Weber Knapp Blog

Improving stability.

Upgrading performance. 

Enhancing safety. 

These are just a few of the reasons a design engineer might find themselves calculating the center of gravity for any object. 

In the world of hinge design, this calculation can be used for someone as simple as keeping 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.

Finding the center of gravity in objects isn’t always easy; not all objects are perfect circles or simply symmetrical. In fact, most aren’t, and calculating their center of gravity takes a certain level of skill – something an experienced heavy-duty hinge manufacturer possesses. 

In this article, we’ll look at three ways (in order of decreasing difficulty) 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!

You have a beautiful kitchen design in mind, complete with a folding countertop. 

But have you considered the weight of this addition? 

When it comes to folding countertop projects, precision is key. The weight and size of the countertop being lifted can greatly affect the counterbalance of the motion control system, and guessing or estimating can lead to serious problems. 

Like so many other manufacturing technologies, counterbalance systems make life easier for the end customer. Matched with the right application, they can be a game-changer for user experience and safety.

We manufacturers would love it if we could design your component first and have you build your product around it. Of course, that’s usually not possible -- you have certain specs you want to meet, and we understand our design has to fit those parameters.

Hospitals and clinics run on people, the nurses, techs, and doctors who keep everything moving. But that constant movement comes at a cost. Long hours, short breaks, and heavy workloads can wear anyone down, which is why ergonomics in healthcare has never been more important.

When workspaces are designed around the people using them, every shift feels a little safer, smoother, and more sustainable.

If there’s one thing that commercial and restaurant kitchen appliances need to be, it’s durable. Ovens, grills, sinks, freezers, and microwaves all have to stand up to constant, repeated use. 

When it comes to weight and motion control, developers certainly have their options. Two of the most popular options in high-stress, high-performance applications are gas springs and counterbalance spring hinges. Like with many other competing technologies, there’s a debate over which is the better value.

Product improvement and differentiation should be a priority for anyone involved with an ongoing project.

One of the best ways to do that? Do something the other guys don’t have the know-how or big-picture vision to do.

Today “motion control” implies automation, robotics, and electronics. But you’d be amazed at what you can achieve when you combine old-fashioned mechanical engineering with a creativity-minded manufacturer.

So your next design – be it a dishwasher, smoker, tanning bed, refrigerator, or another piece of equipment – needs the support and reliability of heavy duty industrial hinges. You’re working on your hinge design calculations and material specs, and things are getting complicated.