Why do you need vibration isolators?
A typical industrial or commercial workplace has an array of objects and machines that can cause unwanted vibration. Common examples are fans, motors and other machines that cause abnormal vibration levels during normal use. Aside from being a nuisance, there are other significant repercussions that could result from uncontrolled vibration levels.
Effects Of Abnormal Vibration
Abnormal vibration of machines or equipment during normal use may
result in:
- Bolts and screws loosening over time
- Disruption of smaller and more sensitive pieces of machinery
- Eventual damage to the machine or equipment
- Inefficient operation of the machine or equipment
- Production losses
Vibration Control
In order to prevent or control the vibration of any machine or equipment from affecting their surroundings, a vibration isolator is recommended as a more cost-effective solution. Vibration isolation is achieved by using special mounts designed to absorb the vibrations or movements caused by the machinery or equipment.
Materials for Vibration
Isolation
Vibration absorbers are often made of rubber or dense foam. These materials are excellent in absorbing the unwanted movement of the machine or equipment. They can be custom-designed to fit specific machine or equipment in terms of shape, size and thickness. These special vibration mounts will not affect the function of the machine. They are easy to install and take very little space.
Types Of Isolators
There are several types of isolators that are used in various applications. Some of them are:
Spring :
These were one of the first isolators used and are still being used in some applications. Vibration is absorbed by the spring and then released in a different direction.
Rubber :
This was the second most used material for isolating vibrations. Like springs, rubber absorbs and releases the energy in a different direction.
Oil : Some systems use oil but more like a vibration damper. Some of the movements in the system are absorbed.
Foam and Polyurethane : These are the more recent materials used to isolate vibrations. These two materials can both isolate and dampen the vibrations. Foam however, breaks down easily and quickly. Polyurethane on the other hand does not have that much flexibility.
Passive and Active Vibration
Vibration isolation can be classified in two types: Passive vibration isolation system and the active vibration. The passive system is a variation on the spring and damper design. The spring or spring-like material softens vibrations and uses a damper to make the vibration stop. An example of passive vibration isolation system is a car’s shock absorber. The active vibration isolation system uses electromagnetic drivers and accelerometer to achieve a better level of vibration isolation for the entire system.
