Design Your Perfect Counterbalance Hinge with Ease

How To Use The Vectis® DYO App

1. Figure out Your Starting Specs

Use our proprietary DYO app above by simply plugging in your product’s three critical parameters of the load to be counterbalanced:

• Lid weight 
• Horizontal distance to the lid center of gravity from the hinge pivot axis in the closed position
• Vertical distance to the lid center of gravity from the hinge pivot axis in the closed position

2. Pick a Vectis Hinge

Select the appropriate Vectis model (200, 600, 1200, or 1800) and the desired quantity of hinges. Use the app’s intuitive slide bar to fine-tune the torque curve and achieve the ideal open and close feel for your application.

3. Determine How Many Hinges You Need

Consider the specific needs of your lid design when deciding how many hinges to use.

• For unusually long or heavy lids, multiple hinges may be necessary to provide even weight distribution and proper support.
• Account for mounting constraints, especially if hinges need to support the middle of the lid.
  

4. Try out the Counterbalancing Action You Want

Use the app’s graph to visualize and modify the counterbalancing action:

• The orange Spring Torque Curve line represents the spring-based torque applied at different angles. Adjust parameters to align the orange line with the black lid torque line for optimal performance.
• Lighter orange lines indicate the built-in friction band that helps hold the lid in place. When the black torque line falls within the lighter orange lines, the lid remains stationary.

Note: Inputs are interactive; altering one value may automatically adjust others.|

5. Designate the Built-In Open Stop Angle

Enter the desired open stop angle in the Lid “open stop” Angle input box. You can set this angle anywhere between 45° and 90°.

• Variables A and B define the hinge geometry, which will be permanently configured in the factory.
• The spring settings establish the initial adjustment for the hinge.

Together, these parameters tailor the hinge to your exact needs, and the result is reflected on the orange Spring Torque Curve line.