How to Fix Vibration Issues in Machines

Wondering how to fix vibration issues in your machine? The bad news is there is no way to completely eliminate vibration – it will always be there. But the good news is that based on your needs you can control how much vibration there is and how much it affects your end product. This concept is called vibration isolation.

What causes vibration in manufacturing settings?

Vibration can be caused by machines such as metal cutting machines, metal stamping and forging machines that shake products for deburring and finishing, and plastic injection molding and die cast machines. In addition to vibration from manufacturing equipment, vibration can be caused by other indirect factors in a manufacturing plant. Things like forklift traffic, overhead cranes, and even the building’s HVAC system can send out vibrations that affect measuring and other more critical and sensitive machines.

What happens when vibration affects your machine?

The general consequence of vibration is that the part produced on the machine could be out of spec. This can manifest in several different ways.

1. The tolerance could be off.
   Tolerances are used to control the amount of variation inherent in manufactured parts and products.  Dimensional tolerance, referring to the roundness of a product, could be affected, as could concentricity, or the geometric tolerance.
2. The surface finish could be off.
   In forming processes, such as molding or metal forming, the surface finish of the die determines the surface finish of the product.  if the surface finish is off, the entire product could be affected.

No matter the diagnosis, the end result is the same. The part or product will have to be scrapped or reworked, adding cost and time to the bottom line. 

How do you fix vibration issues in machines?

When vibration is present, you need to provide some type of isolation to fix vibration issues in your machine. There are three main routes you can take:

1. Pads
2. Airspring
3. A foundation solution

All of these options reduce the amount of vibration being transmitted from a machine that is sending the vibration out through the floor. This machine is referred to as  a “sender.”

With a machine that is receiving vibration (referred to as a “receiver”), the goal is to minimize the amount of vibration being received. Depending on budget or other constraints sometimes you can only isolate the receiver. 

Often the layout of factories is focused on workflow logistics, for convenience.  This leaves the space maximized in theory, but instead, you may wind up with a measuring machine super close to a vibration sender.  In short, combatting vibration is specific to the limitations you have both in budget and workspace.

Are you experiencing issues with vibration? Read more about diagnosing vibration yourself or contact us to set up a free site survey.