Stiff vs Soft Dampening for Lifespan - MX-5 Miata Forum

Author: Marina

Jul. 15, 2024

Stiff vs Soft Dampening for Lifespan - MX-5 Miata Forum

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Dampers should always be valved based on their middle bleed setting, and then dyno tested at each setting to ensure consistency and that the damping falls within the manufacturers specified tolerances (typically upto 5%). Unless you are on a strict budget, it is almost always better to purchase from a manufacturer that does their own valving/rebuilding, and not just simply private-label from an overseas mass manufacturer.

with regards to wear, changing the bleed setting does affect the wear characteristics of the damper. However, it is actually the reverse of what most would think. The reasoning behind this?

the parts that wear inside a damper are the seals (on the seal head), the o-rings (on the floating piston) and the piston bands (on both the main piston and the floating piston). The more movement there is (movement = friction), the faster they will wear. Of course, depending on the brand/type of wear parts used, your mileage will vary. OEM type parts will last longer due to them exhibiting lower wear characteristics, but will actually perform poorer due to increased friction (sounds contradictory, but makes sense if you actually think about it). Performance orientated parts will not last as long, even though they have less friction (and thus increased performance. This is measured on a dyno as "seal drag"), as they do not have the same low wear characteristics i.e They were designed for performance first and foremost. Most serious racers will rebuild their dampers every season to make sure they are performing at their best.

what has this got to do with the bleed setting? Well, if you decrease the compression and/or rebound, the more the piston rod is going to move. More movement = more friction = faster wear.

oil also plays an important part, as the wear parts have temperature variables. Generally, the more heat the parts see, the faster they will wear. This is why using a good damper fluid is very important.

How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

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How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

Azzazil

(Automotive)

(OP)

26 Oct 23 18:25

So from internet one source is referring that is necessary to get toque of lid and torque of spring. So torque of spring for my case is 150 N*mm, while torque to the lid is needed to calculate.
Weight of my lid 0.25kg, and length from pivot point of rotation to center of the gravity of the lid 50 mm.

T(Lid) = 0.25kg * 9.81 m/2^2 * 50 mm = 122 N*mm;

And torque for damper is T(Damper) = T(Torsional spring) - T(Lid) = 28 N*mm convert to N*cm is 2.8 N*cm for easier search of catalogues for dampers.

I am interested is this correct way of defining damper, or I am missing something? Below is sketch, green circle on the left represent torsional spring and dashed rectangle is lid in open position.


Hello folks, I need sanity check. I am designing lid and I need to choose damper for soft opening since I have torsional spring which opens the lid when latch for the lid is released.So from internet one source is referring that is necessary to get toque of lid and torque of spring. So torque of spring for my case is 150 N*mm, while torque to the lid is needed to calculate.Weight of my lid 0.25kg, and length from pivot point of rotation to center of the gravity of the lid 50 mm.T(Lid) = 0.25kg * 9.81 m/2^2 * 50 mm = 122 N*mm;And torque for damper is T(Damper) = T(Torsional spring) - T(Lid) = 28 N*mm convert to N*cm is 2.8 N*cm for easier search of catalogues for dampers.I am interested is this correct way of defining damper, or I am missing something? Below is sketch, green circle on the left represent torsional spring and dashed rectangle is lid in open position.

Regards,
Azzazil

My CATIA v5 Macro channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@joenitnelav/featured

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

kjoiner

(Mechanical)

27 Oct 23 12:10

I recommend checking with Guden and Ace Controls. The manufacture dampers and have calculators and design assistance for use with various orientations of opening lids. Another option would be Sugatsune. They make various opening mechanisms with dampers for kitchen cabinets etc.

Kyle

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

LittleInch

(Petroleum)

27 Oct 23 13:03

Why just not use a gas strut like they use a lot on cars for hatchs, bonnets (hoods) etc? Does both in one unit.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

Azzazil

(Automotive)

(OP)

28 Oct 23 13:59

Quote (LittleInch)

Why just not use a gas strut like they use a lot on cars for hatchs, bonnets (hoods) etc? Does both in one unit.


Due packaging reasons, any gas strut is too big for my packaging constraints.

Quote (kjoiner)

I recommend checking with Guden and Ace Controls. The manufacture dampers and have calculators and design assistance for use with various orientations of opening lids. Another option would be Sugatsune. They make various opening mechanisms with dampers for kitchen cabinets etc.

Kyle


This is not helping me since I need to calculation for rotary damper with gear, and on their web page is only gas strut calulcation not rotary dampers as far as I can see.

Due packaging reasons, any gas strut is too big for my packaging constraints.This is not helping me since I need to calculation for rotary damper with gear, and on their web page is only gas strut calulcation not rotary dampers as far as I can see.

Regards,
Azzazil

My CATIA v5 Macro channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@joenitnelav/featured

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

BrianE22

(Specifier/Regulator)

28 Oct 23 15:30

So the damper is meant to slow down the lid when the the lid is nearly vertical? You are assuming the torque due to the weight of the lid is constant. It isn't. When the c.g. of the lid is straight up then the torque from the lid equals zero.

With competitive price and timely delivery, teao sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

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RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

Azzazil

(Automotive)

(OP)

28 Oct 23 18:32 @BrianE22, yes you are correct I want to slow down motion of lid when it moves toward vertical position. In my case torque to open the lid is 122 N*mm, so to move that torque I need spring with torque bigger than torqe to raise the lid in my case that would be 150 N*mm. The ammount of the torque that was left is 28 N*mm, so I assume that I need damper which which will work against this torqe that is left. Using damper with torqe below 28 N*mm will not damp lid in the correct way, while damper with torque bigger than 28 N*mm will make lid hard to open. I don't know is my logic correct since on internet I am hardly finding answer for my question?

Hello, yes you are correct I want to slow down motion of lid when it moves toward vertical position. In my case torque to open the lid is 122 N*mm, so to move that torque I need spring with torque bigger than torqe to raise the lid in my case that would be 150 N*mm. The ammount of the torque that was left is 28 N*mm, so I assume that I need damper which which will work against this torqe that is left. Using damper with torqe below 28 N*mm will not damp lid in the correct way, while damper with torque bigger than 28 N*mm will make lid hard to open. I don't know is my logic correct since on internet I am hardly finding answer for my question?

Regards,
Azzazil

My CATIA v5 Macro channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@joenitnelav/featured

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

BrianE22

(Specifier/Regulator)

29 Oct 23 16:16

So with more torque from the spring than torque from the weight (at closed horizontal position) the lid will accelerate upwards (counter clockwise) when unlatched, correct?

I don't think the damper will make the lid hard to open since it offers zero torque at zero RPM.

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

Azzazil

(Automotive)

(OP)

30 Oct 23 11:06

Here I found guidelines for damper for soft opening.

That is true, but I think damper has constant torque isn't it?Here I found guidelines for damper for soft opening. Link

Regards,
Azzazil

My CATIA v5 Macro channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@joenitnelav/featured

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

BrianE22

(Specifier/Regulator)

30 Oct 23 12:45

No, the torque is related to speed. On your link it says:

The torque of the rotary damper varies according to rpm.
In general, if the rpm goes up, the torque increases;
If the rpm goes down, the torque decreases.
In addition, please note that the starting torque slightly differs from the rated torque

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

LittleInch

(Petroleum)

30 Oct 23 13:46

This is why you can't find anything as your statement is only correct when the lid is closed like other people have been telling you and you've been ignoring it.

What it should say is
"The amount of the torque left at 0 degrees (lid closed) is 28 Nmm. The amount of the torque left at 90 degrees (lid open) is 150 Nmm, So I need a damper which changes (increases) torque by a factor of 5 to work against this "excess" torque.

Even with rotary dampers which change with speed, the lid opening angular velocity will increase as the lid lifts up. So the lid will continue to accelerate as the lid opens.

What happens at 90 degrees? Does the lid hit something?

This is what gas struts were invented for.
Or counterweights which reduce torque in the same way as the lid needs less and less torque.
Have you ever looked at how the Tower of London bridge works?

"The amount of the torque that was left is 28 N*mm, so I assume that I need damper which which will work against this torque that is left."This is why you can't find anything as your statement is only correct when the lid is closed like other people have been telling you and you've been ignoring it.What it should say is"The amount of the torque left at 0 degrees (lid closed) is 28 Nmm. The amount of the torque left at 90 degrees (lid open) is 150 Nmm, So I need a damper which changes (increases) torque by a factor of 5 to work against this "excess" torque.Even with rotary dampers which change with speed, the lid opening angular velocity will increase as the lid lifts up. So the lid will continue to accelerate as the lid opens.What happens at 90 degrees? Does the lid hit something?This is what gas struts were invented for.Or counterweights which reduce torque in the same way as the lid needs less and less torque.Have you ever looked at how the Tower of London bridge works?

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

Brian Malone

(Industrial)

31 Oct 23 04:12 Azzazil have you clicked on the "Get In Contact" link on the Peir rotary damper web page?

https://peirdamper.com/contact-us/

They are indicating six worldwide locations. To get your business they will probably help you size your damper and with their application experience can give you guidance on the possible subtleties related to human interaction and perception of lid motion and start/stop acceleration preferences.

The rotary dampers are quite nice for providing soft/cushioned lid stopping in concealed packaging provided you have space near the pivot of the lid. They do have some risk of being somewhat fragile to overly agressive actuation depending on the size you have space to install. Certainly gas struts and counterweight can do the job but they can be obtrusive, and less than elegant cosmetically. Good luck with your project. Leverage the tech assistance offered by Peir.

have you clicked on the "Get In Contact" link on the Peir rotary damper web page?They are indicating six worldwide locations. To get your business they will probably help you size your damper and with their application experience can give you guidance on the possible subtleties related to human interaction and perception of lid motion and start/stop acceleration preferences.The rotary dampers are quite nice for providing soft/cushioned lid stopping in concealed packaging provided you have space near the pivot of the lid. They do have some risk of being somewhat fragile to overly agressive actuation depending on the size you have space to install. Certainly gas struts and counterweight can do the job but they can be obtrusive, and less than elegant cosmetically. Good luck with your project. Leverage the tech assistance offered by Peir.

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

MintJulep

(Mechanical)

31 Oct 23 08:29

As BrianE22 has already pointed out, the torque caused by gravity acting on the lid is not constant. It's a function of the opening angle. You need to write that equation.

As also pointed out by Brian, the damper torque will be a function of speed. You need that equation.

The torque from your spring is probably also a function of opening angle.

You'll need to work out the angular moment of inertia of the cover relative to the pivot, write the equation for angular acceleration, then integrate that to get velocity.

Solve those four equations simultaneously for velocity and decide if the velocity vs. opening angle profile is ok for your application. Repeat with different combinations of damper and spring until it is.

Going over vertical complicates things, because the damper force will change from slowing things down to speeding them up.

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

kjoiner

(Mechanical)

31 Oct 23 12:20

Talk to the application engineers at the two companies I mentioned. That is why I mentioned them. Good luck.

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

LittleInch

(Petroleum)

31 Oct 23 12:53

Acceptable speed range is critical here as well.

If kept very low then even a doubling or tripling of speed would probably be ok and result in enough increase in damper torque to be acceptable.

The link is very clear, but is not clear how the damper torque varies by a factor of 5....Acceptable speed range is critical here as well.If kept very low then even a doubling or tripling of speed would probably be ok and result in enough increase in damper torque to be acceptable.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

RE: How to choose damper for soft opening of the lid?

Azzazil

(Automotive)

(OP)

1 Nov 23 18:26

Quote (LittleInch)

This is why you can't find anything as your statement is only correct when the lid is closed like other people have been telling you and you've been ignoring it.


I am not ignoring it I just want to understand how this work so I can find solution.

Quote (LittleInch)

What happens at 90 degrees? Does the lid hit something?


Yes it hits stopper which prevents lid to go more than 90 degrees.

Quote (LittleInch)

This is what gas struts were invented for.
Or counterweights which reduce torque in the same way as the lid needs less and less torque.


I know but as I already said I can't use gas struts due packaging constraint.

Quote (Brian Malone )


Azzazil have you clicked on the "Get In Contact" link on the Peir rotary damper web page?


Yes but I think I will find somebody from Europe since I am not stated in Asia, North and South America.

Quote (kjoiner)

Talk to the application engineers at the two companies I mentioned. That is why I mentioned them. Good luck.


Will try to contact them to check if they will be helpful with their comments.

Quote (MintJulep)

Solve those four equations simultaneously for velocity and decide if the velocity vs. opening angle profile is ok for your application. Repeat with different combinations of damper and spring until it is.

Going over vertical complicates things, because the damper force will change from slowing things down to speeding them up.


Thanks for pointing out those equation I will try to pull set them and to solve them.
I think going over in vertical position won't be a case since I can probably restrain lid to be stopped at 82°-89°

I am not ignoring it I just want to understand how this work so I can find solution.Yes it hits stopper which prevents lid to go more than 90 degrees.I know but as I already said I can't use gas struts due packaging constraint.Yes but I think I will find somebody from Europe since I am not stated in Asia, North and South America.Will try to contact them to check if they will be helpful with their comments.Thanks for pointing out those equation I will try to pull set them and to solve them.I think going over in vertical position won't be a case since I can probably restrain lid to be stopped at 82°-89°

Regards,
Azzazil

My CATIA v5 Macro channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@joenitnelav/featured

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