Applications | Hinge Fatigue Testing

null - Hinge Fatigue Testing

Torque hinges, also known as friction or position hinges, enable controlled rotational movement between two components. This functionality is critical in applications ranging from cabinetry and automotive glove boxes to laptops and monitor stands. Given their extensive use, ensuring that these hinges meet or exceed the product's intended lifespan is paramount. Therefore, rigorous fatigue and cycle testing are essential to validate hinge durability within the final product assembly.

Application-Specific Considerations
Hinge fatigue testing must account for the diverse requirements across industries:

Aerospace: Hinges in aircraft components are subjected to cyclic loading and environmental extremes. Testing should simulate operational conditions, including temperature fluctuations and vibration, to ensure hinge performance and safety.
Automotive: Vehicle hinges, such as those in doors and glove boxes, experience repetitive use. Fatigue testing should replicate these conditions to assess durability and functionality over the vehicle's lifespan.
Consumer Electronics: Hinges in devices like laptops and tablets undergo frequent opening and closing cycles. Testing should focus on high-cycle fatigue to ensure longevity and user satisfaction.

Factors such as hinge material composition, size, and the operational environment significantly influence testing protocols and data interpretation. Tailoring fatigue tests to these specific conditions is essential for accurate assessment of hinge performance.

Why the TFF400 is the Ideal Choice for Hinge Fatigue Test Stands

When it comes to designing hinge fatigue test stands, precision, durability, and adaptability are paramount. FUTEK’s TFF400 Reaction Torque Sensor delivers on all these fronts, providing engineers with a solution specifically tailored for rigorous fatigue testing of torque hinges. Here’s why the TFF400 is the optimal choice for this application:

Exceptional Torque Measurement Range: The TFF400 offers a wide torque measurement range, from ±0.04 N·m (5 in-oz) to 56 N·m (500 in-lb). This versatility makes it suitable for testing hinges across various applications, from lightweight consumer electronics to heavy-duty automotive and aerospace components. Its high torsional stiffness, ranging from 560 in-oz/rad to 122,000 in-lb/rad (4 to 13,558 N·m/rad), ensures accurate readings with minimal deflection under load.
Robust Construction and Durability: Manufactured from anodized aluminum, the TFF400 is both lightweight and durable, ensuring it withstands the rigors of repeated testing. The inclusion of built-in overload protection in lower capacity models provides an added layer of durability, safeguarding the sensor from potential damage during installation or extreme testing conditions.
Seamless Integration into Test Stands: The TFF400’s flange-to-flange mounting solution and through-hole design (12.95 to 16.76 mm ID) allow for easy integration into OEM hinge fatigue test stands. The through-hole configuration is particularly advantageous for accommodating pass-through shafts, enabling versatile test setups without compromising structural integrity.
High-Precision Measurement Technology: Utilizing advanced metal foil strain gauge technology, the TFF400 delivers precise and repeatable torque measurements, ensuring reliable data for engineers to assess hinge performance. This precision is critical for identifying fatigue characteristics and validating hinge designs against stringent industry standards.

How it Works

The TFF400 torque sensor is mounted in line with the motor driving the automated cycling system.
Although the TFF400 is a reaction torque sensor, if the overall rotation is less than 360 degrees, you avoid the risk of the cable winding around the sensor.
The TFF400 is then mounted to the hub of a wheel. The rotation of the wheel will allow the hinge that is to be tested to open and close.
The TFF400 will then record the amount of torque needed to open and close the hinge.
If the motor is set in brake mode, the torque sensor will be able to measure the torque spring resistance and torsional stiffness.
A TFF400 paired with a USB220 can output the results of testing to a PC for data capture and analysis.
Additionally, a TRS605 paired with USB520 will allow for the logging of rotary angle data, enabling a study of torque versus hinge angle.

Products in Use

FUTEK’s TFF400 Reaction Torque Sensor paired with Instrumentation (USB220, IAA Amplifier). For more in-depth analysis of hinge performance, a TRS605 Rotary Torque Sensor with a built-in encoder paired with a USB520 can be used

TFF400

Reaction Torque Sensor

TRS605

Non-Contact Shaft-to-Shaft Rotary Torque Sensor with Encoder

USB220

High Resolution USB Solution

USB520

mV/V, Amplified and Encoder Input USB Solution

All FUTEK application illustrations are strictly conceptual.
Please Contact Us with questions.

Aerospace: Hinges in aircraft components are subjected to cyclic loading and environmental extremes. Testing should simulate operational conditions, including temperature fluctuations and vibration, to ensure hinge performance and safety.
Automotive: Vehicle hinges, such as those in doors and glove boxes, experience repetitive use. Fatigue testing should replicate these conditions to assess durability and functionality over the vehicle's lifespan.
Consumer Electronics: Hinges in devices like laptops and tablets undergo frequent opening and closing cycles. Testing should focus on high-cycle fatigue to ensure longevity and user satisfaction.

Exceptional Torque Measurement Range: The TFF400 offers a wide torque measurement range, from ±0.04 N·m (5 in-oz) to 56 N·m (500 in-lb). This versatility makes it suitable for testing hinges across various applications, from lightweight consumer electronics to heavy-duty automotive and aerospace components. Its high torsional stiffness, ranging from 560 in-oz/rad to 122,000 in-lb/rad (4 to 13,558 N·m/rad), ensures accurate readings with minimal deflection under load.
Robust Construction and Durability: Manufactured from anodized aluminum, the TFF400 is both lightweight and durable, ensuring it withstands the rigors of repeated testing. The inclusion of built-in overload protection in lower capacity models provides an added layer of durability, safeguarding the sensor from potential damage during installation or extreme testing conditions.
Seamless Integration into Test Stands: The TFF400’s flange-to-flange mounting solution and through-hole design (12.95 to 16.76 mm ID) allow for easy integration into OEM hinge fatigue test stands. The through-hole configuration is particularly advantageous for accommodating pass-through shafts, enabling versatile test setups without compromising structural integrity.
High-Precision Measurement Technology: Utilizing advanced metal foil strain gauge technology, the TFF400 delivers precise and repeatable torque measurements, ensuring reliable data for engineers to assess hinge performance. This precision is critical for identifying fatigue characteristics and validating hinge designs against stringent industry standards.