What is a corn crusher, how does it work and how to make such a unit with your own hands
To quickly and efficiently harvest corn for the winter, you will need a conditioner. This unit reduces labor costs and improves product quality. Making a conditioner with your own hands will not take much time, but will allow you to significantly save on the purchase of equipment.
From the article you will learn what a corn crusher is, what the principle of its operation is and the stages of manufacturing.
What is a corn crusher?
A crusher, or grain crusher, is a device designed for crushing fresh grain.
For flattening, waxy ripe grain is used. It has more useful components than dried.
Components
Main parts of the conditioner:
- working part - usually it is installed directly on the engine, it is responsible for uniform processing of grain;
- frame - it is made of metal and is responsible for the stability of the structure;
- housing - a structure that covers and protects all internal mechanisms;
- bunker for receiving raw materials - metal container;
- internal damper - allows you to control the volume of grain mass entering the working part;
- motor and drive – a motor powered by electricity;
- unloading auger - a metal container into which processed grain falls.
Types of conditioners depending on the working part:
- Cheek. The working part consists of two plates.During the crushing process, one is fixed motionless, and the second performs rotational movements. The grain is crushed while it is between the plates.
- Rotary. Crushing of corn grain occurs due to rotors and hammers attached to them.
- Conical. The working part is a cone. When the cone rotates, the grain falling on it is crushed.
- Hammer. The main principle is the operation of hammers mounted on hinges. When the grain hits the working part, the grain splits due to impact.
- Valkovaya. Grain flattening occurs by passing them through rollers.
Principle of operation
The collected and cleaned corn grain is poured into the raw material receiving bunker. It passes through the working part, where it is processed. The movement occurs due to the drive. Processed grain moves into the unloading auger. Where does it come from for cooking? stern. The quality of processing depends on the type of working part.
Important! During operation, make sure that stones and other foreign materials do not get into the working part - this will damage the working part of the conditioner.
How does a grain grinder work?
The grain begins to fall asleep when the valve is closed. After the grain has entered the receiving hopper, the valve is gradually opened. The grain falls into the working chamber, and the grinding process begins with the help of rotating knives.
After grinding, the grain is passed through a sieve. The diameter of the holes controls the grind size of the grain. The crushed grain goes into the raw material receiving hopper.
Important! The working part wears out during operation, so it requires constant maintenance.
For chopping stems
The process of chopping corn tops is similar to chopping cobs.
Operating principle of the stem chopper:
- The stems are loaded into a rectangular hatch located in the side of the chopper.
- The tops pass through the knives of the working part.
- The crushed plant residues enter the receiving hopper.
For grinding corn on the cob
The process of grinding corn into cobs is simple. The economic effect is achieved by increasing the productivity of the chopper.
Principle of operation:
- Corn cobs are placed in a rectangular hatch.
- Due to the traction force, they enter the working part, where the radially arranged knives are located.
- After grinding, the raw material enters the receiving hopper and is ready for use.
Purchase
Before making a purchase, pay attention to the characteristics of the conditioner:
- Purpose. For use on small farms or for personal purposes, a factory-made or self-assembled hammer crusher is suitable. Large farms will have to purchase a factory model.
- Power. The device is selected based on the maximum volume of grain that will need to be processed.
- Performance. For small farms it is not necessary to purchase a unit with high productivity. The main thing is to decide how much ready-made feed the poultry and livestock will need.
- Dimensions. Before purchasing a shredder, you need to choose a place where it will be stored.
The best manufacturers
We suggest considering the most popular models.
"Elektromash IZ-05M"
Designed for medium-sized farms. Engine power: 800 kW. Grain processing capacity: 170 kg/hour. Weight: 6 kg. Receiving hopper volume: 5 l.
"Piggy"
The main advantages of the model are its small design, reliable materials and ease of use. Manufacturer: Russia. The receiving hopper is designed for 10 kg.Productivity: 300 kg/h grain. Power consumption: 1.9 kW.
"Farmer IZE-25M"
Designed for medium-sized farms. Engine power: 1300 kW. Productivity: 400 kg/h grain. Weight: 7.3 kg. Adjustment of grinding degree. Without reception bunker.
"ThermMix"
The advantage of the shredder is low power consumption. Engine power: 500 kW. Productivity: 500 kg/h grain. Device warranty: 3 years. Weight: 10 kg. Reception hopper: 35 l.
Important! The main characteristic when choosing a model is the performance of the unit. The larger the farm, the higher the productivity should be.
Where to buy and how much it costs
There is a huge selection of manufacturers and platforms for selling agricultural machinery.
Where to buy a corn conditioner:
- online stores;
- construction stores;
- special agricultural equipment bases;
- purchasing a used device on the Avito site or other similar ones;
Or you can make the device yourself.
The cost of a corn crusher depends on the mechanism of action and productivity:
- The cheapest and easiest to operate are manual conditioners. Their cost starts from 2000 rubles. The disadvantage of such conditioners is low productivity.
- The cost of electrical appliances starts from 15,000 rubles. The price varies depending on power, performance and size.
How to make it yourself
A homemade conditioner is suitable for personal use or small farms.
Advantages of a homemade unit:
- low cost;
- confidence in the reliability of the design.
Flaws:
- low performance compared to purchased ones;
- unpresentable appearance.
What you will need: what materials can such a device be made from?
To perform quality work you will need:
- motor with a power of about 1 kW;
- metal sheet 3 mm thick;
- hardened steel for the working part;
- bolts, washers and nuts;
- any container of suitable size as a receiving hopper.
To complete the work you will need the following tools:
- welding machine;
- locksmith tools;
- grinder with cutting wheel;
- electric drill;
- grinding machine.
Blueprints
The grain crusher consists of the following units:
- valve for regulating the flow of grain into the working chamber;
- grain bin;
- electric motor on/off button;
- electric motor;
- sleeve;
- axis;
- washer;
- screw;
- screw;
- base;
- working chamber housing;
- container for crushed grain;
- metal mesh (sieve).
Diagram of the crusher working chamber:
- base;
- working chamber housing;
- screw;
- sieve.
Step-by-step instruction
Stages of making a crusher with your own hands:
- Take a sheet of metal and drill a hole in it slightly larger than the diameter of the motor shaft.
- Attach the motor to the sheet with bolts. The motor can be taken from a vacuum cleaner or water pump.
- Make a working chamber. Cut a strip 4 cm thick from a sheet of metal and bend a ring with a diameter of 30 cm.
- Weld the ring to the base.
- Attach the working part to the engine using a coupling.
- Make a knife. A knife from a lawn mower or grinder will do. The length of the working part is 1-2 cm less than the working chamber.
- Attach the knife to the coupling using bolts.
- Install the coupling onto the engine.
- Attach the sieve to the bottom with studs and nuts. To make it, take a metal mesh with 3 mm holes.
- Install a receiving hopper. Make a hole with a diameter of about 3 cm in the upper part of the working chamber. Weld any cone-shaped container to the hole and make a valve.It will serve to regulate the flow of grain into the working part of the bunker.
- Place the finished product on a container that will become a hopper for receiving raw materials.
Reviews
Purchasing a corn crusher is a serious step for small farms. In reviews, those who made this device themselves share their achievements.
Vladimir, Tyumen: “I got a very simple one from my father. He did it in due time. No matter how many years have passed, I still use it. Everything suits me".
Ramil, Ufa: “My experience in using grain crushers is five years. During this time, I came to the conclusion that it was easier to make the device with my own hands. If you have experience using tools, then everything is easy, you only need to buy an engine. I recently made it myself. I threw out the old crushers.”
This is interesting:
Characteristics and description of corn seed hybrid Krasnodar 291 AMB.
How to soak corn for planting and grow a rich harvest from ready-made seeds.
Conclusion
A corn crusher is a useful and easy-to-use device for the household. The purchase of such a unit will greatly facilitate the life of livestock farmers. Once you have decided on a suitable model, it is relatively easy to make a conditioner yourself. This will save money on the purchase and use a convenient device for a long time.