Vibration Measurement Equipment - Expert Buyer Guide

Technical Reference

Vibration measurement equipment selection depends on the application: machinery monitoring (ISO 10816/20816) requires RMS velocity measurement at discrete bearing locations; human vibration assessment (ISO 2631, ISO 5349) needs triaxial accelerometers with frequency-weighted filters; structural dynamics testing (modal analysis) demands multi-channel simultaneous acquisition with high dynamic range. Accelerometer types include ICP®/IEPE (self-powered from the conditioner, convenient, 0.1 Hz–20 kHz) and charge-mode (require external charge amplifier, broader frequency range, for high-temperature applications up to 400°C).

Accelerometer Selection Criteria

Key parameters: sensitivity (mV/g or pC/g), frequency range (-3 dB limits), dynamic range, temperature range, size and mass loading effect, mounting method (stud, magnet, adhesive), and connector type. For machinery monitoring, 100 mV/g sensitivity and 0.5 Hz–15 kHz range is typical. For human vibration, triaxial seat-pad units with built-in ISO 2631 conditioning are used.

Vibration Meter vs Analyzer

A vibration meter provides overall broadband RMS velocity or acceleration levels — suitable for routine machinery checks against ISO 10816 zone limits. An FFT analyzer (also called dynamic signal analyzer or data acquisition system) resolves the spectrum to identify frequency components, track machine speed-dependent orders, and perform modal testing.

Calibration of Vibration Sensors

Accelerometers require periodic calibration against reference standards per ISO 16063. Back-to-back comparison calibration (secondary method, ISO 16063-21) compares the transducer under test to a calibrated reference accelerometer on the same shaker. The SPEKTRA CV-Series provides automated secondary vibration calibration with UKAS/DKD traceable references.

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