Arm yourself with a vibration sensor in your fight against industrial and environmental stresses placed on your equipment, your capital assets, your products, even yourself and your workers. Knowing when, where and to what extent any of these assets are being subjected to unusual stress can avoid permanent damage.

To be most effective, a vibration sensor must be used as a system with a calibration vibration monitor to view the activity, either on site or remotely. You can use calibrating vibration sensors effectively in any of the following three areas:

1. Measuring with a vibration sensor seismic activity impacting buildings or real estate to minimize damage;

2. Monitoring with vibration transmitters internal conditions of your machinery in operation to forestall breakdowns;

3. Gauging with a vibration analyzer the extent of shock your products experience in transit to improve packaging.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Keep your capital assets from overt quaking with calibrating vibration sensors

Seismic vibration isn't limited to earthquakes. Use products from a seismographic manufacturer to measure ground, building or bridge vibration to detect structural changes caused by vibration from construction, mining activity or large transportation vehicles.

I recommend: Vibra-Metrics produces vibration sensors, power supplies, data delivery systems and accessories; you can select the right product by application or by conditions the sensor will work in. APS Dynamics manufactures force generators attached to a horizontal table. The shakers provide a steady, low frequency vibration to calibrate seismic vibration sensors.

Keep your plant equipment operating smoothly with an electronic vibration sensor

Employ vibration transmitters in your plant operations to monitor machinery. Well-placed vibration transmitters can detect misalignment, imbalance or bearing failure while the machines are running, alerting you to shut down the machine before serious damage occurs. By calibrating the sensors ahead of time, they can sense increasing vibration, giving you time to predict when to perform maintenance instead of either adhering to an arbitrary schedule or waiting for complete shutdown to occur.

I recommend: Wilcoxon Research positions itself as the world's leading manufacturer of vibration sensors and network accessories to accomplish predictive maintenance on the plant floor. Hardy Instruments produces calibration shakers for industrial vibration sensors as well as monitors, transmitters and switches for predictive maintenance chores.

Protect your products from shock in transit with a calibration vibration analyzer

Use an electronic vibration sensor both to test the effectiveness of your products' packaging material and to anticipate the amount of shock your products may experience during transport.

I recommend: PCB Piezotronics specializes in piezoelectric sensing equipment for a variety of industries. The Modal Shop provides a comprehensive lineup of calibration equipment for lab testing.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use the proper vibration sensors calibration to ensure your vibration sensors transmit accurate signals. Seismic monitors use low-frequency calibration equipment, while industrial sensors use portable shakers.