There’s no need to do everything by hand.
Trying to be everything at once will have you run the risk of tiring yourself out prematurely and affecting the quality of your output. This runs true in pretty much any industry, but this is especially viable when it comes to buying crumblers and tumbling drums. Whether you’re a hobbyist looking to start selling online or are upgrading your small business, shrugging over responsibility to your technology will save you a lot of time. Maintaining your tumbler is all a matter of keeping limitations in mind and setting aside a weekly schedule.
Here are five easy tips to keep in mind when purchasing a food crusher or tumbling machine.
Choose The Right Size For The Job
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to your needs. What suits one business may be completely incompatible with what you hope to achieve. The most popular barrel dimensions for tumbling drums vary in diameter, though it’s still usually smaller than the length. Horizontal barrel speeds will also vary between 20 and 38 RPM, depending on the items being tumbled. When you take into account the material that needs to be removed from the parts, tumbling can take a few hours to a day to complete.
Know The Difference Between Dry And Wet
Not only do you need to choose the right size crumblers, you also need to differentiate between what goes inside them. Barrel speeds in dry tumbling is kept at a steady 28 to 32 RPM, with the horizontal octagonal barrel used almost exclusively. This barrel will sometimes come with a metal skin and a hardwood lining that can be replaced. Wet tumbling (and wet screening) will come with another set of parameters that needs to be closely followed if you’re to get the best end result. It’s the little details that keep you from losing time or money.
Keep A Close Eye On Your Speed
Faster is not always better. In fact, you can indirectly make things worse. Rotary speed will vary between 85 RPM to over 1,000 RPM, with modern models able to be customized with different hammer sets to help the machine work on different materials. Your speed can be tracked manually and should be double-checked to make sure the machine isn’t going overboard or failing to perform. A good way to keep this from happening is to make sure you’re not overloading your surge machine with too much product. Just like you don’t want to go too fast, you also don’t want to go too heavy.
Don’t Overload The Machine
Even at your most impatient it’s wise not to give your crumblers too much to handle. All this will do is compromise their performance and create an inferior product. The number of parts that can safely fit into a barrel is best determined by the barrel size, the size of the parts, the part’s fragility, the shape and the weight. Parts actually account for one-third of the total barrel load, on an average day, and a good rule-of-thumb to follow is to keep your barrel load heights at 45%. While you can get more action with a higher load, it often results in a poorer finish.
Maintain Or Replace Your Parts
Just like any other machine, your food grade hammer mill will succumb to wear and tear over time. This can be slowed down with regular maintenance and replacing parts as necessary. Your screen should be free from holes or dents, as even minor damage can reduce your output and make you fall behind. Rotary crushers are generally built with shaft impactors to create a considerable amount of force, which is great for both recycling and food processing. It’s wise to tweak your machine to suit your unique workflow.
Don’t shoulder all the burden of running a business. Let your vibratory screeners and crumblers handle the rest.
