Vibration Sensor Types,

Mounting Methods,
and Applications

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 2 [Code]

SKF [Organisation]
 Module objective(s)

To introduce vibration sensor types, mounting methods, and

applications.

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 3 [Code]

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Velocity sensors

• Measure bearing housings or machinery

casing vibration
• Effective in low to mid frequency range
(10 Hz to around 1,000 Hz)
• Moving coil type - self generating

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 5 [Code]

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 Accelerometers

• Rugged devices
• Operate in wide frequency range (near
0 to above 40 kHz)
• Good high frequency response
• Some models suitable for high
temperature spring

• Require additional electronics mass

(may be built into the sensor housing)
crystal
stack

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 6 [Code]

SKF [Organisation]
 Displacement / eddy current probe…

• Measures relative distance

between two surfaces
• Accurate low frequency response
• Limited high frequency
sensitivity
• Requires external power source

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 7 [Code]

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Displacement / eddy current probe

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Sensor selection

100
Displacement (mils)
10 Acceleration
(g's)

Amplitude
1.0
(mils, in/sec, g’s) Velocity (in/sec)

0.1
Common Machinery
1 Operating Range
0.01
10 100 1,000 10,000
Frequency (Hz)

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 9 [Code]

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 Measurement selection

Velocity
spectrum

• Low frequency events

show best in the velocity
spectrum
• High freq. events show
best in the acceleration
spectrum

Acceleration
Spectrum

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 10 [Code]

SKF [Organisation]
Mulit-parameter monitoring

• Again, the key to detecting and isolating specific faults is to perform

the appropriate measurement or measurements that best detect ALL
of the expected faults
• If appropriate, perform Velocity, Acceleration, Enveloped Acceleration
measurements with multiple frequency ranges
• Data collector automatically performs multiple measurements, one
button push at each sensor location

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 11 [Code]

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Mounting methods

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 12 [Code]

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Screw mounting

wrong wrong

correct

wrong wrong

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 13 [Code]

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Magnetic mounting base

• Convenient means of
providing a quick or
temporary mount

• Reduces frequency
response rating by
approximately 50% vs. stud
mounting

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 14 [Code]

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Hand-held / probe mounting

• Rapid and convenient

• Subject to many sources
of error
• Use only as a last resort

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 15 [Code]

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Adhesive cement mounting

• Adhesive should be as
thin and hard as
possible
• Bonding force should be
of a semi-permanent
nature to enable future epoxy,
cement,
removal without
adhesive
damaging the sensor

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 16 [Code]

SKF [Organisation]
Sensor disks for magnetic mounting

Sample Disk
(overhead view)
Sample Disk
(side profile)

note adhesive fillet between

machine surface and sample disk

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 17 [Code]

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Mounting sensor disks
(adhesive fillets)

good

bad

concave fillet allows oil

to leach under disk,
promoting failure

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 18 [Code]

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Cable attachments

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 19 [Code]

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Quick review

QUESTIONS ?

2006-12-07 ©SKF Slide 20 [Code]

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