Electrodynamic vibration test systems · shaker, power amplifier, controller and slip table · sine, random and shock force, frequency range, displacement, velocity and acceleration limits, armature mass, payload, IEC 60068-2-6 and 60068-2-64
An electrodynamic vibration test system, also sold as a vibration exciter or shaker for product testing, combines a shaker whose armature coil moves in a magnetic field, a power amplifier, a closed-loop vibration controller with accelerometer feedback, and fixtures such as head expanders or a slip table, to apply sine, random or shock motion to a specimen. Ask three things first: what force the shaker gives in each mode with your total moving mass, where its displacement, velocity and acceleration limits fall across your test frequencies, and which test standard and profile the system must run.
Electrodynamic (electromagnetic moving-coil) vibration test systems and vibration exciters for product testing: shaker, power amplifier, field supply, cooling, vibration controller and accelerometers, head expanders and slip tables. Mechanical and hydraulic shakers, repetitive-shock tables, drop and bump testers, environmental chambers on their own and calibration exciters for sensors are outside this page.
CNFX editorial research · Sources checked October 11, 2026 · 5 sources
Thermotron's handbook sizes a shaker with F = ma: add the armature, fixture, product, cables and any head expander, slip plate or thermal barrier, then multiply by the required acceleration. Its worked example totals 150 lb vertical and 155 lb horizontal at 10 g, needing 1,500 lbf and 1,550 lbf; it adds that makers may derate shaker force to 80% of its true value as a safety margin. [3]
Rated force differs by mode. IMV's water-cooled K200 system lists 200 kN sine, 200 kN rms random (to ISO 5344 conditions), 400 kN shock and 260 kN high-velocity shock, a 200 kg armature of 650 mm diameter, maximum load 2,000 kg and an allowable eccentric moment of 4,900 Nm; IMV states the figures are maximum system performance and that long-duration tests must be de-rated up to 70%. [1]
At the small end, IMV's air-cooled m120 system lists 1,200 N sine and 840 N rms random force, a 2.4 kg armature of 174 mm diameter and 120 kg maximum load; its maximum acceleration falls from 500 m/s² with no load to 413 m/s² with 0.5 kg and 352 m/s² with 1.0 kg. [2]
Editorial calculation: a = F ÷ m. For the m120, 1,200 N ÷ 2.4 kg = 500 m/s² bare, and 1,200 ÷ (2.4 + 0.5) ≈ 414 m/s², matching the listed 413 m/s². For the K200, 200,000 N ÷ 200 kg = 1,000 m/s² (about 102 g) bare, but with 300 kg of fixture and specimen 200,000 ÷ 500 = 400 m/s² (about 41 g); at the 70% de-rating it is 140 kN, or 280 m/s². [2][1]
Give the supplier the test modes (sine, random, shock), the profile levels, the specimen, fixture, head expander or slip-plate and thermal-barrier masses, the centre-of-gravity offset, the test duration, and whether vertical, horizontal or both axes are needed.
02
Check displacement, velocity, acceleration and the test standard
Thermotron describes three limits: displacement at the lowest frequencies, velocity in a middle band and acceleration at the highest frequencies; its DS-2250 example has 2 in peak-peak displacement, 100 in/s velocity and 100 g. It gives 5–3,000 Hz as the operating range of electrodynamic shakers, with automotive specifications below 1,000 Hz, military to 2,000 Hz and electronics to 3,000 Hz. [3]
IMV's K200 lists 0–2,000 Hz, 76.2 mm p-p sine displacement (86 mm maximum travel), 2.0 m/s sine velocity and 1,000 m/s² sine, 700 m/s² rms random and 2,000 m/s² shock acceleration; IMV notes that the frequency range varies with the sensor and vibration controller and that a 100 mm (4 inch) stroke is available on its K125LS shaker. The m120 lists 0–2,000 Hz, 1.6 m/s and 30 mm p-p. [1][2]
Editorial calculation: for sine motion v = 2πf × (peak displacement) and a = 2πf × v. With the K200's 38.1 mm peak (76.2 mm p-p) and 2.0 m/s, displacement limits below about 2.0 ÷ (2π × 0.0381) ≈ 8.4 Hz; velocity limits up to about 1,000 ÷ (2π × 2.0) ≈ 80 Hz; acceleration limits above that. [1]
IEC 60068-2-6 (Test Fc) is a sinusoidal vibration test to find mechanical weakness or degraded performance in specimens and to study dynamic behaviour; IEC 60068-2-64 (Test Fh) is a broadband random vibration test for specimens exposed to transport or operational vibration in aircraft, space vehicles and land vehicles. The test severity comes from the relevant specification, not from the shaker. [4][5]
Thermotron calls random profiles reaching 2,000 Hz or more broad band and those below 500 Hz narrow band, for which full system force is not achievable and performance must be derated; it lists half-sine, sawtooth, triangular and trapezoidal classical shock pulses. [3]
03
Performance tables, payload curves and facility needs to ask each shaker supplier for
When requesting quotations, ask each supplier for the system performance table for the exact shaker and amplifier pair, the sine performance curve with your payload, the random and shock rating conditions, cooling and facility requirements, and the controller and accelerometer calibration records.
04
Shaker body, armature, power amplifier, controller, expander and slip table, and cooling
Cooling follows the force rating: Thermotron's handbook air-cools shakers up to 15,000 lbf and liquid-cools them from 20,000 lbf, and IMV's 200 kN K200 needs 650 l/min of water. [3][1]
Part
Role
Fix in the order
Shaker body and field coils
Magnetic field; field supply energises the coils; pneumatic mounts isolate the floor. [3]
Force rating, isolation.
Armature (moving coil)
Moves in the field; magnesium or aluminium; 2.4 kg to 200 kg in the systems reviewed. [3][2][1]
Mass, diameter, resonance.
Power amplifier
Class D switching inverters with IGBT or MOSFET modules supply drive current; interlocked doors and over-temperature protection. [3]
kVA, supply voltage.
Vibration controller and accelerometers
Closed-loop control from accelerometer feedback. [3]
Modes, channels, calibration.
Head expander, fixtures and slip table
Welded magnesium or aluminium expanders; trunnion rotates the shaker 90° to drive a slip table on oil film or hydrostatic bearings. [3]
Size, mass, bearings.
Cooling
Air-cooled up to 15,000 lbf, liquid-cooled from 20,000 lbf in Thermotron's handbook; K200 needs 650 l/min water at Δt 5 °C. [3][1]
Air or water, heat load.
05
Force by mode, frequency range, displacement, velocity, acceleration and payload for a shaker quotation
Force alone does not size the system: IMV's m120 falls from 500 m/s² bare to 413 m/s² with only 0.5 kg added, so ask for the acceleration curve at your total moving mass. [2]
Field
What it means and published values
Ask the supplier for
Maximum force (kN)
200 kN sine, 200 kN rms random, 400 kN shock (K200); 1,200 N sine, 840 N rms random (m120). [1][2]
Each mode, rating conditions.
Frequency range (Hz)
0–2,000 Hz in both IMV systems; depends on sensor and controller. [1][2]
Find electrodynamic vibration test system manufacturers
1 company lists this product among what they make. Company figures are quoted from each
company's own website; every card states where the relationship came from.
Suzhou Dongling Vibration Test Instrument Co., Ltd.
Manufacturing site to be confirmed for the order
Lists electrodynamic vibration test systems and hydraulic vibration test systems.
Explore company information and manufacturing capabilities, then discuss the scope of your project with a relevant supplier.
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Compiled and source-reviewed by the CNFX editorial team.
Each manufacturer above links to the page on that company's own website where the product is listed, with the date we checked it. How we source and review
· Page last updated 13 October 2026
Buyer questions
How do I work out the shaker force I need?
Thermotron's handbook multiplies total moving mass (armature, fixture, product, expander or slip plate) by the required acceleration, F = ma. [3]
Is the random force rating the same as the sine rating?
Not always: IMV's m120 lists 1,200 N sine but 840 N rms random, while its K200 lists 200 kN for both. [2][1]
Which standards cover sine and random vibration tests?
IEC 60068-2-6 (Test Fc) covers sinusoidal vibration and IEC 60068-2-64 (Test Fh) broadband random vibration. [4][5]
Sources and what still needs a direct check
Sources checked 2026-10-11. IMV publishes its own system specifications, Thermotron's handbook is a maker's guide to electrodynamic testing, and the IEC webstore gives the scope of the two vibration test standards; values for your system must come from the supplier's performance table.
