How to Measure Squishiness?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods for measuring the "squishiness" of materials, particularly small pieces of rubber. Participants explore various tools and theories related to this measurement, including both theoretical and practical approaches.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about tools for measuring squishiness, specifically in rubber materials.
  • Another suggests using Hooke's law, proposing a method involving a spring to measure the force required to compress the material over a certain distance.
  • A third participant mentions the Shore durometer scale as a common method for rating squishiness, providing links to relevant machines.
  • A further contribution describes a gauge that measures squishiness by pressing a rounded surface into the rubber, noting the variability in rubber and the existence of different scales and tips for measurement.
  • One participant briefly mentions the concept of Bulk Modulus without further elaboration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple methods and tools for measuring squishiness, indicating a lack of consensus on a single approach. Various viewpoints and techniques are discussed without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Some methods mentioned depend on specific definitions of squishiness and may require further clarification on the conditions under which they apply.

poof
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Hi, i wanted to know how you measure the squishiness of something, like a small piece of rubber. Is there some sort of tool that does this?
 
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Maybe you can use Hookes law F=-kx. use a spring and push on the material and see how much force was required to compress the material a certain distance.
 
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Pantaz called it right. You measure "squisheyness" with a gauge that presses a rounded surface into the rubber under test. The pin is spring loaded, and as the rubber presses the pin back towards the gauge, an indicator gives a readout. As I recall, this continues until the surface around the pin eventually meshes with the rubber. Then you record the reading.
Since rubber varies widely, there are different scales and corresponding tips that you can use.

- Mike
 
Bulk Modulus
 

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