The basic principle behind the tumbling drums used in large plastics manufacturing plants is the same one that was used to help polish rocks decades ago. Set for a certain amount of time at a certain speed, the tumbling drums in today’s industrial plants are the finishing processes for a number of products. Custom machinery like crumblers and crushers are used in a number of facilities and for a number of products. Making sure that these machines are running correctly and efficiently is often the secret to successful production lines and to the profitability of companies of any size.
Machines that help in plastics and food manufacturing need to be calibrated to make sure that they are able to create the right kind of finished product. From the smallest of plastic pieces to larger pieces that can help create parts for all kinds of industries, it is important to make sure that you have correctly calibrated tumbling drums. Consider some of these facts and figures about the many machines that are used in the process of manufacturing plastics and other important parts:
- Ideal for both recycling and food processing. rotary crushers are typically built with shaft impactors to create considerable force. In fact, they can be calibrated for a size reduction ratio between 10:1 and 25:1.
- Tumbling will take anywhere from six to 24 hours, depending on the amount of material that needs to be removed from the parts.
- Two-compartment barrel mills are designed for dry milling of construction materials of medium and low hardness.
- Parts usually account for one-third of the total barrel load. The number of parts which will fit safely into a barrel will be determined by the size of the part, barrel size, the part’s fragility, shape, weight, and the end result desired.
- The horizontal octagonal barrel is used almost exclusively for dry tumbling, This type of barrel sometimes has a metal skin, as well as a hardwood lining which can be replaced when it is necessary. For a barrel to be considered standard it should be 30 inches in diameter and either 36 inches or 42 inches in length.
- Barrel load heights, including media and parts, should not be less than 45% or more than 60% of capacity. Although load heights between 40% and 45% can produce more action, they typically also result in a finish that is of a poorer quality.
- Modern tumbling drum models can be customized with different sets of hammers that enable the machine to work on different materials. For instance, rotary speed varies from 85 rpm to 1,200 rpm.
- Plastic parts can be polished to a finish that approaches hand buffing when the items are given the time and are carefully handed. If the media is comparatively light, however, it takes a run of 10 to 15 hours to get the desired results.
- High frequency vibration equipment is used for particles that are in the size range of an 1/8 inch, or 3 mm, down to a mesh that is greater than 150. In addition, high frequency vibrating equipment often includes a shaker whose frame is fixed and the drive vibrates only the screen cloth.
- The optimum load height for barrel loads is 50%. These loads also have approximately three parts media to one of parts to keep parts from impinging.
What once may have been a simple machine for tumbling rocks for home collectors, today’s industrial sized tumblers and crushers help finish a number of products throughout a number of industries.