Lab Scale Hammer Mills - Top Five FAQs
Whether it is space constraints or small production, a laboratory scale hammer mill is often the right choice for size reduction. Often used for testing and batch sampling, common installations include: colleges and universities, government testing facilities, and pilot plants.
Below are answers to the top five questions we receive about our laboratory scale hammer mills:
1. Can my material be processed in a lab scale hammer mill?The laboratory scale hammer mill has the same full range of capabilities as larger industrial hammer mills. Applications include: chemicals, glass, food waste, biomass, lathe turnings, metal powders and much more. Material infeed size and production goals are the ultimate determining factors on whether or not a lab scale hammer mill is suitable for your operation.
2. How durable is the lab scale hammer mill?The lab scale mills are constructed based on customer specification. The options include carbon steel and 304 or 316 stainless steel. Stainless steel models feature all stainless steel contact surfaces. Replaceable internal liner plates are also an option, The liner plates protect the grinding chamber from wear that results from processing abrasive materials.
3. Can a lab scale hammer mill produce multiple particle sizes?Yes. In an earlier post we discussed the
factors determining particle size. In short: the screen size, shaft speed and hammer configuration selected give you the ability to steer the particle size in any direction you require. This principle holds true with the lab scale hammer mill as well.
Hammer configuration is determined by the material and processing goals, and is generally not changed once mill construction is complete. However, shaft speed and screen size are quite flexible. Screens can be purchased in multiple sizes and are easily interchanged. The smaller the opendings in the screen, the finer the product that is produced. An optional Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) control allows the operator the ability to control the rotor speed. Faster rotor speed results in harder and more frequent blows, where as a slower speed allows for a tighter particle size distribution.
4. Is the lab scale hammer mill scalable?
Absolutely. The lab scale hammer mill is, quite simply a miniature version of larger production models. Thus, the lab scale hammer mill production results can be extrapolated to that of its larger counterparts.
5. What can I expect in terms of set-up and maintenance?
The lab scale hammer mill is fully assembled upon delivery. The operator simply needs to connect the mill's motor or control panel to the main building power source. The top of the hammer mill hinges open to allow easy access for cleaning, screen changes and hammer rotation. As with larger hammer mills, optional dust collection systems can be integrated if needed.
For a one page summary of this post, click below to download our Laboratory Scale Hammer Mills - Top 5 FAQs Factsheet:
