Bearing Tips.com asked NMB Field Applications Engineer, Rich Picard how the Anderon meter is used to measure bearing noise. Here is what he told us.

“The Anderon meter is a device used to measure bearing vibration. Simply put, the higher the vibration velocity measurement, the noisier the bearing is. The Anderon meter readings are separated into 3 difference frequency bands. Low, medium, and high. The low frequency band is 50 to 300 hertz. Medium, 300 to 1800 hertz and the high band is 1800 to 10,000 hertz.

At NMB we 100% test each manufactured bearing using an Anderon meter to ensure it meets the noise criteria for the subject bearing specification. Also here in our Novi, MI facility we use an Anderon meter to evaluate noise levels of bearings that are either field returns from customers, or bearings that have under gone life testing so that we can compare the noise levels from the bearings as received here in Novi to the values when the bearings left the factory as new.

The Anderon meter measures the noise levels of the assembled bearings. Using the Anderon meter, the bearings are pre-loaded on the outer ring, and the inner ring rotates at roughly 1800 RPMs. With the outer ring being stationary the probe is lowered to the point where it contacts the outer ring’s surface. This reports vibration readings, and translates those readings into the 3 frequency bands mentioned earlier. This allows our engineers to compare the noise levels of the bearings received, to the as new specifications.”

NMB
www.nmbtc.com