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  • Reducing Noise from machine

    Hi All,

    Im currently trying to learn how to make a good coffee with my new HX machine.

    But I noticed it makes a fair bit of noise due to vibration from pump and the S/S body; together with the cups jumping around on the warmer tray.

    Can anyone suggest a suitable product for me to install to reduce the noise ie some type of tape which will cushion the vibrations, but no issues with heat etc.

    thanks
    Ren

  • #2
    Re: Reducing Noise from machine

    Ren,

    What brand/model of HX do you have ..... or more importantly does it have a vibe pump or a rotary?

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Reducing Noise from machine

      Hello JavaB,

      It is a VBE Domobar Super.

      It has a vibe pump.

      Ren

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Reducing Noise from machine

        Ren....

        Well there is an interesting quote on that machine:

        "First - its very noisy. Lots of vibration from inside the machine, and the pump just rattles the counter."

        So you are not alone!!

        You need some fairly inert insulation which wont deteriorate with heat and steam... (the same sort of thing Im looking at for boiler insulation on mine - but that is thermal insulation)...

        Fibreglass around the pump might help.... but who wants glass wool fibres in their coffee... and you would need to be careful not to contain the heat and overheat the pump.

        Most of the more normal sound absorbent materials wont survive very well in that environment..... so something like silicon rubber sheeting is probably the best. Mal is trying to organise a bulk purchase..

        See:

        http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1164637902

        This can be fixed in place with silicon adhesive..... you could place this under the edges of the cup warming trays etc to stop them rattling.

        or the other thing is pure wool felt.... not quite as good with moisture but will take over 120 deg C.....

        It sounds like they havent used good vibration mounts on the pump.... it is not being isolated from the body as well as it should be..... Might even be worth checking it isnt touching the body somewhere it shouldnt be.

        See if someone else can come up with some better ideas - but it looks like this is a problem with that model

        By the way, it uses a standard Ulka pump.... which although more noisy than a rotary.... normally isnt that bad!

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Reducing Noise from machine

          Hello Ren,

          this was one of the problems we found when we were importing them some years ago. Dont know about newer machines and it could be an entirely different story now, but they used to be very "roughly" built.

          They used only have the regular rubber pump mounts that are used on everything, and the bolts go straight through that into the floor or bottom metal plate of the machine. Its nothing out of the ordinary, but just make sure the flexible water inlet/outlet hoses (well, they used to be flexible) arent pulled tight particularly around bends.

          If you dont find any really glaring causes (eg cant find something rubbing directly on to the body or something that has come loose),  you can cut blocks of hard "foam" insulation (like the stuff that foam cartons are made of) to the right size to place between any offending bits and the body but I stress the foam must not touch the boiler or any pipes carrying hot water as it tends to "shrink" away when placed up against something hot.

          Having said that, if its a new machine I would be heading straight back to the vendor as this can be looked at under guarantee or should I say, we would try and quiet down an overly vibrating machine without charge for a client who had purchased the machine from us.

          Regardz,
          FC.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Reducing Noise from machine

            Originally posted by Fresh_Coffee link=1166015288/0#4 date=1166047397
            Hello
            They used only have the regular rubber pump mounts that are used on everything, and the bolts go straight through that into the floor or bottom metal plate of the machine.  Its nothing out of the ordinary, but just make sure the flexible water inlet/outlet hoses (well, they used to be flexible) arent pulled tight particularly around bends.
            Ren,

            Maybe the bottom plate isnt stiff enough and is resonating with the pump, amplifying the vibrations. Persue the machine vendor first as always, but another option may be to add another plate or U channel to the underside where the pump bolts go thru to stiffen up the panel. But dont think about modding it until you have exhausted other avenues as it may stuff the warrantee. However the vendor may not have an issue with a simple mod such as that. :-?

            Matt

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Reducing Noise from machine

              Were assuming your machine is only noisy when you turn on the pump to extract coffee.

              If it makes this noise all the time, your machine might be in "pump on" mode all the time. Ive heard of this happening accidentally while people are getting to know their new machines and are unsure of the correct lever position.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Reducing Noise from machine

                Sounds bad. But if insulation is the go, there is a heat-resistant sound insulation material used to adhere to the insides of cover boxes on boat inboard engines. Places like Whitworths marine sells it. Maybe too thick however.

                -Robusto

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Reducing Noise from machine

                  Insulating your machine for sound will also insulate it for heat and moisture retention. Make sure you want to subject your machine and all of its components to that beforehand. As well as subjecting the components to temperatures and humidity conditions above normal aging them faster and corrosion to occur at an accelerated pace you will most likely also change the thermo dynamics of the brewgroup. Requiring you to adjust your flushing/temp surfing routine. The degree of these changes will of course depend on the individual machine and where and how it is insulated.

                  Insulating the boiler is one thing, but insulating the entire machine is a whole different animal all together.


                  Java "Something to think about" phile
                  Toys! I must have new toys!!!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Reducing Noise from machine

                    Originally posted by Robster link=1166015288/0#6 date=1166062141
                    Were assuming your machine is only noisy when you turn on the pump to extract coffee.
                    Good point Robster....

                    The vibe pumps in most machines make far more noise when there is no resistance to water flow.

                    Is it much better when there is a correctly loaded and locked PF in place (by correctly loaded I mean the amount of coffee and the grind is correct for a 60ml -double- in 25 seconds....)

                    If there is no PF fitted, or a gusher of coffee is coming out- there is little or no back pressure - and the pump is generally far more noisy.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Reducing Noise from machine

                      Originally posted by Robster link=1166015288/0#6 date=1166062141
                      Were assuming your machine is only noisy when you turn on the pump to extract coffee.

                      If it makes this noise all the time, your machine might be in "pump on" mode all the time. Ive heard of this happening accidentally while people are getting to know their new machines and are unsure of the correct lever position.
                      Youve just brought up a good point Robster but I dont think its the case here because the type of noise the pump will make in this scenario is a kind of quiet buzzing. What you are referring to goes something like this:
                      New owner leaves the group lever in midway position ( ie neither right up or right down);
                      Dosent realise that when in this position the cam on the lever is just activating the pump switch but, the lever isnt far enough up to open the group and allow the water to flow.

                      What this means is the pump is running but the water "flow" is fully choked, and it reverts to that quiet buzzing sound I mentioned above.  If left indefinitely, this burns out the pump, but it doesnt really vibrate big time.

                      We put an explanation of this in with every Lever machine we sell, to stop new owners burning out the pump at first use, then going all out about "warranty".

                      I just re read the original question and saw the word "new" so really the only recourse is to take it back to the vendor to be checked and fixed as necessary.

                      Hope this helps.

                      Regardz,
                      FC.


                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Reducing Noise from machine

                        Hi Robster,

                        Yes its noisy only when brewing coffee.

                        Also in terms of returning the machine to the supplier:
                        I understand you cant beat the CS site sponsors for service, but these machines are not sold to a noise specification (dB) therefore how can the vendor argue that its not normal. The other thing is the suppliers dont demonstate the machines with 12 or so espresso cups on top rattling away.

                        I think it time to open it up, and place absorbent pads where required.

                        thanks for everyone help.
                        Ren

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Reducing Noise from machine

                          Ren,

                          Why dont you ask them what they might recommend to help the probelm. They may have a soultion and their fix may not affect the warrantee. Once you open it up and mod it you run the risk of voiding said warrantee.

                          Also, feel the underside of the panel the pump is attached to whilst it is running. If you can feel excessive vibration can you pack some foam under it (between bench and machine) to dampen the vibs?

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Reducing Noise from machine

                            Ren,

                            My quote above re this model being noisy was from an official test of the machine - a unit supplied direct from the manufacturer for testing.... and it shook the bench!

                            So it is a design "feature" of this model unfortunately!!! Next time you will need to get a demo of a machine fully set up (with cups etc)

                            Good luck with your mods.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Reducing Noise from machine

                              Ren,

                              the presence or not of formal noise specs in these cases is irrelevant, and no self respecting supplier would not want to try and resolve this problem with you particularly if you are good natured with your request for them to help.

                              I really think you should give them a go before tinkering inside the thing, particularly as doing anything to the machine could cause problems later with the guarantee.

                              Regardz,
                              FC.

                              Comment

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