IEC 60068-2-6 Vibration Test System RFQ Guide

Confirm that the requirement is sinusoidal vibration

IEC 60068-2-6 is the sinusoidal vibration test in the IEC 60068 family. It is different from random vibration, mechanical shock, drop, package vibration, or combined environments testing. Before requesting price, confirm the exact standard, edition, profile, axes, sweep rate, dwell points, duration, operating condition, and acceptance criteria. If the customer method combines sine vibration with temperature or humidity, state that as a combined test requirement rather than a basic shaker requirement.

This distinction matters because equipment sizing and control strategy change by test type. A system optimized for sine sweeps may not be sufficient for high-level random vibration or shock. A standalone shaker may not meet a combined climate-vibration requirement without a chamber interface, thermal barrier, slip table, and controller synchronization. The RFQ should tell the supplier which tests are required now and which upgrades may be needed later.

Define the vibration severity in engineering terms

The supplier needs frequency range, displacement, velocity, acceleration, sweep rate, duration, axes, and control method. The buyer should also provide payload mass, fixture mass estimate, center of gravity, mounting pattern, cable movement, and whether the specimen operates during the test. Without this data, suppliers may quote a shaker that meets the profile only for an empty table, not for the actual product.

For electronics and battery modules, the fixture can be a large part of the moving mass. A heavy or poorly designed fixture can reduce available acceleration and introduce resonances. Ask the supplier to show a sizing calculation that includes DUT mass and fixture allowance. If the fixture is provided by another vendor, define interface responsibilities so the final system still meets IEC 60068-2-6 performance.

Match shaker force, stroke, table, and cooling to the job

Electrodynamic shaker selection should account for sine force, peak force, displacement, velocity, table size, payload, armature limits, amplifier capacity, cooling method, and duty cycle. A small component lab may value frequency performance and low noise. A battery module lab may value payload capacity, fixture stiffness, and safe cable routing. A production reliability lab may value uptime, serviceability, and spare parts.

Procurement should ask for the operating envelope at the requested payload, not only the headline shaker rating. The quotation should state derating assumptions, fixture mass allowance, cooling water or air needs, amplifier power, floor reaction requirements, and expected duty cycle. This makes competing quotations easier to compare.

Plan fixtures and axes before purchase order

Vibration tests often fail at the fixture stage. The RFQ should state required axes, mounting faces, bolt pattern, specimen envelope, cable exits, sensor locations, and whether a horizontal slip table is needed. For three-axis testing, clarify whether the same fixture can be reoriented or whether separate fixtures are required. For battery modules, include clamp strategy, isolation from conductive surfaces, and emergency access.

Ask whether fixture design, finite element review, machining, modal checks, and fixture validation are included. If they are not included, the buyer still needs a plan. A high-quality shaker with an inadequate fixture can produce misleading results, damage samples, or miss the required control levels.

Decide whether environmental integration is required

Some projects only need room-temperature sine vibration. Others require temperature, humidity, altitude, or powered operation at environmental extremes. If combined testing is required, the chamber and shaker should be specified as one system. The interface must handle thermal isolation, table movement, condensation control, cable routing, airflow, controller synchronization, and safety interlocks.

A combined temperature-humidity-vibration chamber can be valuable for automotive electronics, aerospace electronics, battery modules, and high-power devices, but it is more complex than a standalone shaker. Ask whether the supplier provides the chamber, shaker, slip table, thermal barrier, controller integration, and service support as one scope or whether several vendors must coordinate.

Specify powered DUT monitoring and safety

IEC 60068-2-6 guidance often expects the EUT to be assessed for mechanical weakness or performance degradation, and many labs need the product operational during test. Powered operation creates cable fatigue, connector movement, heat dissipation, electrical safety, and data synchronization issues. The RFQ should list voltage, current, power, cable count, functional checks, emergency shutdown, and operator exclusion requirements.

For battery modules, include BMS communication, voltage monitoring, temperature sensors, current limits, contactor status, and how the system responds to a fault during vibration. The chamber or shaker supplier may not provide the cycler or DAQ, but they need to understand the interfaces. A simple cable port is not enough when moving equipment, powered samples, and safety controls interact.

Verify the system with FAT and SAT evidence

FAT should demonstrate the shaker profile, controller operation, accelerometer channels, amplifier behavior, emergency stop, cooling system, fixture interface, and data export. If environmental integration is included, FAT should also verify chamber control during vibration or at least the interface behavior with a representative thermal barrier. Ask for sample reports and controller screenshots before shipment.

SAT should confirm floor anchoring, utilities, cooling, noise, room clearance, controller calibration, accelerometer calibration, fixture installation, and the first customer profile. A useful SAT includes a safe dummy load close to the planned payload. It should produce a final report that QA and engineering can archive as the baseline for future IEC 60068-2-6 work.

RFQ comparison table

Buyer selection advice

A vibration test system should be bought around the real moving mass. The DUT, fixture, cables, accelerometers, and any chamber interface all affect performance. Ask suppliers to show the calculation behind their selection. If a quotation does not mention fixture allowance, it is not yet complete.

For battery and high-power electronics labs, define safety behavior during vibration. Moving cables, energized modules, and thermal stress can create faults that a room-temperature component test does not reveal. The RFQ should include emergency stop, remote monitoring, BMS or functional data, and how technicians approach the sample after a fault.

Do not postpone fixture planning. Fixture design can control lead time as much as the shaker itself. If the buyer provides the fixture, the supplier should still review interface loads and mounting limits. If the supplier provides the fixture, ask for drawing approval, material specification, and validation steps.

Environmental integration deserves a separate review. A combined system may need more floor space, cooling, power, service access, and controller coordination than the buyer expects. Facilities, reliability engineering, and procurement should review the same layout before the purchase order is released.

For shared labs, ask for software features that support repeatability: user permissions, named profiles, export templates, calibration reminders, and protected setup files. These features reduce operator variation and help QA defend repeated customer programs.

Ask how the supplier will support control accelerometer placement. A vibration test can be controlled at the table, fixture, or a representative point on the specimen, depending on the method and risk review. Poor sensor placement can over-test one part of the assembly and under-test another. The RFQ should ask for guidance on control, monitor, and abort channels before the fixture design is frozen.

Include cable durability in the plan. Powered specimens may need power, communications, thermocouples, voltage taps, BMS signals, and safety interlock wiring while the table moves. Cables can rub, stiffen, loosen, or change the dynamic response of the specimen. Ask for strain relief, flexible cable routing, connector protection, and a pre-test check procedure.

If the system will be used for both IEC 60068-2-6 and transportation-related programs such as UN 38.3, list those future profiles as optional requirements. The supplier can then check whether the shaker, slip table, amplifier, and fixtures have enough margin. Buying a system with no upgrade path can force a second purchase when the lab adds larger battery modules or new customer standards.

For labs moving vibration testing in-house for the first time, training should cover more than controller operation. Operators need to understand fixture inspection, bolt torque, accelerometer mounting, cable strain relief, emergency stop checks, cooling checks, and how to recognize an invalid run. These skills determine whether the system produces reliable data after the supplier leaves the site.

Noise, floor reaction, and maintenance access should be reviewed with facilities before order release. A vibration system can affect adjacent instruments, offices, or precision processes. The RFQ should ask for anchoring requirements, isolation recommendations, cooling water or air needs, amplifier ventilation, and safe access around moving tables. These site details are easier to solve on a layout drawing than after installation.

Finally, request a lifecycle support plan. Vibration systems include consumables, cooling components, power electronics, accelerometers, cables, fixtures, and software. A spare-parts and calibration plan is part of the purchase, not an afterthought.