Tumble Testing

Tumble testing exposes your product to repetitive random free-fall drops in a controlled repeatable manner. These tests are performed to determine the products ability to survive the many bumps and scrapes it will experience in it’s life with an end-user.

The height of the tumble tester drum sets the height of the drop, and the rotation speed is then tuned to ensure the product receives a full height drop each time. We often compare various test methods for cost-effective breaking, and tumble is one of the cheapest ways to achieve high vibration and shock resistance.

Why tumble test?

Though standard drop testing will provide similar results you don’t get the abrasion, scuffs and wear you do with a tumble tester. The product can bump and bang around the drum leading to scratches, paint chips and plastic deforming. Products can be either tested in functional condition, or non-functional depending upon your requirements.

The item to be tested is placed in the Tumble Tester. The desired number of falls is selected and the machine is set in motion. After this the machine will drop the item onto the base of the machine at random positions (free fall).

What kind of products?

Tumble Testing provides several benefits and is an ideal solution for various industries. For medical companies designing or manufacturing products such as blood pressure or blood sugar level indicators, insuline pumps or for example hearing aids, handheld remote devices, benchtop devices or bedside monitors.
Additionally consumer products such as

• cellphones

• wristwatches

• video and still cameras

• tablet computers

• two-way radios

• garage remotes

• GPS navigation systems

• vehicle mounted systems

• protective devices (smartphone cases)

• remote controls and other household items

There are a lot of applications… effectively if it’s handheld, used on a bench top, or liable to be dropped, banged of bumped during it’s life then tumble testing is a valuable test to run.

Our Heina Tumble Tester

Fall heights: 1000mm or 500mm*

Drums: 2

Maximum Item weight: 5kg

Drop rate: 5 – 15 per minute

* Currently equipped with 2 x 1000mm drums

Tumble testing standards

Heinä’s Tumble Tester is used to test the breakage of various small items and components. This machine can be used to perform the standard tests:

• IEC 60068-2-31 (incorporated IEC 68-2-32 and BS EN 60068-2-32)

• IEC60312 & DIN60312

• MIL-STD-202G (Method 203C)