Drop test

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A drop test or drop test is a mechanical check of components in which the component is dropped from a defined height onto a defined surface. It is usually initiated as part of the quality management of a product and serves to guarantee the safety and quality of the product.

In some cases, drop tests are also prescribed by various standards . A company has to fulfill this in order to be allowed to sell a product on a regulated market. Also to obtain quality marks are z. T. drop tests required.

As a criterion for “passing” a drop test, it can be defined, for example, that a live product does not pose a risk of electric shock despite being damaged after it has been dropped . A successful drop test does not mean that the device will not break if you drop it.

Conducting drop tests

Drop tests can be done in several ways:

  • Manual Drop Test - The drop test is performed by one person. The estimate of the height of fall is usually subject to a comparatively high tolerance, so that the results often only serve as a rough estimate.
  • Automatic drop test - in a suitable setup, the requirements for the height of fall and the subsurface are met as precisely as possible. A machine is used to carry out the drop test. Multiple repetitions can also be automated.
  • Numerical drop test - in suitable programs, e.g. B. on the basis of the finite element method , the influence of impacts can already be simulated in the development phase of a product. Weak points and construction errors can be detected by analyzing the mechanical stresses in the material.