🔧 Friction Hinge Calculator | Hold Torque and Balance
Size hold torque, breakaway torque, and hinge count for lids, displays, flaps, and fold-down panels.
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| Angle | Factor | Load | Note |
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| Family | Hold | Break | Use |
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| Mount | Factor | Fit | Note |
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Friction hinges is used to hold panels, lids, and displays in a specific position. Unlike other type of hinges, friction hinges dont use springs and detents to hold a panel in place. Instead, friction hinges use the resistance of the hinge to counteract the effects of gravity.
If a person balance the weight of a panel with the friction hinge, the panel will remain in place. Using a friction hinge with insufficient torque will result in the panel sag. Similarly, if a person use a friction hinge with excessive torque, the panel will be dificult to open.
How to choose a friction hinge
There are two type of torque that a person must consider when choosing a friction hinge. The first type of torque to consider is hold torque, which is the resistance that is created to hold a panel in place when the panel is in motion. The second type of torque to consider is breakaway torque; this is the force that a person must use to overcome the stiction that exist between the friction hinge and the panel.
Many people only consider hold torque when choosing a friction hinge, but a person must also consider the breakaway torque so that the panel wont be difficult to move when the panel is first opened. The distance between the pivot point of the hinge and the center of gravity of the panel is referred to as a moment arm. This measurement is half the length of the panel.
This measurement is essential for calculating the amount of torque that a friction hinge must create. The shorter the distance between the hinge and the center of gravity, the less torque the hinge must create. Similarly, the longer the moment arm, the more torque that the hinge must exert.
The deeper a panel is going to be, the more torques the hinge will have to exert to hold that panel. The material of the panel will play a significant role in the amount of weight that the panel will create, which determines the amount of torque the hinge will have to produce. For example, using Baltic birch plywood will create less weight then using laminated glass for the panel.
Using a heavier material will require a friction hinge with more torque. Another component that will play a significant role in determining the amount of torque the hinge will have to exert is the mounting surface on which the panel will rest. Using hardwood will allow the friction hinge to have a strong grip on the panel, but using medium-density fiberboard will allow the friction hinge to suffer from the effects of excessive torque.
Since the torque of a panel will be highest when the panel is nearly closed, a person will have to ensure that the hinge can handle this maximum torque. When calculating the amount of torque the friction hinge will have to produce for a project, there are some complications that a person may encounter. For example, any accessory that may be added to a service hatch will add to the weight of the panel.
A panel made of aluminum may have fittings that will add to the total weight of the panel. Similarly, using an acrylic display door will introduce another complication for the designer because acrylic is a brittle material. In this case, the designer may have to use a polymer friction hinge.
Additionally, using a hinge torque calculator will make it easy for a person to calculate the weight of the panel and the number of hinges that will be needed, as well as the hold and breakaway torque that will be required for the project. When choosing a friction hinge, there are some mistakes that a person may make. The first mistake is to measure the total length of the chassis instead of measuring the moment arm.
The second is to ignore the breakaway torque of the hinge; ignoring the breakaway torque will make the panel difficult to move. The third mistake is to not use two smaller friction hinges rather than one large hinge. Finally, a person should of include a safety margin of 10 to 20 percent in the calculation to provide for possible wear and mismeasurement in the final product.
Friction hinges may encounter some installation and maintenance issues. Over time, the torque that a hinge uses will fade. For this reason, a person might want to use constant torque friction hinges.
Additionally, there will be instances when a person might want to use adjustable friction hinges to alter the amount of torque that the hinge creates after installation. A person will have to make sure that the weight of the panel is verify. The weight of a panel may flex, and the accessories to the panel may shift the center of gravity of that panel.
Ensuring that a person considers all of these factor when purchasing a friction hinge will ensure that the panel remains stable and easy to operate when chosen and purchase correctly.
