Microwave Oven Door Design FAIL

[rastro]

I just looked at some additional microwaves and found a couple more that don't slide around when operating the door.  Sadly this positive trait seems to be in the minority of units.

I have now found both types push-button-to-open & handle-pull-only (no release button) that don't require excessive force to work the door.  Additionally these working models don't weight any more than the others.  They're also in comparable price ranges as the failing models.

The fact that are a few working counter examples indicates that it is possible to produce a door that isn't a nuisance to operate.  Why isn't the better design in the majority? 

-rastro

[Gyro]

Is this really a serious discussion in the Projects, Designs and Technical Stuff section?

Just get some foam rubber pads and stick them to the bottom of the feet.

At worst it's a case of maunufacturers failing to fit feet with a sufficiently high coefficient of static friction, it's hardly a "Door Design FAIL". 

[grifftech]

Actually more like a first world problem. 

[Zero999]

It wasn't a problem with the older microwaves with the several kilo lump of iron and copper behind the control panel.

This is likely the problem. It is the demise of the microwave oven transformer and its replacement with some kind of electronic switched mode gizmo.

Which is actually a good thing. The switched mode power supply can linearly adjust the power delivered to the magnetron, thus giving superior power control to the old transformer, which was PWMed at a very low frequency of around 0.2Hz or less. Less energy will be used, both during the microwave's life and during shipping.

It's just a shame the designers didn't take the lighter weight into account when selecting the feet and door mechanism.

[KE5FX]

Is this really a serious discussion in the Projects, Designs and Technical Stuff section?

Well, the manufacturers certainly don't seem to think so.