In many cases, machine vibration is unavoidable. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. At ACE Controls, we can help you solve your unwanted vibration problems using our leveling mounts, damping pads and rubber-metal isolators.

No matter your application, we’ve got you covered. From chocolate factories to saunas, let’s take a look at some of the applications that feature our vibration control components:

Leveling mounts stabilize an opera projector. A mobile 3D HDD projector used by an opera production company became virtually unusable whenever it moved across the tiled floor. Due to the bumpy movement, the image quality deteriorated.

This challenge was solved with the help of our PLM pneumatic leveling mounts, which achieve perfect leveling via an integrated valve and handle low-frequency vibrations starting at 5 Hz.

Rubber-metal isolators promote peace in a sauna. Our rubber-metal isolators prevented unwanted noise in a sauna that utilized a mill wheel to draw water. The wheel’s motors and gears caused the stainless-steel housing to vibrate, but our Flex Locs isolators eliminated any noise—ensuring the sauna maintained its peace and quiet.

This series incorporates a releasable pop-rivet connection and fail-safe design to effectively isolate vibrations in different directions.

Mounts reduce intense vibrations in a chocolate factory. Residents who lived near a chocolate manufacturing facility felt the intense vibrations and oscillations of the machinery. Despite numerous tests, the manufacturer couldn’t find a solution that could isolate vibrations below 20 Hz—until they came across our PLM pneumatic leveling mounts. Now, vibrations are down 80 percent.

Damping pads protect employees from noisy pumps. In one hydropower plant, screw pumps were hitting 86-dB noise levels—causing the entire facility to vibrate and disturbing many employees. Inserting our SLAB damping pads between the screw head and pump reduced this noise by 6.6 dB. Considering a 10-dB reduction in noise halves the volume, this was a big step forward in employee safety.

These are just a few of the many case examples that feature our vibration control technology. To learn more about our capabilities and products, visit our application webpage.

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The post ACE Tips: Essential Data For Sizing Your Gas Spring appeared first on ACE Controls Inc..

When a homeowner wanted to install a sushi freezer within a confined space without obstructing other nearby appliances, an ACE Controls gas spring played a vital role in economizing that space. Sean Moloney, the contractor working on the project, had to install the approximately $3,000 sushi freezer – which stores contents at temperatures down to -60ºF – along with a beverage refrigerator and countertops. In addition, he had to work with the following constraints:

• The sushi freezer was to be installed beneath a staircase, to the right of a beverage refrigerator (housed in a triangular cabinet) with a front-facing door.
• A 49-pound white oak countertop lid with a piano-type hinge had to open first, providing access to the freezer within the enclosure, which also opened from the top.
• Because a user can’t hold the heavy, wooden lid for long, it had to stay in place when opened.

Sean needed a gas spring that could support the heavy load and whose range of motion would provide maximum access when open, but without it hitting and damaging the angular stairway above the appliances. Understanding the investment the owner was laying out for the freezer, refrigerator and oak countertops, Sean knew that an inexpensive piston would not be sufficient for the job. He searched online for a gas spring with the quality that the project demanded and found acecontrols.com. He chose to install two GS-19-200-AA Push-type industrial gas springs to support the countertop lid. The heavy-duty gas springs offered the following features and characteristics:

• Able to handle forces from 2 to 2,923 pounds (10 to 13,000N).
• Extension force of 157 pounds.
• 7.87 inches of stroke.
• Body diameter of 0.31 to 2.76 inches (8 to 70 mm).
• Ready to install and requires zero maintenance.

Although Sean began the project with his own calculations, an ACE Controls engineer worked with him to revise his opening angle and range of motion. He also recalculated the mounting positions on the lid and cabinet. Taken together, these calculations provided an optimal fit.

You Can’t Put a Price On Safety
The homeowner’s main concern going into the project was user safety. Should the 49-pound lid fall on a user’s hands or hit the user on the head, it would likely cause serious injury. That’s why Sean opted for the premium quality of the ACE Controls GS-19-200-AA gas spring. He reports the industrial gas spring is supporting the weight of the countertop just fine, and the homeowner is really happy with it. Says Moloney, “it gives an assurance to the owner that it is a professionally engineered product.”

For more information about ACE Controls’ GS-19-200-AA Industrial Gas Spring, visit www.acecontrols.com.

The post Gas Springs Provide Easy, Safe Access to Customized Sushi Freezer Installation appeared first on ACE Controls Inc..

Let’s take a look at some of the common ones you’ll see, as well as examples of their typical uses:

Push-type gas springs to lift and lower loads. These gas springs suit devices that lift or lower loads with easy control and minimal exertion. They support covers and lids in many industries, including automation and machine building, medical technology, electronics—and more.

Pull-type gas springs to fit constrained spaces. These compact springs can mount in any orientation and position. Unlike push-type springs, the gas pressure in the cylinder retracts the piston rod. Pull-type gas springs are used in various industrial applications, as well as medical devices, electronics and furniture.

Locking gas springs to hold a position. Many chair-type applications, such as mobility systems, need to maintain a certain position to support the end user. For example, when a person triggers a chair into motion by pressing a button or lever, a piston valve opens—extending the spring and moving the seat into position. When the user triggers the seat again, the valve closes, locking the piston rod—and chair—into position.

Rust-inhibiting gas springs to protect against corrosion. Many gas spring vendors offer rust-inhibiting versions of their standard models to protect against corrosion in food or hygienically sensitive areas. ACE Controls, for example, offers standard gas springs with an advanced UV coating or stainless steel outer bodies that can also be filled with food-grade oil—conforming to FDA standards.

To learn more about gas spring design and customization, download our latest white paper.

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The post Your Guide to Gas Spring Design and Customization: Part II appeared first on ACE Controls Inc..

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