Vibration Mount: A Guide On Isolation, Damping, And Types
Any machinery that shakes, rattles, or rolls must be fitted with anti-vibration mounts to prevent operational problems and deterioration. That said, vibration is no simple issue, and solving the complexities of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) requires much thought and custom solutions in many cases. Apart from the core considerations for the application, factors such as isolation, damping, and the correct mount type are also part of this conversation. Read on to learn more about these other aspects of anti-vibration mounts and how they affect your decision.
Vibration isolation vs vibration damping
Anti-vibration mounts typically comprise a metal core covered in a rubber jacket with tapped holes for fasteners. This jacket material helps dissipate the vibration forces that cause oscillation via damping or isolation. But while these two terms are often used interchangeably, it is vital to note that they are not one and the same.
To put it simply, vibration damping is more concerned with reducing vibrational energy. On the other hand, vibration isolation prevents it from being transmitted in the first place. As such, vibration isolators are mostly placed near vibrational energy sources, like motors, engines, and generator sets.
In contrast, vibration dampers are installed in other places within equipment, machinery, and vehicles in a distributed fashion to handle the vibrations that pass through structural components like body panels and metal frames. These dampers dissipate the energy from the vibrational transmissions and do not depend on changing the natural frequency at which the machine vibrates.
Thus, when looking for a mount, one must determine whether the goal is to prevent vibrations from travelling from one place to another (like an engine bay to the driver’s cab) or simply reduce the vibrations once they reach a certain part of the equipment. At times, both may be necessary.
Types of anti-vibration mounts
Using the correct type of vibration mount promotes the increased lifespan of machinery by reducing the effects of vibration, shock, and noise on its components. The most common types of mounts used across industries today include;
1. Rubber vibration mounts
The main feature of rubber vibration mounts is that they can protect from shock and vibration and shock in three separate directions. Some mounts are designed to be highly resistant to oil and grease, making them a popular choice in the marine and automotive industry for use in engines and generators.
2. Wire rope mounts
Wire rope mounts are a maintenance-free solution designed to withstand the most demanding tasks in the harshest environments that require isolating shock and vibration from all directions. As such, wire rope mounts are typically certified for military standards such as MIL-STD-167 for vibration, MIL-S-901 for shock, and MIL-STD-810 for environmental conditions.
3. Conical mounts
Also known as rubber cone mounts, conical mounts are suited to both shear and compression loadings if equipped with the correct washers. They also feature a high load and failsafe capacity and are primarily made for mobile applications in the marine, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries.
4. Machine feet
Machine feet are designed to dampen vibrations while reducing shock loads. These mounts typically come with rebound control and various options for rubber hardness to suit different applications, making them popular among industries like agriculture, power generation, renewable energy, and forestry. Some of the most common uses of machine feet mounts include engine mountings, marine mountings, and generator mountings.
Conclusion
Given that vibration causes damaging effects that accelerate wear, raise safety issues, and ultimately lead to unplanned downtimes, it is vital to be deliberate when choosing the mounts you need. Hopefully, the contents above helped shed more light on the various other factors to take into account apart from the main considerations we covered in a separate article.
As a leading provider of industrial anti-vibration mounts, Pharmchem Engineering is the brand you can trust to help you find the right mounts for your specific requirements. Moreover, we also provide customisation services as an alternative should you be unable to find the exact product you need. Backed by a decade of quality experience, you can rely on our industrial equipment, like expansion joints, pipe pigging equipment, breakaway couplings, and dry disconnect couplings, to meet your needs and even exceed expectations.
Reach out to us today for more information regarding our industrial equipment supply.
