We have featured Italian suspension specialist Andreani's DB4 Suspension Dyno before in the pages of International Dealer News, but we have never shown its standard DB4 and the more advanced DB4 Plus side by side and looked in depth at the differences between them.
Though they look similar and share some common features, such as the adjustable speed range (0-2000 mm/s) and stroke range (15-100 mm), the plug-and-play control and acquisition software (with advanced data processing and export functions), the optical temperature sensor and the same maximum load (5.000 N), the DB4 and the DB4 Plus differ in a number of ways.
First of all, the Plus version of this tool (part of a family of Andreani Suspension Dyno machines) has an even more powerful engine than the base model (a 5.5 kW three-phase motor against the 4 kW in the standard DB4), plus an even more sophisticated suite of software tools that allow professional suspension technicians (motorcycle and automotive) to explore a wider range of speed-load combinations.
The choice between the two largely revolves around the kind of suspension tuning that it is going to be required for. For example, on models where the maximum stroke is up to 30 mm (such as shocks for touring bike applications), where the maximum velocity is limited to 620 mm/s, the standard base model DB4 has all the features and software tools that will be needed.
Equally, the standard base model is also fine for applications where even though the maximum stroke is up to 100 mm, the load produced is below 2.000 N., for example mountain bike forks or road shocks.
The standard base model DB4 is a great allrounder on which technicians can test a wide range of forks and shocks with several travels, with pretty small loads at larger strokes.
However, it is for strokes 50 mm or more (off-road shocks and forks) and heavy loads that the DB4 Plus is the better option as it has greater capacity and precision for heavy duty suspension loads.
Due to the 5.5 kW 380V three-phase AC motor it can reach higher speeds and forces than the base model (which has a still excellent 4 kW engine), allowing specialised technicians to calibrate and tune the highest possible suspension forces and highest speed suspensions.
Among its advanced functions, the DB4 Plus features software that includes hysteresis analysis and dissipated energy and damping coefficient calculations, and it is equipped with a sophisticated electronic controller board that ensures stable and reliable automation and extremely precise data acquisition.
It also offers real-time visualisation of the suspension load-speed graph with an intuitive graphical interface, the possibility to compare different click settings and valve options to measure dynamic suspension parameters and to detect any operating anomalies. Custom software also available upon request.
Like the DB4, the Plus model is equipped with a series of adapters to test every kind of suspension and it is delivered with its laptop with software already installed.
ANDREANI GROUP INTERNATIONAL
www.andreanigroup.com
