Hammermills and lump breakers are heavy-duty machines used for various needs in the industrial sector. Classified as size reduction equipment, they are used for processing a wide variety of materials, from granola bars to large clumps of clay. While each machine is similar in its end goal, they are much more efficient when applied to their specific purposes.
Knowing how they operate and what materials work best for either machine is key to ensuring your next project is done effectively and efficiently. These tips can help you decide which device you should choose for your next project.
What Is a Lump Breaker?
Lump breakers are machines focused on reducing the size of an object by crushing it with specific blade types. These rotating blades efficiently crush the material with an extreme lack of dust discharge.
Lump crushers work by taking material fed into it and continuously pulverizing it with sharp blades until it breaks down. These blades rotate toward the center of the lump breaker, causing a force that breaks apart the object while only allowing for broken-down material to pass through. The size of the broken-down particle is determined by the size and speed of the blades used.
Lump breakers work well with heavy-duty bulk solids that absorb moisture, such as:
- Cement
- Large clumps
- Sugars
- Salts
- Powders
What Is a Hammermill?
Hammermills — or lump abradors — work with brute force to crush and destroy materials that go through them. A rotating shaft of swinging hammers slam against the particles and bang them against the casing walls. Repeated beatings grind the particles down into a smaller material that can pass through a screen for processing or disposal. Hammermill effectiveness is determined by the size of the hammers, the hammer tip speeds, and the thickness and amount of hammers present in the machines.
Hammermills break down common brittle materials such as:
- Wood
- Glass
- Granules
- Pellets
- Milling Grain
- Paper
- Yard Waste
What’s the Difference?
As mentioned before, both the lump breaker and hammermill are looking to accomplish similar goals — pulverize large materials. Both machines are large and abrasive, and many companies rely on both to annihilate a wide variety of materials.
The main differences between lump breakers and hammermills are how they go about their business and the materials they are used on. Lump breakers are meant to reduce products collected and wound together tightly through impact pressure. Meanwhile, hammermills take products and break them down into smaller and more manageable pieces.
How Do You Know Which One to Use?
From start to finish, both the lump breaker and hammermill effectively get their respective jobs done and are both fascinating machinery to observe during operation. Ultimately which machine you choose comes down to what materials you’re using and the given application. For instance, heavy-duty, agglomerated materials demand a lump breaker, while smaller materials that can’t take a beating are suitable for hammermills.
Both machines are so similar that you might have a tough time deciding which one works for your needs. Fortunately, JERSEY CRUSHER can help you determine which machinery you need and take care of your job. Reach out to learn how a hammermill or our signature LUMPBUSTER® can get the job done for you.
