01
v-RMS
Overall vibration velocity is widely used for machine-condition trending and ISO 20816-based assessment.
ifm · Condition monitoring
Condition Monitoring & Predictive Maintenance
Build a practical machine-condition architecture around the asset and fault mode: simple overall vibration trending, IO-Link condition indicators, or frequency-selective diagnostics with external accelerometers and edge evaluation.
VVB IO-LinkVTV 4–20 mAVSE diagnosticsVibration + temperaturemoneo integration
Simple digitalVVBIO-Link vibration and temperature indicators
Simple analogueVTV4–20 mA overall vibration velocity
AdvancedVSEUp to 4 dynamic vibration inputs
AnalyticsmoneoVisualisation and maintenance workflows
Machine health
Vibration monitoring diagnostic coverage
The useful signal depends on the fault. Overall vibration is good for broad deterioration, while impact, acceleration, temperature and frequency-selective analysis expose different failure mechanisms.
02
a-RMS + temperature
Changes in acceleration and surface temperature can indicate lubrication or friction problems.
03
a-Peak / Crest
Short high-frequency events can indicate bearing damage, mechanical impacts or developing defects.
04
Spectrum analysis
VSE-based monitoring can evaluate machine-specific frequencies and speed-dependent diagnostic objects.
Choose the monitoring depth
VVB, VTV and VSE solve different problems
Do not sell the most complex system by default. Match the monitoring architecture to the failure consequence, available automation infrastructure and required diagnostic depth.
IO-Link
VVB / VVB3
Compact condition-monitoring sensor for continuous machine-health indicators. Current VVB3 adds three-axis vibration measurement and surface temperature.
- VVB3 frequency range up to 5,600 Hz
- Fatigue, friction, impact and temperature indicators
- IO-Link integration
- Raw-data capture on current generation
Analogue
VTV
Simple overall-vibration transmitter where the PLC, drive or analogue monitoring system will trend the machine condition.
- 4–20 mA output
- VTV122: 0–25 mm/s RMS
- 10–1,000 Hz frequency range
- Easy retrofit
Diagnostic
VSE + accelerometers
Programmable edge controller for deeper vibration diagnostics using external acceleration sensors and auxiliary process signals.
- Up to 4 dynamic vibration inputs
- Time- and frequency-domain monitoring
- IP20 VSE1xx / IP67 VSE9xx
- PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, EtherCAT or TCP/IP by model
System architecture
From measurement point to maintenance decision
The system can stay inside the PLC environment or expose condition data to an IT/IIoT layer.
MachineMotor / pump / fan / gearbox
→
Sensor layerVVB / VTV / VSA-VSM-VSP
→
EvaluationPLC or VSE
→
ActionAlarm / trend / moneo
Engineering boundary: vibration monitoring improves visibility; it does not by itself determine remaining useful life. Alarm strategy should be based on machine class, baseline data, fault consequence and the chosen monitoring method.
Rotating assets
Typical application routes
Mounting location matters. Sensors are normally placed close to bearing seats on rigid machine structure.
01
Bearings, unbalance, alignment
Use VVB for straightforward permanent monitoring or VSE where fault-frequency diagnostics are required.
02
Cavitation + mechanical condition
Combine vibration indicators with process context such as flow, pressure or speed where useful.
03
Trend deterioration
Monitor overall vibration, impacts and friction; use advanced diagnostics where gearbox frequencies matter.
Selection guide
Correct condition-monitoring route selection criteria
Start from the asset and failure consequence—not from the sensor model.
| Need | Best starting route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibration into existing analogue PLC/VFD | VTV | Simple 4–20 mA integration |
| Machine-health indicators over IO-Link | VVB | Digital vibration/temperature condition values |
| 3-axis smart condition monitoring | VVB3 | Current three-axis MEMS generation with broader diagnostic capability |
| Frequency-selective vibration diagnostics | VSE + accelerometers | Programmable diagnostic objects and spectrum/time analysis |
| Fleet visualisation / analytics | moneo | Higher-level trends, alarms and maintenance workflows |
Requirement capture
Inputs required to propose a condition-monitoring system
A machine photo and nameplate usually improve the first-pass architecture substantially.
MachineMotor, pump, fan, gearbox, spindle, conveyor, compressor or other asset.
SpeedNormal and variable operating rpm.
Power / sizeMotor rating and machine class.
Fault concernBearing, unbalance, cavitation, gearbox, lubrication or general deterioration.
AutomationPLC, IO-Link, analogue input, Ethernet or existing SCADA.
Monitoring goalAlarm only, trend, root-cause diagnostics or predictive-maintenance workflow.