Mats vs Mounts, Springs or Air Springs

Anti-Vibration Mats vs Mounts: Mat, Machine Foot, Steel Spring or Air Spring?

Not every vibration problem can be solved with a mat. What matters is the excitation frequency of the machine, the required isolation, the loads and the installation situation. This overview helps with preselection.

The systems compared

System	Typical natural frequency*	Strengths	Limitations
Anti-vibration mats and pads (elastomer, PUR)	approx. 8 – 30 Hz	low installation height, full-surface or as strips, slip-resistant, good at reducing structure-borne noise, inexpensive	too stiff for very low frequencies; effectiveness depends heavily on the right bearing pressure
Elastomer machine feet / anti-vibration mounts (rubber-to-metal)	approx. 10 – 30 Hz	height-adjustable, quick to install, levelling possible	limited load per foot, individual points instead of an area
Steel spring isolators	approx. 2 – 8 Hz	very low tuning, large static deflection, hardly any settlement	low inherent damping (often combined with dampers), transmit high-frequency structure-borne noise, greater installation height
Air springs / pneumatic isolators	approx. 1 – 5 Hz	highest isolation, level control possible, ideal for precision equipment	compressed-air supply and maintenance required, higher price

* Typical ranges for guidance; actual values depend on the product, load and build-up.

How to make your preselection

Determine the excitation frequency: speed ÷ 60 = frequency in Hz (e.g. 1,500 rpm → 25 Hz).
Set the target: the natural frequency of the mounting should be no more than about one third of the excitation frequency.
From approx. 20 – 25 Hz mats, pads and elastomer feet are usually sufficient.
Below approx. 10 – 15 Hz (slow-running machines, presses with large masses, buildings next to railway lines), low-tuned PUR elastomers, steel springs or air springs should be considered.
Precision equipment (microscopes, measuring machines) often needs very low tuning or active systems.

→ Check your values with our isolation calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Rubber pads or spring isolators – is an anti-vibration mat enough for my machine?

At excitation frequencies from about 20 to 25 Hz – i.e. most pumps, compressors and motors running at 1,500 rpm or more – well-tuned mats and pads generally achieve good isolation. At very low frequencies, springs are often the better choice.

Can mats and springs be combined?

Yes. Steel springs for low tuning are often combined with elastomer layers to additionally reduce high-frequency structure-borne noise.

Which is better for shocks, a mat or a spring?

With impact loads, for example from presses or punches, damping and limited movement matter as well as isolation. Elastomer mats and bearings dissipate impact energy through their internal damping and limit the deflection; steel springs have hardly any inherent damping and are usually combined with dampers for shock loads. Which solution suits depends on the impact energy, mass and permissible movement – more under CNC machines & presses.

What is the difference between source isolation and receiver isolation?

With source isolation, the source of vibration – such as a pump or compressor – is resiliently mounted so that as little vibration as possible enters the building. With receiver isolation, a sensitive instrument such as a microscope or measuring machine is protected from vibration in its surroundings. The physics is the same, but the design is based on different sources of disturbance; details in the glossary.

Not sure which system suits you?

Send us the application, weight and speed – we will tell you whether a mat is enough or another system makes more sense.

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