What Is a Drop Tester?
A drop tester is a device that allows a test object to be dropped spontaneously while repeatedly maintaining a specified height and other conditions in order to determine the impact and effects of dropping the object.
In particular, easily portable and compact smartphones and mobile devices require countermeasures against the impact caused by drops in their operating environment. In order to improve the shock resistance of equipment due to drops, which are relatively easy to occur in the operating environment, it is very important to conduct highly reproducible drop tests.
Drop testers are also used to test the impact resistance of heavy cargo and packaging materials.
Uses of Drop Testers
Drop testers are used in the development of a wide variety of products. The main application is for industrial products. Drop tests are conducted under two main conditions: one assuming the logistics process and the other assuming the product’s usage environment.
1. Drop Test Assuming Logistics Process
Drop tests are mainly used for the development of products that are to be placed in a specific location. Examples are large home appliances such as televisions and refrigerators. These products are very unlikely to be dropped in our daily lives.
Large home appliances may accidentally fall during shipping, distribution, and transfer to stores or purchaser’s installation location.
2. Drop Test Assuming the Product’s Usage Environment
Products that may be dropped depending on the environment in which they are used include mobile devices. Small electronic devices such as smartphones and digital cameras are carried around and used, so it is not uncommon for them to experience drops. Drop test are used to verify the durability and reliability of products subjected to such drops.
Principle of Drop Tester
The principle of drop tester can be divided into the following types: Holding-Fall Type, Rotating Drum Type, Rotating Arm Type, and Electromagnetic Hook Type.
1. Holding-Fall Type
The holding-fall type has a simple structure. The object is clamped and secured horizontally using a pneumatic pen cylinder. When the object is dropped naturally from a set height, the cylinder separates from the object in the middle of the fall, allowing only the object to fall. This method is effective when you want to drop the object at the same angle.
2. Rotating Drum Type
In the rotating drum type, the object is placed in the drum and the drum rotates at a constant speed. The object can be repeatedly dropped in the drum at random.
3. Rotating Arm Type
The rotating arm type has a drop test mechanism using an air-driven cylinder and a spring. After the table on which the object is placed is moved at high speed by the air cylinder, the table is rotated by the tension of a strong spring and the object is dropped vertically in a natural manner.
4. Electromagnetic Hook Type
The electromagnetic hook type is a device in which cargo suspended by electromagnetic hooks falls naturally when the hooks are released.
In either case, the height at which the cargo is dropped can be set freely. In addition, the drop operation can be set either by remote control or by a control panel. In addition, some of them are equipped with a high-speed camera and can analyze the state of falling.
Other Information on Drop Testers
Drop Test Applications
In drop impact testing, tests are conducted assuming a situation in which a fall actually occurs. If the product to be used is a medium or large-sized household appliance, it is assumed to be used in a stationary position, but for a cell phone, it is desirable to test for a drop from a position half the height of the user.
If the product is expected to be used in a stationary position, a drop test from the height of a truck when loading cargo is conducted to examine the possibility of dropping the product during the distribution process. In addition, the test should not be limited to simple height, but should also include loading by hand, using a forklift, or using a crane to hang the truck if the load is too heavy to be loaded under special conditions.
For example, it is necessary to drop the load while turning. For example, a cell phone can be assumed to be accelerated, not just dropped, so an impact test is also conducted to physically apply velocity to the object.