Sand Bag Damping

[editor@glue-it.com]

Just made up some small sand bags to fit in a cavity of my milling machine and damp down the vibration.



This idea though could be applied to other machines. Just take care that the sand and bags are secure and cannot get caught in any moving parts.

[mklotz]

Sand bags have other uses in the shop as well. Partially filled sand bags work well for "clamping" constructions while glue dries. My version...

A bean bag for the shop

uses a leather bag and bird shot to make it heavier.

[WmRMeyers]

Sand bags have other uses in the shop as well. Partially filled sand bags work well for "clamping" constructions while glue dries. My version...

A bean bag for the shop

uses a leather bag and bird shot to make it heavier.

I've seen a drill press with the column filled with oiled sand to dampen vibrations. I'm planning on trying it with my 2nd hand Harbor Freight mini-mill. And my Dad's old Craftsman drill press once I get around to doing the restoration on it. Somewheres FAR down the list...

Bill

[editor@glue-it.com]

Sand bags have other uses in the shop as well. Partially filled sand bags work well for "clamping" constructions while glue dries. My version...

A bean bag for the shop

uses a leather bag and bird shot to make it heavier.

I've made some bean bags with cast iron granules in to place on the milling table and dampen workpieces and even the table. Again, mine are just 3.5x4" and weigh ~0.4kg (~14oz).

[editor@glue-it.com]

assembly of the sandbags into the space

[DIYer]

Thanks editor@glue-it.com! We've added your Machine Tool Damper to our Machining category,
as well as to your builder page: editor@glue-it.com's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Machine Tool Damper by editor@glue-it.com

tags: machining

[clavius]

Just made up some small sand bags to fit in a cavity of my milling machine and damp down the vibration.


This idea though could be applied to other machines. Just take care that the sand and bags are secure and cannot get caught in any moving parts.

Just an idea: If you have a smartphone (iphone or android device) there are apps for them that utilize the phone's built in accelerometers to measure and analyze vibrations. Some are sophisticated enough to show a decent if limited frequency spectrum. So while maybe not a lab quality analysis, it may give you a reasonably good before and after comparison to see if things changed very much with the addition of the sand bags.

[editor@glue-it.com]

Just an idea: If you have a smartphone (iphone or android device) there are apps for them that utilize the phone's built in accelerometers to measure and analyze vibrations. Some are sophisticated enough to show a decent if limited frequency spectrum. So while maybe not a lab quality analysis, it may give you a reasonably good before and after comparison to see if things changed very much with the addition of the sand bags.

I tried one of the apps, but it would only give me an instantaneous reading. It would be better if it recorded and averaged a number of spectra.

Do you know of an app that can do this?

[clavius]

I will have to take a look at the ones I have on my other "shop" phone. I don't recall if they do that or not.