An anti-vibration pad is a device that absorbs and isolates vibrations that it comes in contact with. While they are commonly used for industrial machinery, many households use anti-vibration pads to protect hardwood floors and reduce the effect of noise from household equipment like washers, dryers, and washing machines. 

Anti-vibration pads are made of materials like rubber and neoprene, which allow them to act as shock absorbers and protect any equipment that rumbles, vibrates, or receives pressure while in use, including pumps, air conditioners, and compressors. These devices also protect the floors and workers in the factory by isolating vibrations and reducing the far-reaching effects of shock forces. 

Anti-vibration pads are available in several sizes and suit multiple use cases. If you're looking to reduce the effects of high-frequency vibrations and sounds caused by home or industrial equipment, you likely need one. Specifically, vibration isolation pads can be used for various industrial applications, including:

1.  General Industry

1. Compressors
2. Conveyors
3. Diesel generators
4. Fans
5. Motors
6. Power/impact presses
7. Pumps

2. Marine Industry

1. Marine propulsion engines
2. Chiller units
3. Generator sets
4. Cooling machinery
5. Air compressors
6. Pumps
7. Exhaust systems on board ships

3. Automotive and Railway Industry

1. Couplings
2. Rubber and metal-bonded suspension components

Rubber 

Rubber is the best material for absorbing vibrations and shocks from industrial and household equipment. Rubber or cork can withstand extreme operating environments, significant temperature fluctuations, and radical elasticity. It is also resistant to oil, surface abrasion, and sunlight exposure.

While it has minimal vibration dampening effects, it quickly isolates vibration by absorbing energy and converting it to heat. For maximum vibration control, it's best to pair rubber with other shock-absorbing materials like polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride. Common types of rubber used for anti-vibration pads include:

1. Natural Rubber
2. Neoprene
3. Silicone
4. SBR
5. EPDM

Rubber anti-vibration pads are easy to fix and available in a wide range of dimensions. They also work in compression, shear, and a combination of both.  Properties of rubber anti vibration pads include:

1. They can withstand extreme operating environments
2. They are resistant to oils
3. They are also resistant to surface abrasion wear and sunlight exposure
4. Rubber anti-vibration pads can withstand large temperature fluctuations

Polyurethane   

Recently, many experts have favored the use of polyurethane for making anti-vibration pads. Polyurethane absorbs excess energy from equipment and prevents high-impact forces and vibration. One significant advantage of using this material for anti-vibration pads is that its cell structures and density can be custom-engineered to fit specific applications, whether at home or in a factory.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) 

Another common material used for anti-vibration pads is polyvinyl chloride, which is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer (after polyethylene and polypropylene).

Polyvinyl chloride sheets offer superior chemical resistance and quickly absorb vibrations. These products are typically used as sound barriers but may also be utilized for dampening vibrations on enclosed surfaces.

When choosing a high-quality anti-vibration pad, you should consider three crucial factors: the load capacity of the pad, vibration frequency, and static deflection.

Load Capacity

Load capacity is the maximum amount of demand, stress, or load that a system can comfortably accommodate over an extended period. Specifically, it is the amount of stress that can be exerted on a piece of equipment without distorting its operations in any way.

To calculate the load capacity of the anti-vibration pad, you need to determine the load per mount and pressure per mount of the device using the following formulas:

1. Load per mount (lbs) = total load (lbs) ÷ number of mounts
2. Pressure per mount (psi) = Load per mount (lbs) ÷ mount/foot area (square in)

Vibration Frequency

Vibration frequency refers to the rate at which the equipment generates vibration energy that can cause a negative impact. It can be calculated based on the operating speed of the device.

1. Disturbing frequency (Hz) = operating speed (RPM) ÷ 60
2. Natural frequency (Hz) = Disturbing frequency (Hz) ÷ 2.45

Static Deflection

Static deflection accounts for the elastic deflection of a structure due to its weight or the weight of any structures attached to it. Static deflection affects the natural vibration frequency of your industrial or household equipment. The higher the static deflection, the lower the level of vibration you experience.

To determine the required static deflection, divide the load per mount (lbs) by the required static deflection (in). This means:

Required static deflection (in) = 9.8 ÷ (natural frequency (Hz))^2

While vibration isolators are simple appliances, they provide numerous benefits. By shielding the floor and other equipment from harmful vibration, anti-vibration pads help you avoid the far-reaching effects of prolonged exposure to shock.
If you need more help with choosing the right anti-vibration pad for your household or factory, you should consider speaking with an expert before making a decision.

At Reid Supply, we stock the best anti-vibration pads for industrial and household uses, including E.V.A anti-vibration pads, whirlpools, feet casters, vibration mounts, footpads, and other similar items. Our anti-vibration pads are made from high-quality rubber that completely absorb vibration energy from industrial and household materials.

Visit our website today to view specific product details like pricing and customer reviews, or to speak with our experts for product recommendations.