Drop Testing

Drop testing, which is also called “dynamic impact testing,” looks at what happens to test parts when they are dropped randomly or hit over and over again during shipping, handling, or other field service situations. Drop testing is an expedited test intended to identify mechanical and structural flaws that may not always be seen in shock and vibration tests. Drop testing can be used to assess a product’s packaging’s resilience. In the end, this will assist manufacturers in identifying potential warranty issues resulting from subpar packaging or mishandling instructions.

Impacts are frequent regardless of the mode of transportation—air, sea, train, or over the road. When another piece of freight bumps up against a box on a carrier truck, it could cause impacts.

Moreover, dynamic impacts may be brought on by unintentional collisions with other cargo during the loading or unloading of vehicles, by packages bumping while being sorted on conveyors, or by any other situation.

Methods for Drop Testing

For general simulation testing and drop testing, Keystone Compliance suggests testing packages for the ISTA Series.

The ISTA 3A Test

A dynamic test is known as ISTA 3A Package testing is performed on each packaged item before it is sent through a postal delivery system. Four different types of goods that are frequently sent as individual packages, whether by air or ground, are subject to the ISTA 3A testing standard.

Any packed item that does not fall within one of the categories for a compact, flat, or elongated packaged item is considered to be a standard packaged item. Standard packaging for a product includes cylindrical containers, plastic, hardwood, or traditional fiberboard cartons.

Any packaged item whose volume is less than 13,000 cm3 (800 in3), whose longest dimension is 350 mm (14 in) or less, and whose weight is 4.5 kg (10 lb) or less is considered a little packaged item.

Any packaged item whose shortest dimension is 200mm (8 inches) or less is considered flat. The following longest dimension is four or more times bigger than the preceding shortest one. Volume is at least 13,000 cm3 (800 in3).

Any packaged item with the longest dimension of 900mm (36 in) or more is considered lengthy. The other dimensions of the packages are each no more than 2% of the longest dimension.

Inventories and Capabilities

Our drop test apparatus can produce exact drops at various angles and heights onto various surfaces. Our trio of shakers can replicate loose cargo testing scenarios that could arise while a shipment of a product is in motion.

The free-fall drop method used in ASTM D5276, Drop Testing of Loaded Containers, to test loaded boxes, cylindrical containers, and bags and sacks applies to vessels weighing less than 110 lbs.

ASTM D5487, Simulated Drop using Shock Machines, talks about how to use shock machines to simulate the effects of vertical drops and how long they will last.

MIL-STD 810 Test Method 516 Shock Testing: Assesses detrimental impacts on the material’s structural and functional integrity. The shock’s amplitude, velocity, and duration are all things that could sustain damage.

202 MIL-STD determines the consequences of the random, repeated impact on parts through random drop testing. Handling, shipping, and other field service circumstances frequently result in random effects.