Glossary · Sensors and measurement
Vibration sensor
Also known as: Vibration transmitter, Vibration monitor
German: Schwingungssensor
In condition monitoring, a vibration sensor is a sensor that measures the mechanical vibration of machines as acceleration, velocity or displacement, often providing a processed value such as the RMS vibration velocity.
- Sensors
In one sentence
A vibration sensor measures machine vibration as acceleration, velocity or displacement and is a main input for condition monitoring.
Example
Vibration sensors on the bearings of a large fan send vibration velocity to the PLC, which warns before the limit for shutdown is reached.
How it applies
- Engineering: Vibration sensors range from simple transmitters with a 4–20 mA output for overall vibration to sensors delivering raw data for frequency analysis. Choose by machine type, frequency range and the diagnostic depth needed.
- Installation: Position and mounting close to bearings, in the right direction, determine what the sensor can detect.
- Operation: Alarm and shutdown limits should be derived from machine type, standards or manufacturer data and from baseline measurements.
- Documentation: Record sensor positions, directions, limits and baselines. Maintenance teams need them to compare new measurements with the original state.
Vibration sensor vs. vibration hazard
A vibration sensor monitors machine condition. A Vibration hazard concerns vibration transmitted to people, which is a topic of risk assessment and exposure limits, not of machine monitoring.