Sensor: Accelerometer vs Vibration

[[email protected]]

Hi,
I try to distinguish between Accelerometer and Vibration Sensors.
So take a look at Globalspec

Vibration
http://globalspec.com/SpecSearch/Su...ibration_Sensing/Vibration_Sensors?SrchItem=1

and

Accelerometer
http://globalspec.com/SpecSearch/Su...n_Vibration_Sensing/Accelerometers?SrchItem=1

They are basically the same. How come?
So what is an Acceleration Sensor then?

Thanks.

 

[Stanislaw Flatto]

Hi,
I try to distinguish between Accelerometer and Vibration Sensors.

They are basically the same. How come?
So what is an Acceleration Sensor then?

Thanks.

ACDC.
Accelerometer responds to static changes and is usually sensing by
whatever means (usually weight of a mass) in some gravitational field.
From zero to some rather low upper frequency.
Vibration sensors use usually a weight pressing against a crystal
producing zero output when there is no change and responding to changes
similar to a gramophone crystal needle from some low frequency to whatever.
Both are vector sensitive.
You use whichever answers your needs.

Note: compare frequency responses of both products.

HTH

Stanislaw
Slack user from Ulladulla.

 

[[email protected]]

Accelerometer responds to static changes and is usually sensing by

whatever means (usually weight of a mass) in some gravitational field.
From zero to some rather low upper frequency.
Vibration sensors use usually a weight pressing against a crystal
producing zero output when there is no change and responding to changes
similar to a gramophone crystal needle from some low frequency to whatever.
Both are vector sensitive.
You use whichever answers your needs.

Note: compare frequency responses of both products.

So only the sensor technology is different between each of them? If so,
why most of the web site have them separated as two different types of
sensor? They do the same, work the same, have same characteristic,
except the technology... Correct me if I am wrong!

Thanks

 

[Sjouke Burry]

Hi,
I try to distinguish between Accelerometer and Vibration Sensors.
So take a look at Globalspec

Vibration
http://globalspec.com/SpecSearch/Su...ibration_Sensing/Vibration_Sensors?SrchItem=1

and

Accelerometer
http://globalspec.com/SpecSearch/Su...n_Vibration_Sensing/Accelerometers?SrchItem=1

They are basically the same. How come?
So what is an Acceleration Sensor then?

Thanks.

Thats because a vibration is a periodic acceleration.
(and also the other way around).

 

[Stanislaw Flatto]

So only the sensor technology is different between each of them? If so,
why most of the web site have them separated as two different types of
sensor? They do the same, work the same, have same characteristic,
except the technology... Correct me if I am wrong!

Thanks

"Wrong?" Yes and no.
What do _you_ want to measure?
Example from few scores years back. We wanted to measure accelerations
acting on a missile on launch. So +-1g accelerometers were installed on
3 axial support and sent by truck to the launching site. On test they
all failed. Reading the specs we found that their non powered limit to
shock is +-10g's. In a car? So we put vibration meter and recorded what
happens during regular travel on road. The meter gave us a proper shock.
More than 100g's. On proper investigation you find that for such short
shocks there does not exist a suspention that can absorb them so on
recording you find the frequency of the groves on tires and can count
every pebble on clear road.
The moral of this is, if you *know* what you want to measure, use
sensors built to measure it, no matter what technology.
BTW for 6 digit precission of earth gravity in standards lab the expert
used known pendulum and counted the period against universal clock for
24 hours.

HTH

Stanislaw
Slack user from Ulladulla.