Industrial Vibrators: A Complete Buying Guide
Industrial vibrators help keep your machinery working efficiently. They are used in countless industries from farming and agriculture to railroads. The functionality of chutes, hoppers, pipes and bins can all benefit from the use of a vibrator. But how do you select the right one for the job?
Several factors are involved. They include the size and shape of the machinery you’re clearing, the type of material you’re moving and where the vibration is needed. Once you determine these elements, you can choose the right vibrator design.
Here, we’ll provide a step-by-step breakdown of how to make the right selection.
How Do I Know if I Need an Industrial Vibrator?
It’s probably best you answer this question before moving onto researching the product. Industrial vibrators are used for aiding in material flow inside your equipment. They are also used for cleaning off the walls and corners of your vessels. Vibrators can even be used for sorting and positioning materials.
Keeping Materials Loose & Positioned Properly
Vibrating hoppers are most commonly found in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries to help move or position bulk materials or small parts. The vibration moves materials more efficiently. It also positions smaller components so they can be reached by other automated equipment.
Compactors & Concrete
Vibrating compactors are often used to compact soil during the construction of road, building and railway foundations.
Concrete vibrators are used to consolidate freshly poured concrete in the formwork. The vibrations release trapped air and excess water.
Number of Vibrations
The number of vibrations needed for your equipment is first determined by the size and shape of the unit.
Industrial vibrators have a 5 foot “radius of influence.” This means they are only able to “shake” a certain area inside your hopper, chute or other machines. You might need multiple vibrators depending on the amount and consistency of the material you’re moving.
Some vibrators are designed to shake the entire piece of equipment, while others only shake a certain area.
Strength of the Vibrator
The strength of the vibrator you need is determined by it’s use.
If your vibrator is being used simply to keep materials “unstuck” from the walls of your unit, or clean out corners, then you only need to consider the wall’s thickness.
If your intent is to keep materials freely flowing inside your vessel, then there are several calculations involved. You must determine the weight of the material found in the transition area of the chute or hopper. Once you’ve determined the weight of the material, you can calculate the amount of force needed to keep things running smoothly.
Start Shopping For Industrial Vibrators
Now that you’ve calculated the job your vibrator needs to perform, the number of vibrators needed and the strength of the vibrator, you can start shopping!
A few additional things to consider when making your selection are noise levels, environmental concerns, and the vibrator’s required power source. Vibrators must also be mounted to the internal wall of your vessel, though there are some external models. Different vibrators offer different options for mounting, including portable and permanent units.
You can also decide between pneumatic and electric vibrators. Both types will require lubrication and maintenance.
Using an industrial vibrator is a great investment for improving your equipment’s functionality, efficiency and longevity.