The more working parts a machine has, the more likely it is to suffer from damage caused by friction, vibration or from grinding. In addition to the damages that can be seen in the machine itself, a shock isolator can also prevent some of the damages to the surrounding floors and other structures and finally, can also help protect the human component to the machine.
How a Shock Isolator Works
When a machine is working at full speed and all of the parts are working, there is vibration created. While that vibration is creating the product that it is intended to, whether that is energy, or a saleable product, it is also potentially causing damage inside of the machine as well. Left unchecked that damage can damage parts which will eventually lead to a breakdown of the machine. In a small factory or a large facility, even a single machine being down for the count for as little as an hour can cost hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The longer that a machine is down or the more expensive the repair is to complete, the more money is potentially lost.
A shock isolator does as its name implies, it protects and prevents some of the damages caused by the shock effects created by vibrating machine parts. There are a number of different materials that can be used to give some shock isolation protection including one that is created of a viscoelastic polymer. The material that is used must be thick enough to afford the proper level of protection but cannot be so thick that it impedes the movement of the machine parts.
The shock isolator may also be used under the machine so that it does not walk across the floor during its use. When a home washing machine is out of balance, the vibrations will cause it to move away from the wall, potentially leading to damages to the floor beneath it. A machine in a factory may do the same thing with even more potential damages to the floors beneath it. A shock isolator material placed beneath the machine will keep it from moving from its place and protects the floor.
Finally, a shock isolator reduces much of the noise that is involved during the operation of some of these machines. The larger the machine, in most cases, the louder the noise it will generate. That noise can be a major problem for all of the people who are working with the machine. The shock isolator absorbs and disburses some of this noise which allows workers to have fewer problems with hearing or noise related health concerns.
Other Uses of the Shock Isolator
A shock isolator is not only used by factories and other businesses to protect their machines. There are a number of other types of applications that can benefit from a shock isolator. For instance, when moving something that needs to be protected from too many shocks and jostling, this same material can be used to allow safe but effective moves to be completed.
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