Why Do We Measure Vibration ?

1. Assess the condition (primarily the bearings) of a machine. By performing this task effectively, we can eliminate catastrophic failures due to component degradation.

2. Diagnose the root cause(s) of any excessive (destructive) vibration. By performing this task effectively, we can extend the life of bearings and other components that are absorbing the stresses and fatiguing forces that are causing the symptom of excessive vibration.

It should be understood that short-term event-based failures (i.e. loss of lubrication, sudden fracture of a component, etc.) are not protected against via any program that only collects data periodically. The time between onset and failure in these cases - which are rare - may take only minutes (in extreme cases), hours, days or weeks. For example, many programs are based on monthly data collection. Any event occurring during that month interval may cause failure prior to the next data collection. This is not a failure of the program or the technology any more than driving a fork truck into a machine and destroying it is. The good news is that the vast majority of potential and actual failures will NOT fall into this category and DO lend themselves to being detected, monitored and corrected through a well-run vibration program.