A new handheld power tool developed by Fraunhofer in collaboration with FEIN will be launched at the upcoming Hannover Messe exhibition in April.
Handheld power tools typically produce powerful vibrations during operation. A new anti-vibration system has been developed that almost entirely eliminates that uncomfortable shaking sensation when using these tools. The new FEIN MultiMaster oscillator vibrates up to 70 percent less and is only half as loud as its predecessor.
Developed by Fraunhofer researchers in collaboration with FEIN, the new technology will be presented at Hannover Messe (Hall 2, Booth C22) from April 13 to 17, 2015.
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF in Darmstadt teamed up with their colleagues at C. & E. Fein GmbH to develop a technology to dramatically reduce vibrations.
Heiko Atzrodt, group manager at Fraunhofer LBF explained that they examined how the system was set up, and further refined it for application to a range of handheld power tools. The technology was first applied to one of FEIN’s oscillating power tools, which moves back and forth almost 19,500 times a minute.
According to Atzrodt, elastomer elements are used to decouple the housing from the motor and act like a form of mechanical suspension and insulation. Consequently, only a tiny portion of motor vibrations is transferred to the housing and to the user. However, if the tool housing was insulated excessively, users would be unable to feel how hard they were pressing the tool onto the material. The researchers had to strike a balance between reducing vibrations and allowing users to retain a feel for what the tool was doing.
The researchers used a simulation to determine the ideal stiffness range before integrating various suspension and insulation devices into a test system. This in turn allowed them to set the basic development parameters.
On application of the anti-vibration system, FEIN was able to reduce vibrations by up to 70 percent compared to previous models. The oscillator now belongs squarely in the zero vibration class for almost all applications, which allows workers to use the tool for up to eight hours at a time. Additionally, the new insulation has reduced the acoustic pressure by half, making the tool easier on the ears.
This low-vibration oscillator is now available on the market as FEIN MultiMaster FMM 350 Q.