March 2019

HYDRAULICS A crucial factor for driving comfort and safety within motor vehicles are suspension components. A renowned automotive manufacturer therefore tests each component thoroughly at its research centre. Within the facility the company operates state- of-the-art test rigs, including a Hexapod test bench: The characteristics of suspension elements as well as their transmission function are determined here. What’s more, test bench can also be used for long-term vibration testing. “The Hexapod concept allows dynamic movements in all six degrees of variance and thus a realistic simulation of environmental conditions. We also generate defined vibrations in order to determine component characteristics,” explained Claudia Giesser-Meyer, head of marketing at Oelhydraulik Hagenbuch AG, manufacturer of Hexapod test benches. The company was founded in 1955 and is a traditional Swiss family-owned company from Ebikon in the Canton of Lucerne. The 50 employees focus primarily on drive technology with oil hydraulics. Experience gathered over decades has been utilised directly in the construction of the Hexapod test benches. Hagenbuch builds versions for a wide variety of applications - High-performance hose provides secure supply to Hexapod drives 22 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS March 2019 www.hpmag.co.uk Dynamic movements in drive cylinder in all six degrees of freedom, test frequency of up to 100 hertz, a tight installation area: installing hydraulic hoses in Hexapod test benches to be used by automotive manufacturers to test suspension elements is a challenge. Oelhydraulik Hagenbuch AG therefore uses flexible high- performance hoses from Eaton’s Aeroquip Triple Crown product range. The Hexapod concept allows dynamic movements in all six degrees of variance and thus a realistic simulation of environmental conditions.