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A hammer mill grinder is one of the simplest and most effective machines available for pulverizing bulk material. They are a workhorse in the agriculture, pet food and animal feed industries and can handle several tons of material every hour. In addition to their efficiency, these machines are a favorite among plant managers because they require little maintenance to function. In general, the only thing that has to be addressed is the normal wear and tear of handling tons of bulk. Fortunately, replacement parts tend to be inexpensive and the machines are easily accessed for maintenance technicians.
These devices operate using simple principles of force. Each one consists of large durable housing that contains a spinning rotor. Several hammers are attached to the rotor and strike any material that enters the machine. The bulk is fed into the device through an intake shaft and directed using a flow controller. As the material is smashed into smaller pieces, it is forced through mesh screens that line the inside of the housing. When the grains are reduced to an appropriate size, they pass through the mesh and are collected for further processing. A hammer mill grinder can serve as a primary break machine in a processing facility, but is often used for secondary or tertiary breaking.
In the agriculture industry, cereals like wheat have to be smashed open before their more desirable parts can be accessed. These machines are capable of breaking open the bran on cereal grains at an incredibly fast rate. In fact, some models can handle up to 15 tons of material every hour. However, treating this much material will wear down the machine over time. The most frequent maintenance concern is the wear sustained by the striking surfaces in the device. Experts recommend replacing any striker that shows wear across more than 25 percent of its face. Failure to do so will reduce the efficiency of the machine and possibly throw the rotor out of balance. Screens and bearings may also require occasional replacement as they are exposed to a lot of wear.
In general, the easiest way to tell if a machine needs maintenance is to monitor its efficiency. If capacity dips 15 percent or more during operation, there is likely a problem that requires attention. Fortunately, most models are built with side access, so a technician can open up the machine and quickly assess the problem.
Before selecting a hammer mill grinder for a facility, several things must be considered. Striker speed is one, as these machines can range from around 12,000 FPM (feet per minute traveled) to more than 18,000 FPM. The smaller the material, the faster the rotor should spin. Higher speed devices should also be paired with screen meshes that have small holes. However, lower speeds are better for handling larger items because they generate more torque. Low speed models are common in food industries where bone pulverizing is common. Machines that are used for food applications will also need to be certified by the Food and Drug Administration.
These devices are among the most important in agriculture and are also critical in producing animal feed and pet food. As long as they are taken care of, they will reliably churn out an incredible amount of product over time.
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