What is the purpose of tumble testing?

The tumble tester, also known as a repeated free fall tester, is used to evaluate components and small items’ ability to resist breakage resulting from knocks, jolts, and random drops encountered during use or servicing. A wide range of handheld items, from cell phones to insulin pumps, can be dropped or experience other sorts of impacts during their lifetimes. In fact, if a product is regularly handled by individuals, then it’s fairly likely that it will be dropped, knocked around, or subjected to some kind of blunt force during its lifetime.  

Tumble testing simulates the wear and tear that a particular product may face over its lifetime. This kind of testing provides manufacturers and packaging engineers with insight regarding the strength and rigidity of their product.  

Manufacturers can use tumble test results to improve their product’s ability to absorb various physical impacts. Benefits of tumble testing include: 

• Durability assessments 

• Package validation 

• Cost savings 

• Standards compliance 

• A more effective and safe product 

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How is a tumble test performed?   

 

Tumble testing is simple, effective, and easy to understand. Below, we’ve outlined the general process for conducting a tumble test:  

1. The item to be tested is placed inside one of the fall chambers. 
2. The desired number of falls is programmed, and the machine is set in motion. 
3. The machine’s rotation speed is adjusted, so the test sample lands near the middle of the chamber’s fall landing area. 
4. The machine will drop the test sample onto the chamber’s landing area at random orientations (free-fall) for the desired number of cycles. 

WESTPAK’s machine provides 1,000 mm (1 meter) falls at a rate between 5 to 15 falls per minute for each of its five chambers. This allows for some flexibility when it comes to how a particular product can undergo tumble testing. As a manufacturer, you can specify whether you want your product to experience more or less drops in one of our specialized fall chambers.  

The engineers at WESTPAK are experienced and skilled when it comes to performing tumble tests, overseeing the testing process, and interpreting results.  Our team members take into account your particular needs and specifications when conducting tumble tests, while at the same time ensuring the process adheres to industry standards and protocols.  

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What’s difference Between Drop Testing and Tumble Testing

 

Drop testing and tumble testing tend to go hand in hand with one another. Conducting the drop impact test requires packages to free-fall onto corners, edges, and flat surfaces. Many test procedures perform all of the impacts from the same drop height, regardless of orientation. This allows manufacturers to determine how their products and product packaging systems are affected when dropped from a uniform height onto different surfaces.  

​​Tumble testing, on the other hand, is more concerned with how a product reacts to smaller, continuous, more frequent impacts. These kinds of impacts often affect a product differently than a rigidly controlled drop. Used in conjunction with a drop test, a tumble test can provide manufacturers with a more in-depth and realistic view into how the various components of their product respond to continuous impacts and persistent physical stress.

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WESTPAK testing options include:​​​ 

• ​​​​IEC 60068-2-31 Procedure 1 and 2: The specimen shall be allowed to fall freely in its normal attitudes of transport or use.​​​ 

• ​​​​MIL-STD-202-203: The random-drop test is used to determine the effects on component parts of random, repeated impact due to handling, shipping, and other field service conditions. The test is an accelerated test designed to indicate structural and mechanical weaknesses of types not necessarily detected in shock and vibration tests.​​​ 

• ​​​​Big Tumble: The random-drop test is used to determine the effects on component parts of random, repeated impact due to handling, shipping, and other field service conditions. The test is an accelerated test designed to indicate structural and mechanical weaknesses of types not necessarily detected in shock and vibration tests.​​​​​ 

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How many times is a product typically dropped during tumble testing? 

 

The number of times a product is dropped during tumble testing varies based on a manufacturer’s needs and goals. The total number of drops usually equates to the amount of impacts the OEM has determined the product will experience over its lifetime. With WESTPAK’s tumble testing machine, we can induce 5 to 15 falls per minute at a height of 1,000 mm. The ideal drop rate for a particular product ultimately depends on the product’s anticipated use environment.  

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What types of products should undergo tumble testing?

 

Tumble testing is a common test method that can prove useful for a wide range of products. From medical devices to consumer goods, tumble testing can provide manufacturers in various industries with beneficial insights regarding the durability of their products. Examples of products that commonly undergo tumble testing include:  

• Glucose meters and monitors  

• Hearing aids 

• Insulin pumps  

• Cell phones 

• Cameras  

• Remote controls  

• Protective accessories 

• Laptops and tablet devices 

• Emergency equipment  

• Watches 

• Wearables 

 

At WESTPAK, we can conduct tumble tests on a wide array of products, including medical devices, electronic gadgets, and more. Our premium lab facilities and highly-trained staff ensure that you’ll get accurate test results that provide you with the information you need to optimize your products. Contact WESTPAK today to schedule a tumble test for your product.  

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