3D Sizing Tool Archives | ACE Controls

ACE Tips: Essential Data For Sizing Your Gas Spring

ACE Controls — Tue, 07 May 2019 15:57:41 +0000

Properly sizing your gas spring depends on the right data—from ambient temperature to mounting orientation. Identifying these parameters upfront will ensure you get the most out of your gas spring in terms of safety, reliability and operating life. And while it might seem like a lot to keep track of, ACE engineers can provide you with the tools, accessories and engineering support you need to get started.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the sizing parameters:

Hand force, or the amount of force required to move your load or hood. Our application engineers can help you determine the necessary hand force for different angles of movement.

Extension force. Gas springs use forces to counterbalance the weight of the moving load. Specifically, the amount of nitrogen inside the spring pushes the piston head—providing the necessary extension force.

Center of gravity (CoG). Understanding how gravity affects the geometry and weight of your load is critical when determining where to mount your gas spring, how much force you need to counterbalance the load—and where to reach that perfect balance. Flat lids with a uniform material have a CoG smack-dab in the center, whereas curved/angular hoods or hoods with multiple materials and densities can affect the CoG location. In these instances, the CoG is typically found using CAD.

Stroke length, or the distance the load must move. Consult your datasheet to learn how different forces will interact with the stroke, as well as how much force specific stroke lengths can handle.

Mounting. How you mount your gas spring will determine both the opening angle and stroke. Linear applications, for example, have a straight stroke. Be sure to account for any nearby equipment or other obstructions that could affect the mounting location.

Materials. Since most gas springs are used indoors, they’re usually made from carbon steel. But depending on the application—saltwater environments or food and medical applications, for example—your gas spring may require rust-inhibiting or UV-coated materials.

And more. It’s important to know a variety of other parameters, including the ambient temperature, dimensions and weight of the load, pivot point (top, middle or bottom) and starting and finishing angles.

To make things easier for you, we cover these parameters in our online calculation tool, which uses 3D simulation to help you size your gas spring in just a few steps. Based on your specifications, we’ll create an application report with all the technical information you need—mounting points included. Just drill four holes, and we do the rest.

Visit our calculation page to get started.

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

ACE Tips: The Advantages of Modular Gas Springs

ACE Controls — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 21:25:41 +0000

ACE Tips: The Advantages of Modular Gas Springs
Gas springs with interchangeable end fittings provide many benefits. The ability to mix and match various connections improves application flexibility and facilitates installation. In the following blog, we’ll provide some helpful tips to help you mount your gas spring while making the most of its modular design:

Mix and Match Accessories
Let’s say you’re mounting two gas springs in parallel to decelerate a horizontal-hinged hood. In this case—as in all cases—proper mounting is essential. Mounting your springs incorrectly could cause them to wear prematurely or experience torsion-related seal damage.

ACE tip: In situations like this, simply screw on an end fitting with a swivel eye to enable more movement and minimize the risk of torsion.

The modular design also lets you attach your gas spring to mounting brackets should your application require them. Thanks to the interchangeable end fittings, mixing and matching these accessories is easy and makes the mounting process quick and painless.

ACE tip: Our product code system provides a simple, clear way to shop around for gas springs based on your application’s requirements. Each set of letters and numbers in the product code corresponds to gas spring type (push or pull), cylinder diameter, stroke, rod end fitting, body end fitting and extension force, respectively.

Customized and Ready to Ship in 24 Hours
Visit our gas springs calculations page—available 24 hours a day, seven days a week—to customize your gas spring in just a few minutes. Based on your data, we’ll size your spring and send you a technical proposal complete with mounting points. We’ll also include all the end fittings and mounting equipment you’ll need. You’ll then receive your customized, modular gas spring in as little as 24 hours from order finalization.

Visit our online calculations page to get started.

The post ACE Tips: The Advantages of Modular Gas Springs appeared first on ACE Controls Inc..

Select Gas Springs Instantly With Our New Online Sizing Tool

ACE Controls — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 20:13:12 +0000

We’ve made it easier than ever for you to specify our industrial gas springs. With the launch of our new online calculator, a perfectly sized spring for your hood, flap or machine enclosure is just a few clicks away. Not only that, but the time between design and delivery is also significantly shorter for most common applications.

Let’s take a closer look at this new, user-friendly tool:

Make fast calculations 24/7. In the past, any questions about our gas springs required direct contact with one of our application engineers—a process that involved filling out a design form and exchanging information by fax or email. But our new online tool, which you can find under the “calculations” tab of our homepage, reduces this time to less than a minute. It’s also available 24/7.

Explore interactive models. To properly size your spring, the tool asks you to provide the details of the flap, including the length, width and opening angle—to name a few. It then generates interactive 2D and 3D simulations, which you can rotate, tilt and zoom.

Order your spring at the push of a button. Once you input all the data, the tool matches you with one of our most popular gas springs, including the model number, custom filling pressure and desired mounting accessories. You can even download a mounting sketch with all the specifications. Then, when you’re ready to order, simply fill out a contact form and one of our representatives will contact you to finalize the process.

Ready to get started? Click here to try out our new sizing tool.

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