Vibration sensors help to monitor machine vibrations as a means of assessing the condition of a machine, enabling early detection of damage to rolling element bearings and other machine components before costly machine downtime occurs.

ifm's new smart IO-Link vibration sensor is designed to help implement a simple and scalable condition monitoring approach using a single device. The company’s VVB30x condition monitoring sensor continuously detects vibrations in all three dimensions. From the measured values recorded, the sensor calculates indicators to evaluate the machine condition, namely information on fatigue, or v-RMS, mechanical friction, or a-RMS, impacts, or a-Peak, and bearing wear, or crest factor. As an additional wear indicator, the surface temperature is also transmitted.

The sensor offers a range of smart functions. In the basic condition monitoring version, the sensor can continuously analyse and, if required, communicate any unbalance developing in the machine. The sensor also calculates the machine operating hours based on the machine-related vibration level, which is another auxiliary variable in modern maintenance. The DataScience condition monitoring version of the device also comes with a smart bearing demodulation process for continuous bearing analysis, known as BearingScout.

The new vibration sensor uses IO-Link for data transmission, device diagnostics and parameter setting. This enables users to implement vibration monitoring and analysis in a supervisory control and data acquisition system by any manufacturer using standard fieldbus protocols. In addition, IO-Link facilitates easy configuration

Condition monitoring can help detect damage to pumps, fans, geared motors, vacuum pumps and many other rotating machines at an early stage. This allows for maintenance to be planned cost-effectively, maximising machine availability. Vibrations in machines have an impact on quality and condition monitoring can also help improve the production process.