Since I have moved to transfering energy I very rarely use dampening products at all. I'll use burn materials in acoustics in a barricade setup, but in the mechanical and electrical side of things I try to let the oscillation go as long as it can and tune the parts together.
Super balls, the small one inch diameter high bounce balls you can easily find in gumball machines at grocery stores, etc. Have an interesting property that release energy very rapidly unlike say rubber and other soft rubber like materials. For that reason Super Balls make excellent audio feet, I used to plop a Supper Ball on a Snapple bottle cap and three of those little assemblies would support one component. The Snapple bottle caps prevent the component from sliding off the table. It's the lateral motion of these little roller bearing assemblies that provides isolation in the horizontal plane. Another innerestin' material, and you've seen me use this word several times at least, is viscoelastic material. Now, the thing about viscoelastic material is that when it is constrained, I.e., when pressure is applied to the surface area vertical forces (vibrations) are compelled to move only in the horizontal direction where the vibrational forces are converted to heat by shear forces in the viscoelastic material. Although viscoelastic material looks like rubber it does not act like rubber.
Those two things will change the way you look at damping forever. You have my absolute guarantee.
Geoff gee did I really take theoretical physics in school? Kait
Machina Dynamica
"Silly Putty is a toy based on silicone polymers which display unusual physical properties. It bounces, but breaks when given a sharp blow and can also flow like a liquid. It contains a viscoelastic liquid silicone, a type of non-Newtonian fluid, which makes it act as a viscous liquid over a long time period but as an elastic solid over a short time period. It was originally created by accident during research into potential rubber substitutes for use by the United States in World War II."
I concur. Rubber sucks.
Geoff Kait
Machina Dynamica
Since I have moved to transfering energy I very rarely use dampening products at all. I'll use burn materials in acoustics in a barricade setup, but in the mechanical and electrical side of things I try to let the oscillation go as long as it can and tune the parts together.
michael green
MGA/RoomTune
Super balls, the small one inch diameter high bounce balls you can easily find in gumball machines at grocery stores, etc. Have an interesting property that release energy very rapidly unlike say rubber and other soft rubber like materials. For that reason Super Balls make excellent audio feet, I used to plop a Supper Ball on a Snapple bottle cap and three of those little assemblies would support one component. The Snapple bottle caps prevent the component from sliding off the table. It's the lateral motion of these little roller bearing assemblies that provides isolation in the horizontal plane. Another innerestin' material, and you've seen me use this word several times at least, is viscoelastic material. Now, the thing about viscoelastic material is that when it is constrained, I.e., when pressure is applied to the surface area vertical forces (vibrations) are compelled to move only in the horizontal direction where the vibrational forces are converted to heat by shear forces in the viscoelastic material. Although viscoelastic material looks like rubber it does not act like rubber.
Those two things will change the way you look at damping forever. You have my absolute guarantee.
Geoff gee did I really take theoretical physics in school? Kait
Machina Dynamica
Barry Diament has some V interesting thoughts & experiance with this approach.
http://www.barrydiamentaudio.com/vibration.htm
Bill - on the Hill
Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
- just an “ON” switch, Please –
Someone who recognizes the value of horizontal and rotational isolation! Hialeah!
Geoff Kait
Machina Dynamica
You are supposed to be using Flubber!
Bill - on the Hill
Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
- just an “ON” switch, Please –
Nothing beats Silly Putty.
"Silly Putty is a toy based on silicone polymers which display unusual physical properties. It bounces, but breaks when given a sharp blow and can also flow like a liquid. It contains a viscoelastic liquid silicone, a type of non-Newtonian fluid, which makes it act as a viscous liquid over a long time period but as an elastic solid over a short time period. It was originally created by accident during research into potential rubber substitutes for use by the United States in World War II."
Nothing sounds like Silly Putty.
Geoff Kait
Machina Dynamica