If you are looking for the right anti-vibration mount for your application, read this guide on how to choose the best anti-vibration mount to suit you and your business.
Why Should You Control Vibration?
Anti-vibration mounts are important to reduce, isolate or control vibration to:
Minimise vibration transmitted to surrounding structures or buildings
Protect fragile equipment from vibration sources
Increase the life of equipment
Reduce machine breakdowns
Protect users of equipment
Noise reduction
Prevent movement of heavy machinery cause by vibration
How do Anti-vibration Mounts Work to Reduce Noise?
Machinery vibration from equipment can be transferred to supporting structures and buildings, travelling large distances and emitting a loud noise. Anti-vibration mounts reduce the transmission of such vibrations by acting as a spring that stores energy and then releases it when the applied force is removed. They are usually made from rubber and metal and absorb the vibration, drastically helping to reduce noise.
Anti-vibration Mounts for Shock Absorption
Anti-vibration mounts are excellent shock absorbers. Equipment and machinery subjected to shocks and vibrations can be damaged, therefore, affecting their lifespan, efficiency and safety. An increased risk of damage leads to more frequent repairs and replacements, which increases costs for the company or individual. Anti-vibration mounts are widely used in industries ranging from renewable energy to the defence sector and power generation.
Types of Anti-vibration Mounts
There are various types of anti-vibration mounts which can be used for a variety of applications. Cab mounts are commonly used in vehicle suspension for:
Construction vehicle cabs
Off road vehicle engines
Vehicle cabs
Rail applications
Transmission and gearbox suspension
Commercial vehicles cabs
Agricultural vehicles cabs
Cab mounts come in various shapes and forms which can be used in a range of different vehicle applications and terrains.
Anti-vibration mounts are also commonly used on fan vibration mountings. Due to the rotating components in fans, imbalances are commonplace. This may cause problematic noise and vibrations but the installation of fan vibration mountings can greatly reduce emitting noise and vibrations.
Advantages of Anti-vibration Mounts
Anti-vibration mounts offer a great return on investment. They absorb high-frequency vibrations across a variety of applications with some specifically manufactured to absorb low-frequency vibrations. These are particularly useful in electronics, food processing and textile industries. Most mounts are a combination of heavy-duty rubber and metal plates, meaning they are durable and allow for easy mounting, noise reduction and vibration absorption.
Which Rubber is Best for Vibration Damping?
Rubber has been used by humans for 1,000s of years,withstanding temperatures from -40°C to +300°C. It can be repeatedly deformed and will return to its original shape while simultaneously being weather resistant.
Silicone rubber is an ideal vibration damping material as it shows little change in transmissibility or resonant frequency. Its dynamic absorption characteristics do not change with ageing, making it an ideal material for noise and vibration control.
How to select Anti-Vibration Mounts
Selecting the correct anti-vibration mounts for your installation, will influence the type of product that you require:
Equipment specifications: different types of equipment will require different solutions. You’ll need to consider the size and weight of the equipment to give you an idea of the size of the many mounts you’ll need and how many.
Equipment location: the equipment location can affect which types of anti-vibration mounts are required. Is it floor or ceiling mounted, or is it outdoors?
Vibration frequency: the revolutions per second of the machinery contribute to the levels of vibration. This will influence the anti-vibration mounts required to dampen the vibrations.
Types of buildings: different types of buildings have different requirements for vibration and acoustic isolation.
Environmental considerations: location of equipment can make a big difference, such as environmental factors including corrosivity and temperature near the equipment.
Special requirements: electrical, pipework or ducting connections might modify the mechanical response of the anti-vibration mounting system.
Once you know the requirements, you need to select the anti-vibration mount that provides you with the most efficient solution. A mount with soft rubber would isolate vibrations more, however, if the rubber is too soft for its purpose, it might not be able to recover from the stress forces of the equipment, making it not as effective.
To select a product which is capable of dampening the vibrations effectively, you need to find the level of vibration transmission to the structure. If in doubt, use an experienced manufacturer who offers a comprehensive technical engineering service to support you with your mounting selection and help to solve your vibration control issues. Vibration specialists can assist you in selecting the best anti-vibration mounts for your application to ensure exceptional performance and prolonged life of your equipment, thus ensuring a cost-effect solution.
Bill Foulkes is a business blogger who specializes in writing blog posts for small businesses. He has been blogging for over one year and does not use any ghost writers to help him with his work. Bill enjoys reading books on self-development and entrepreneurship, as well as watching YouTube videos on how to improve your life. When he’s not working, he likes playing video games and hanging out at the movies with friends.
Bill Foulkes is a business blogger who specializes in writing blog posts for small businesses. He has been blogging for over one year and does not use any ghost writers to help him with his work. Bill enjoys reading books on self-development and entrepreneurship, as well as watching YouTube videos on how to improve your life. When he’s not working, he likes playing video games and hanging out at the movies with friends.
