In very simple terms, vibration testing is subjecting a unit to predetermined levels of vibration to determine its response and durability to a vibrating force.
Vibration testing brings into the laboratory forces that are experienced in the real world. In the laboratory, these forces are measurable, controlled and repeatable, allowing the test engineers to subject the exact same force over and over again to the unit under test. There are various areas in which vibration testing is regularly done, some of which are:
Prototype testing
In the prototyping stage of any product's development, vibration testing exposes potential design problems before the product is released for manufacturing. This allows the design engineers to make critical changes before production begins. This improves the 'time-to-market' cycle. In addition, reliability is much improved, saving the company costly warranty repairs or product recalls. Inevitably, the above measures boost the company image and foster a reputation for product reliability.
A crucially important component of the prototyping process is the testing of the packaging. Laboratory-modelled vibration and shock testing of the product can optimise the packaging so that the unit withstands the actual forces encountered during transportation. Other factors such as humidity, moisture and pressure can be added to the test spectrum. The use of optimally-designed packaging can prevent the scenario of superior equipment being damaged due to inadequate packaging, or conversely, over-designed, exorbitantly expensive packaging with resultant loss of cost effectivity.
Product testing
Product testing on the production line prior to packaging and shipping allows for the continuous monitoring of the performance and quality of the components and sub-assemblies of the product. In this way, deficiencies in the components, the manufacturing process or the sub-assembly process can be detected at the points at which they can be easily corrected, with minimum cost and time. Again, this greatly reduces the expense of warranty repairs.
Vibration testing can also speed up the 'per product' testing time. Temperature testing is still the most commonly used environmental test parameter. However, vibration testing will highlight more errors than temperature testing and in some cases in 20% or less of the time.
With the increasing opportunities of globalisation, any company wishing to export its products will need to meet stringent international standards. Increasingly, vibration and shock testing are being specified as international requirements.
What does all this mean for the manufacturer?
* Improved quality, reliability and lifetime of a product.
* Improved customer satisfaction, which enhances the manufacturer's reputation, sales and market share.
* Compliance with international specifications that allow the products to compete in the world market.
It is always more cost-effective to find and rectify problems at the source rather than after final product delivery. Ultimately, this all adds up to potentially greater profits to the company.
Technical Reference: 'Vibration testing and analysis' - Phil Bell, Spectral Dynamics
For more information contact Trevor Leong, 011 266 1664, [email protected]
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