When trying to include an innovative or safety-minded motion control design in your product, there’s a sneaky-confusing word you should know: torque. 

Torque is very important.

Maximizing comfort and value in an interior space is both fun and challenging for home and hospitality designers. It’s the #1 priority for tiny homes and studio apartments, but also a worthwhile endeavor for those designing in larger spaces.

That’s why multipurpose and fold-out furniture is quickly gaining traction in the home and hospitality markets.

Fold-out and multipurpose furniture either serve multiple functions, allow for easy storage, or both.

Consider an upscale restaurant on a busy Saturday evening.

Inspecting several high-end refrigerators quickly reveals the widespread use of hidden hinges in premium models. As the name suggests, these hinges are invisible to the casual glance and therefore create a more seamless look in the kitchen.

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!

Your project is unusual. 

You aim to solve a unique problem that requires a custom solution. Adding mechanical motion control would perfect your design. 

But is it possible?

In the world of motion control solutions, there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach.

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. 

From the retractable keyboard tray you use at work to the cupboard doors in your kitchen, hinges are a part – often unnoticed – of everyday life. 

Sometimes, they take on bigger applications, such as industrial refrigerator door in the restaurant kitchen or the counter pass-through at a store.

In these more demanding scenarios, selecting the appropriate type of hinge, whether it's robust lid supports or adaptable gas spring hinges, becomes a significant factor in maintaining functionality and longevity.

The term "roughing it" doesn’t apply to "glamping." 

Short for glamorous camping, glamping is a way for people to connect with nature without sacrificing the comforts of modern living. In fact, glamping brings a bit of luxury to a camping scenario. 

When designing glamping furniture, the key is to balance style and functionality.

One crucial component in achieving this balance is using kinematic hinges. These innovative hinges add an element of luxury to glamping furniture design and provide smooth and controlled motion, making them an essential feature for glamping furniture.

While hospitality design trends come and go (and then tend to come back again), the latest wave of hotel interior design seems to be leaning more traditional and toward creating a warm, welcoming ambiance.