Installing a gas strut on a lid transforms the experience—effortlessly gliding it open with just a gentle push, while the strut ensures it stays securely in place. No more heavy lifting or sudden slams; just smooth, controlled movement that enhances safety and convenience. It’s like giving your lid a reliable partner that makes every use effortless and dependable.
How do I measure the weight of the cover plate?
Before calculate the force required for a gas strut, you need to know the weight of the cover.
To measure the weight of the cover plate, it is ideal to use a scale. However, if weighing the cover directly is not feasible or convenient, the following steps can still help determine its weight:
Measuring weight by material（no scale）
1. Determine the Material and Dimensions:
Identify the material of the lid (e.g., glass, acrylic, wood, metal).
Measure the dimensions of the lid: length, width, and thickness.
2. Calculate the Volume of the Lid:
For a rectangular lid:
For other shapes, use the appropriate formula to calculate the volume.
3. Find the Material Density:
Obtain the density of the material. The density (often in kilograms per cubic meter, kg/m³, or pounds per cubic foot, lb/ft³) can be found in material property tables or online.
4. Calculate the Weight:
Multiply the volume by the density to find the weight
5.Identify the Center of Gravity:
The center of gravity (CG) is the point where the lid’s weight is evenly distributed. For a uniformly shaped lid (like a rectangle), the CG is at the geometric center.
6.Measure the Distance to the Center of Gravity:
Measure the distance from the hinge (pivot point) to the center of gravity. This is the lever arm length (L).
7.Determine the Opening Angle:
Let θ\thetaθ be the angle between the lid and the horizontal plane (closed position).
8.Calculate the Effective Force (Torque) Due to Gravity:
The torque (τ\tauτ) needed to hold the lid open depends on the angle and is calculated by:
- W is the weight of the lid (force due to gravity, W=m⋅gW = m \cdot gW=m⋅g where mmm is mass and ggg is the acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/s²),
- L is the distance from the hinge to the center of gravity,
- sin(θ) is the sine of the opening angle θ\thetaθ.
9.Calculate the Effective Weight Component:
The component of the weight acting perpendicular to the lever arm is given by:
This represents the force due to gravity that acts perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the lid.
Weight measurement by weight difference
- Please open the cover plate and ensure it is in a horizontal position.
- Make sure that the very edge of the cover plate’s center point is placed in the middle of the scale.
- The number on the scale, multiply by 2 is the approximate weight of the cover plate.
- If the cover plate cannot be directly placed on the scale, a support such as a stick can be placed on the scale. Don’t forget minus the weight of stick.
- Alternatively, a person can stand on the scale and lift the very edge of the cover plate’s center point with their hands to calculate the added weight.
- If the cover plate is closed in the horizontal position, lift the cover plate slightly until the entire edge of the cover plate is fully lifted. Calculate the added weight.
Please note that for accurate measurements, ensure the weight of the cover plate is measured on a stable platform and that you maintain balance while standing on the scale.
If you have any doubts regarding the measurement methods of gas struts or if you have specific application scenarios, please don’t hesitate to contact our professional customer service representatives. We offer personalized 1-on-1 assistance to provide you with tailored solutions. Reach out to us for expert guidance and support.
