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We're looking for some kind of damper to catch the shafts on my wife's loom as they drop, to try and reduce the noise it makes. There are currently little corrugated rubber bumpers on it but they are old and have hardened up. Spares are not available any more, and in any cause they weren't particularly great anyway by the look of it.
You can get little dampers for kitchen drawers to help them soft close, but these are a bit too long. We need something that's at most 25mm tall. Is there some kind of component I can search for that might help?
I'm considering using just a spring - I don't think they'll bounce much as there is some friction involved in their movement.
cut some bump stops out of closed cell foam?
Rotary dampers might do it.
Or there are a few rubber stop/dampers like this.
Also try CPC Farnell
Dont know if these would work but what about the rubber ends for walking sticks?
As a cheap, easy, probably effective fix, I'd be inclined to squirt some blobs of low modulus silicone in place of the current bumpers.
If it doesn't work, it'll have cost less than a fiver to try out.
Goes for the cheaper more basic end of the scale. Lots of things like this available
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-128-x-607mm-felt-floor-protectors-12-pack/p/0344749
Stick them on top of an old fashioned rubber (as in eraser not the American kind)
Ps could you just fold up some old inner tube , or cut mini sections and clamp at both ends to make a sort of air sac
You can get small dampers, eg
https://www.automotioncomponents.co.uk/en/catalog/linkages-rotary-components/pivot-bearings-air-motors-cylinders/cylinders/shock-absorbers/l4620/g+m+c+s+a
but I'd do was suggested above and try rubber foam of various thicknesses and softness.
Some great websites for tinkering things posted up there, thanks 🙂
In the end I ordered some foam rubber rod/piping as a first go. Let's see how durable it ends up being.
If the rubber doesn't work I'd try Sorbothane (non-bounce shock absorbing material)
Didn't the old lego technics have little dampers or suspension units?
We’re looking for some kind of damper to catch the shafts on my wife’s loom
Your wife is The Lady of Shalott and I claim my five guineas.