You know how much your lid weighs. But do you know where that weight is concentrated?

A curved shell, offset handle, or reinforcement plate can put a lid’s center of gravity somewhere other than its visual midpoint. These are just a few of the reasons a design engineer might find themselves calculating the center of gravity for any object. 

If you're specifying a counterbalance hinge, that location matters nearly as much as the total weight itself.

In hinge design, this calculation can be used to keep a lid, door, or cover from slamming into something ... or someone. Designing a no-slam hinge doesn’t just keep your customers safer, it also keeps you protected – from lawsuits. On a lighter note (pun intended), a steady open/close also improves ease of use for customers.

This calculation isn't always easy. Let's look at three ways (from hardest to easiest) for how to find the center of gravity of an irregular object. Can't wait? Click on any one of the ways to jump to the corresponding section: 

• The Easy Way
• The Easier Way
• The Easiest Way!
  
  

A hinge can look perfectly fine on paper. Unfortunately, the real world doesn't always agree.

Picking a material for a CNC turned part seems simple enough. Find something strong enough for the job, check the price, and get machining, right?

Well, not so fast.

Unlike most offices, a bustling hotel has to keep the safety and comfort of both its employees and guests in mind during the design phase. You'll need to be as cognizant of hospitality ergonomics behind the front desk and in the laundry room as you are in the guest rooms.

Your heavy countertop looks great. Lifting it every time someone needs to get through? That’s where things get a little less glamorous.

A 50-pound flip-up countertop can quickly become a pain when it takes too much effort to lift. And when that much weight is moving above a pass-through, you probably don’t want gravity calling the shots.

A heavy door can put a lot of faith in a couple of hinges. Put those hinges too close together, and you may be asking them to work a lot harder than they need to.

Sitting at a desk for eight hours a day can wear on employees. Having the freedom to stand up and change positions throughout the workday can make a difference in how comfortable they feel.

Today’s hinges make life much easier and more comfortable. We have progressed so far from just a plain, 'ol door hinge to advanced solutions for kinematic motion, mechanical spring counterbalance, and spring assist technologies. 

Managing multiple manufacturing suppliers can feel like a job all its own. One vendor is waiting on another, timelines start shifting, and suddenly you’re spending far too much time figuring out who has your part.

Anywhere human hands are involved, there’s risk.