Motion Control Engineering & Manufacturing Resources

Workers deal with a lot of equipment and applications that can cause trauma to their hands. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 102,350 total hand injuries occurred in 2020. 

At first glance, you might suspect that the only place you’re going to see a Vectis™ Counterbalance is in an industrial setting, perhaps mounted on an enormous machine shield, or maybe some type of oversize industrial tank lid. 

Hinge installation does not have to be the same as it was decades ago. In fact, more than 10 decades of mechanical motion control research and engineering design efforts have led to the introduction of a new line of hinges that provide precise control and reliable results every time you open the lid they are installed to manage. 

For fans of smoked meat, investing in a Smokin’ Ugly Drum Smoker makes a lot of sense. Enjoying prime rib, brisket or turkey smoked in your backyard - preferably in a drum smoker that can be set and checked on minimally until the cooking is complete - sounds like the ideal summer meal plan. 

If you’re designing a product with a hinge, there’s a decent chance you want it hidden away from the world.

From the retractable keyboard tray you use at work, to the industrial refrigerator door in the restaurant kitchen and the bar pass-through at the diner where you got breakfast today, hinges are a part of everyday life. They also factor into the various tasks at work and the product design of new must-haves for today’s society. 

No one wants to have a heavy lid come down on their hand while they are focused on completing a project. Likewise, no one wants to see someone else injured when there are hinges available to help avoid these accidents. 

Choosing the right motion control solution can involve some tricky elements. When it’s time to understand the type of counterbalance or spring-assist hinge you need and the best way to move forward with the installation, it helps to have a visual guide as a resource. The Vectis pages provide both written content and videos that do everything from explaining how a Vectis hinge can be a better choice than a gas hinge to how to install and adjust the hinge solution you choose. 

If you want to design a product with a heavy lid or door, it’s useful to research how engineers have solved similar problems with other products.

Does the lid of that grill, smoker, or barbecue pit you designed fly backward or slam shut unexpectedly? Blame the cheap hinges!