Testing vibration power - how would you go about it?

Hello guys.
I have a question that is not related to flashlights in any way.¨
But my experience here at BLF is that some of you guys have weird hobbies, interests and expertise in other fields as well.

My fiancee and I are actually writing a comparative test of vibrating adult toys. Yup, vibrators.
It’s ment to be a serious test, and we are getting product samples from big, serious, international suppliers.
This should be fun! :smiley:

Anyways, we thought we’d try to make the test a bit scientific, not just subjective.
With that in mind, I started wondering if there is any reasonable, objective way of testing vibration power in such toys?

How would you girls and guys go about measuring vibration power? (like, scientifically!)

Yes, I am serious.

Shoot! :slight_smile:

Do you have experience with Arduinos? Gluing or taping an accelerometer to the vibrator and measuring its frequency and acceleration might be a good start.

Lmao. I’ll think about this. But thanks for the solid laugh

Would there be enough frequency resolution?

Also, factors like pressure and type of medium the device is pressed against will need to be considered.

Instructions unclear. D4V2 stuck in butt!

Well… I think there’s really only one way to truly test the vibration power…

This civilization must extinct.

Omg. I’m very sorry ! :cry: :innocent: :smiley:

That’s something to keep in mind. I’ve been looking through AD’s catalog of accelerometers and there are a few parts with >1kHz BW and >50g range. Finding parts in stock, that’s a different story.

According to this paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254343367_Clinical_and_research_concerns_with_vibratory_stimulation_A_review_and_pilot_study_of_common_stimulation_devices

Another thing to keep in mind. Tape may not be enough to keep the accelerometer in place. Perhaps super glue or epoxy?

I have no experience with Arduionos unfortunately. Been wanting to play with it though. Just never found an excuse for buying it.
It’s possibly a good idea.

But, as mentioned, there are questions regarding frequency spectrum, pressure and so on. I guess that the weight (mass) of the moving part within the vibrating motor should say something about momentum, which together with frequency and moving distance should equate to some number. But physics is not really my strongest field.

Simple , stupid solutions are preferable I think.

Anyways, thanks for all serious and all funny answers :slight_smile:

Measuring the counterweight attached to the motor would be a good starting point, but the weight of the entire device can dampen and absorb the vibrations as well. Another idea might be to use slow-mo mode on your camera to see how much the vibrator moves. You can possibly see and calculate the frequency as well.

You can even use a microphone to record the sound it makes and see what frequency it’s at. That might be the simplest way to measure frequency.

Keep us posted on your progress, this is very interesting.

This might sound crude…, but. If you found scales that could measure the max weight of a session, like some thermometers can show you the hottest temp of the day. I can see a kind of way to measure the highest pressure per equipment. And maybe, also sustained pressure over time…

This sounds alot like testing flashlights!

Well, you could take the things apart and try to identify the parts. You could then try to source specs for the actual vibration unit. Additionally, you could then find out if some of the cheaper models actually have the same mechanical innards of some more expensive models.

Maybe immerse each vibrator in a tank of water and check how many bubbles come off when they are turned on? Perhaps you can use a camera to check the opacity of the water. More opaque means more bubbles means stronger vibration.

Assuming these even produce enough vibration to make bubbles. I don’t really know.

Strap it on something that will amplify the noise and record with a microphone or a sound meter ? (not sure how much they cost)

And…cue the Anduril 2 BLF vibrator. Yeah, I know where the door is, I’ll get my coat. :stuck_out_tongue:

The assumption that more is better may not be accurate. Different devices are going to be different sizes and materials and material thicknesses. You are probably going to proceed anyway. Many decades ago while trying to analyze driveline vibrations I held a plastic 5 gallon pail on top of a floor shifter in a truck. The pail amplified things dramatically. That was the bottom of a hard plastic pail resting on a pretty hard plastic shift knob. Simply touching the bottom edge of the pail to any portion of the shift shaft was quite loud. I suspect that shift knob would have been better than any of the devices you have.

Check out the Android app iDynamics. Securely attach the smartphone to the toy (like tightly with duct tape). The app is made to characterize vibration and shock. I think it will calculate a relevant value for you. (like average acceleration or something similar)

I work in the field of vibration analysis for condition monitoring of industrial machinery. Not touching this one with a 10ft pole. :confounded:

…or with a 10in pole?