Inside Look at an Industrial Hammer Mill in Action

Have you ever wondered how your animal feed is produced on an industrial scale? This article gives an inside look at the crucial role that hammer mills play in commercial feed production. TikTok creator Lyssy & Eckel recently shared a video tour of their feed mill operation, focusing on the large hammer mill that crushes grain into a finer particle size. By processing over 40 tons of grain per hour, this hammer mill is a workhorse responsible for the initial step in transforming raw materials into finished feed products.

How a Hammer Mill Works

As the video demonstrates, hammer mills utilize rows of free-swinging hammers mounted on a rotating shaft to pulverize incoming feedstock. As the shaft spins at high speeds, usually anywhere from 1000-3000 RPM, the hammers violently impact the grain to crack, crush, and pulverize it into a more uniform size. The hammers themselves resemble shortened lawnmower blades, and there can be hundreds mounted on commercial-scale mills. As grain is fed into the mill's intake chute, it is rapidly battered and broken down by repeated strikes from the spinning hammers into smaller particles and flour. Additional grinding plates inside help further refine the texture.

Industrial Scale Processing

At the Lyssy & Eckel feed mill, their hammer mill stands several stories tall and features an immense intake able to process a staggering 40+ tons of raw material per hour. Seeing the hulking pieces of equipment in person helps illustrate the massive volumes and thorough grinding required to supply livestock feed on an industrial level. While homebrewers and small-scale mills may use much smaller, tabletop hammer mills, commercial animal feed production demands rugged, heavy-duty machinery that can operate continuously for long shifts. Replacing the hammers, as seen in the video, is no small undertaking either given the mill's large scale.

Applications Beyond Feed

Though commonly used in feed mills, hammer mills have many other industrial uses whenever a coarse material needs to be reduced to a finer size. As the creator noted, smaller hammer mills can also be found in craft breweries milling grains like barley and wheat to release starches for the mashing process. Additional applications include pulverizing wood waste, crushing rocks and minerals, shredding plastics for recycling, and more. The versatile hammer mill design has enduringly proven effective for high-capacity size reduction in diverse manufacturing industries.

FAQs

How long do hammer mill hammers typically last?

Hammer life depends on factors like material hardness, moisture content, and mill usage rate. On high-capacity industrial mills, hammers may need replacement every few months. Lighter-duty mills could go years between hammer replacement.

What other grain processing equipment is used in a feed mill?

Besides hammer mills, common equipment includes rolls and roller mills for finer grinding, pellet mills, mixers, cooling/drying systems, screens, and baggers/bulk loaders for packaging finished feed. Mills also have extensive grain handling and conveying systems.

Are there safety concerns with operating a hammer mill?

Hammer mills present hazards like moving parts, noise, and dust exposure. Operators should wear proper protective equipment and follow lockout procedures during maintenance. Some mills have fire suppression and dust collection systems for additional safety.

Can different materials besides grain be processed?

Yes, while mainly used for grain, hammer mills can also pulverize a variety of materials like wood, plastics, minerals, and more depending on the mill's construction and intended feedstock. Proper material selection is important for safe, efficient operation.

What factors determine a hammer mill's capacity?

Capacity depends on factors like hammer mill power/size, rotational speed, hammer design/material, material properties, desired product size, and feeding rate. Larger industrial mills can process many tons per hour, while smaller mills handle only pounds or fractions of a ton per batch.