Introduction

A linear damper is built with an internal spring in the second half of its stroke. When a door or drawer approaches the closed position, the moving part begins to compress this spring. The compression generates resistance that automatically slows down the closing motion, producing a smooth and quiet close. When the door or drawer is opened again, the spring releases, and the energy from the spring pushes the internal damping oil through a controlled channel, allowing the linear damper to reset smoothly and prepare for the next closing cycle.

Choosing the right linear damper requires careful consideration of several factors. An incorrect selection can result in a closing feel that is too heavy, insufficient buffering, or a mismatch with the available installation space. The following steps will guide you through the process of selecting the right linear damper for your application.If you are not yet familiar with how a linear damper works, we recommend reading What Is a Linear Damper first

Step 1 — Confirm Your Application Type

Due to the structural characteristics of linear dampers, they are best suited for two main types of installation:

Slide-based systems Linear dampers are widely used in drawer systems, sliding doors, and push-pull mechanisms. The damper is fixed at the end of the slide rail. When the moving part reaches the end of its travel, it compresses the spring inside the linear damper and generates a soft close effect.

Door panel systems Linear dampers are also commonly installed inside vertical-opening doors such as refrigerator doors and household appliance panels. As the door closes, it contacts a fixed point that compresses the spring, generating resistance that slows down the final stage of the closing motion.

Applications where linear dampers are not suitable Linear dampers are not designed for rotational motion. Applications involving hinges, flip covers, or rotating structures are not suitable for linear dampers. In these cases, a rotary damper is the appropriate choice.

Step 2 — Understand How Linear Dampers Work

Understanding the damping behavior of a linear damper is essential for making the right selection. The working process occurs in two stages:

Stage 1 — Closing stage (damping activated) As the door or drawer approaches the end of its travel, it begins to compress the spring in the second half of the linear damper's stroke. This compression generates resistance that automatically decelerates the closing motion. The first half of the travel is completely unaffected, so the overall opening and closing feel remains natural and effortless. The damping effect of the linear damper only activates in the final stage, just before the door or drawer reaches the fully closed position.

Stage 2 — Opening stage (reset) When the door or drawer is opened, the compressed spring begins to release. The energy from the spring pushes the internal damping oil through a controlled internal channel, allowing the linear damper to reset smoothly and quietly. Once reset, the damper is ready to provide damping for the next closing cycle.

The result for your product:

Resistance is only generated at the end of travel, where damping is needed most
Opening motion is completely unaffected, maintaining a natural user experience
Impact is reduced, noise is lowered, and hardware components are protected

To see how this damping behavior works in real sliding applications, see Linear Dampers for Sliding Systems

Step 3 — Determine the Required Damping Force

Selecting the correct damping force is one of the most critical steps when choosing a linear damper. The resistance generated by the spring compression must match the mass of the moving part and its speed at the point of contact.

●Damping force too high: The closing feel becomes heavy at the end of travel, and the user may need to apply extra force to fully close the door or drawer

●Damping force too low: The damping effect is insufficient, and the door or drawer may still produce impact and noise at the end of travel

The TRD-LE linear damper offers a damping force range of 50N to 1000N, which is significantly higher than the torque range of typical rotary dampers. This makes linear dampers well suited for large furniture pieces and household appliances that require a higher level of damping force.

If you are unsure which damping force is appropriate for your application, contact our engineering team with details about the moving part's weight and closing speed, and we will recommend the right linear damper model.

Step 4 — Choose the Right Stroke Length

The stroke length of a linear damper refers to the distance over which the spring is compressed — in other words, the distance over which the damping effect occurs. The stroke of the linear damper must match the actual distance that needs to be controlled at the end of the closing travel.

●Stroke too short: The spring cannot be fully compressed, the damping effect is incomplete, and the door or drawer may still produce impact at the end of travel

●Stroke too long: Installation space is wasted and product cost increases unnecessarily

The TRD-LE linear damper has a stroke length of 30mm, offering a good balance of versatility and control precision for a wide range of applications.

Before selecting a linear damper, measure the distance at the end of your product's travel that requires damping. If you need guidance, our engineering team can help you identify the most suitable stroke length.

Step 5 — Check Installation Requirements

Linear dampers can be installed in two ways depending on the application:

Slide-based installation The linear damper is fixed at the end of the slide rail. As the slide reaches the end of its travel, the moving part contacts and compresses the spring inside the damper.

Door panel installation The linear damper is mounted inside the door structure. As the door closes, it contacts a fixed point that compresses the spring, activating the damping effect at the correct position.

Installation guidelines:

●The piston rod must not be subjected to lateral forces. Ensure that the axis of the linear damper is perfectly aligned with the direction of motion during installation

●Allow sufficient clearance for the full extended length of the piston rod

●The trigger position must be set precisely to ensure the spring begins to compress at the correct point at the end of travel

Step 6 — Consider Environmental Conditions

Temperature Both very low temperatures, such as inside a refrigerator, and elevated temperatures, such as near an oven, can affect the viscosity of the damping oil and alter the performance of the linear damper. Always confirm that the damper's oil specification is suitable for the temperature range of your application before installation.

Service life and usage frequency The TRD-LE and TRD-0855 linear dampers are rated for at least 50,000 cycles, reducing the need for frequent replacement and keeping maintenance costs low. For high-frequency applications, confirm that the rated cycle life meets your requirements before selecting a linear damper.