Vibration Analysis for Gearboxes

Collection frequency depends on equipment criticality and operating conditions. Critical gearboxes in continuous service typically require monthly vibration surveys at minimum, with more frequent collection warranted when trending indicates a developing fault. Online monitoring systems provide continuous data for the most critical assets.

Standard practice uses triaxial accelerometers mounted at each bearing housing to capture radial and axial vibration in gearboxes. High-frequency enveloping sensors may be added for early bearing fault detection. Proximity probes are used on equipment with sleeve bearings to measure shaft relative vibration and orbit patterns.

Overall velocity per ISO 10816-3, plus envelope spectrum 1-10 kHz. For Industrial Gearboxes specifically, the signals to watch are iron rising in oil, mesh sidebands, temperature drift. A typical Vibration Analysis report on Industrial Gearboxes reports against the ISO 10816-3 and ISO 13373-2 framework. Findings tie back to specific failure modes from the Industrial Gearboxes failure population: gear tooth wear, bearing degradation, oil contamination.

A-criticality units (process-stopping or safety-critical) get the full Vibration Analysis treatment at monthly route work with detailed reports per asset. B-criticality units get screening at the same frequency but lighter reporting. C-criticality units get exception-based monitoring — a route check at lower frequency with full diagnostic only when something shifts. The split at most plants is 20% A, 50% B, 30% C of the Industrial Gearboxes population.