Monitor Arm Counterbalances: Gas Cylinders vs. Coil Springs

Metal coil springs are used primarily because they are more economical, and have no parts to fail or seals to leak so they also have extreme longevity. This means their force will remain constant as the years go by. They’re not as smooth or silent as gas cylinders, and they have a faster “kick back” (stronger release force). The counterbalance forces increases linearly as the spring coils are compressed. The force rendered by a spring coil depends on its material, wire thickness, spring diameter, number of coils and length.

Gas cylinders are used primarily for their smooth and silent operation, but they cost a little more and have a moderate life time compared to springs. Cheap cylinders used in some monitor arms will lose a bit of force every year until they ultimately fail to hold up your monitor. In contrast to cheap cylinders, iMovR’s Tempo monitor arms use high-quality struts that we warrant for five years.

Gas cylinders have a slower “kick back” (controlled release force), and force increases exponentially as they are compressed. It takes less force to compress the system at the beginning of the stroke; at the end of the stroke it requires much more force. The force rendered by a gas strut depends on its internal pressure.