Acceleration, velocity and displacement
Vibration can be expressed as acceleration, velocity or displacement. Each emphasizes different parts of the frequency range and different physical behavior, so the chosen quantity should match the monitoring objective.
Overall values and trends
An overall vibration value compresses a signal into a simple severity indicator. Trending can reveal change over time, but an overall number alone does not identify the cause.
Frequency spectra
A spectrum shows how vibration energy is distributed across frequency. Peaks may relate to rotational speed, harmonics or machine components, but diagnosis depends on speed, machine design, load and measurement location.
Sensor placement and mounting
The sensor measures motion at its mounting point. Structural paths and mounting quality affect the signal, which is why consistent measurement locations are important for trend comparison.
Avoid generic diagnosis
Condition-monitoring systems should use machine-class guidance, manufacturer information and experienced analysis. A generic web threshold cannot safely determine whether a specific industrial machine should continue operating.