Objectives The aim of this research is to study the method of evaluating the vibration transmission when reducing the mass of the equipment under the same power conditions.

Methods Firstly, take the single-degree-of-freedom isolation system model as an example, keep the installation frequency of the equipment and the input impedance of the elastic base unchanged, and study the change rule of vibration transmission of the isolation system; then, take the power flow as the evaluation index of the vibration energy, and solve the mathematical relationship between the equipment foot vibration acceleration level and the mass of the lightweight equipment.

Results It is shown that when the equipment installation frequency and base impedance are unchanged, the equipment mass reduction will lead to an increase in the equipment foot vibration acceleration level, while the isolation effect becomes better: the foot vibration acceleration will increase by 1.97 times if the equipment is lightened by 50%, and by 9.98 times if the equipment is lightened by 90%. If the installation frequency and base impedance are unchanged, there exists the law that the lightweight equipment foot vibration acceleration and transfer to the base of the vibration power flow increase.

Conclusions The research can provide a theoretical basis for the design of relevant isolation systems and improve the vibration evaluation of lightweight equipment.