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This article details about the numerous advanced mass damper setups (Japanese: 上級マスダンパーセッティング, Joukyuu Masu Dampaa Seddingu) used by various Mini 4WD racers.
Types of mass damper setup[]
There are three types of mass damper setup. They are:
- Normal
- Hanging type
- Pendulum type
This article detailing about the hanging type and the pendulum type setups.
Hanging type[]
Also known as the lantern, the hanging type is a very common advanced mass damper setup type.
The parts in this type consists of the following:
- Base - Made from either the modified plastic or FRP plate. Usually sit on the top, near-center of the car.
- Weights - Movable weights that were installed to the base.
- Support arms/sheet - The arms/sheet fixed to the base that extend to either the front or the rear. Usually a flexible sheet cut from the Mini 4WD Catcher or a pair of modified FRP plates.
- Joints - Movable joints that connects the end of the support arms/sheet and the bumper/rear stay together. Usually spring-loaded screws, but hinges were also used.
Because there are two types of moving elements and the fact that the base is placed at the near-center top, the impact-dispersing effect of the movable weight is greatly increased.
There are three types of the hanging setups. They are:
- Normal lantern - In which the base was sitting a center top of the bodyshell, with arms/sheet extend toward the bumper or the rear stay.
- Body lantern - In which the bodyshell is sitting on top of the base, allowing the base to sit on top of the chassis instead.
- Short-stroke lantern - Similar to the body lantern, but has the base moving away from the center, resulting in shorter throw but faster reaction time.
Most racers opted for either the body lantern or the short-stroke lantern, as the normal lantern setup makes it difficult to remove the bodyshell for maintenance or setting change.
Body lantern has the most impact-dispersing effect out of all three, but has slower reaction time due to longer support arms/sheet which results in longer throw.
Short-stroke lantern, which has the shorter support arms/sheet, has the fastest reaction time, but its impact-dispersing effect is comparable to normal lantern setup.
Pendulum type[]
Also known as the Tohoku Damper, this type of setup is typically only used on the rear of the car.
Whereas the normal mass damper setup and hanging type setup use linear motions for its weight, the pendulum type, having the weights fixed to the swing arms that attached to the joints (usually hinges) which acts as a pivot, moves in a circular motion. This creates additional momentum for the weight to absorbs the shock, while having shorter throw.
The parts in this type consists of the following:
- Swing arms - The part where it also doubles as the base.
- Weights - Unlike other types, the weights are immovable and were fixed to the swing arms.
- Joints - Movable joints that connects the end of the swing arms and the rear stay together. Usually ball joints and hinges.
Pendulum type is not without its weakness depending on how it was set up; for setup using the ball joints, there's the chance the swing arms/weights will detach itself from the car.