requires isolation. That is, you choose which parts of your product need to be protected the most. You then divide the weight of the system by the number of isolators you are using. Interestingly, there is no limit to what kind of “product” you can use.
We usually use industrial examples to illustrate the power of these pads. However, just as easily as these pads sustain a rocket launcher’s power, so they can also accommodate a cell phone. Companies selling this material can print small orders of less than 50 pads to even hundreds of thousands of pads.
What if you don’t know how powerful a model you need? What you must do is determine the lowest critical frequency of your system. Then, divide minute-based information, by 60 in order to convert it to Hertz. You can then choose the right isolator by using product information charts.
As a general rule, an appropriate isolator produces a natural frequency for a system that is a minimum of one third less than the excitation frequency. You will also have to state the durometer of the specific Sorbothane part. Do not guesstimate; oversized isolator pads can cause problems and compromise integrity.
Remember, when you don’t have an anti-vibration system in place and working precisely, the system is being damaged. Whether there are subtleties in floor cracks, part wear down or “creeping”, it will be noticeable after a time. So make special effort to ensure all of your “hard-hitting” needs are met!
Want to learn more about Sorbothane’s solutions? Download our Standard Products Guide today.