Magnetics Business & Technology - January/February 2025 - 30

TECH TIPS
Tech Tips: Which Type of Shaker Fits Your App? Wilcoxon Answers.
Electromagnetic shakers operate
on the principal of magnetism
and are applied mostly in
low-frequency applications ranging
from 5 to 10000 Hz. Magnetic
field is formed as current runs
through a wire. As wire is wound
in a coil, effect is multiplied and
can be manipulated. When magnets
are fixed on either side of
coiled wire, alternating electric
currents flow into coil, inducing
vibration and oscillation with the
motion directed toward the object under test.
Which type of shaker works best for your test & measurement
application - piezoelectric or electromagnetic? Try asking Peter
Eitnier, senior application engineer for vibration monitoring
specialist Wilcoxon Sensing Technologies.
We like his straightforward presentation of the fundamentals,
coming from a specialist with a company that makes both
types - and even designs both technologies into a combination
product. Here are a few excerpts. Much more info is available
on the company's website, including specific application
recommendations. Another area of magnetic expertise in the
company is applied to its development of precision accelerometers.
Wilcoxon
piezoelectric and electromagnetic shakers provide
reliable structural excitation of a test article within a controlled,
localized environment. By simulating such dynamic forces
and natural frequencies, shakers can be used along with accelerometers
and other vibration monitoring devices to reveal
cracks, defects, weaknesses, or other abnormalities, allowing
engineers and test technicians to better predict structural
behavior over time.
Common uses are for structural testing, material studies, product
testing, quality assurance, research and development, and
modal testing. In his overview, Eitnier explains the two primary
shaker types: electromagnetic/inertial and piezoelectric. Both
can provide reliable structural excitation of test article within
controlled, localized environment. They simulate dynamic
forces and natural frequencies and are typically used along
with accelerometers and other vibration monitoring devices to
reveal cracks, defects, weaknesses, other abnormalities.
Combination shakers
feature a wide operational
bandwidth, ranging from 10
- 20,000 Hz. Typically, they
come into play for proroduct
testing, lab studies and R&D
activities.
Part of the Amphenol Sensor Technology group, Wilcoxon
Sensing Technologies specializes in machine vibration monitoring
and underwater sensing products with a full range of
industrial vibration sensors, transmitters and supportive instrumentation.
Accelerometers are another product line where the
company's magnetic expertise is utilized.
Last year, it introduced an ultra-low power accelerometer
designed to be embedded into wireless vibration sensors and
other battery-powered vibration measurement applications.
The compact sensor, LVEP050-TO5, can also be embedded
into motors, pumps, fans, and other production assets, to incorporate
vibration monitoring built-in self-test capabilities into
common wearable machine components.
For wireless sensing, battery-powered, and energy harvesting
applications, the battery consumption is less than 5% of a standard
industrial accelerometer and can take 4-10 times as many
readings as other low-power piezoelectric accelerometers.
Basically, piezoelectric shakers which are based on sonic and
ultrasonic structural excitation shine in high-frequency applications
ranging from 500 to 80,000 Hz.
30 Magnetics Business & Technology * January/February 2025
In Frederick, Maryland, Wilcoxon's facility houses a wide
variety of modern manufacturing, assembly and test equipment
ranging from precision machinery for high-quality vibration
sensor components to custom-built machinery specifically designed
for accelerometer fabrication. See www.wilcoxon.com.
www.MagneticsMag.com
http://www.wilcoxon.com http://www.MagneticsMag.com
Magnetics Business & Technology - January/February 2025

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