Tumbling 101 Determining The Strength And Speed Of Your Custom Vibratory Screeners


 

Tumbling

There’s no reason to do more work than you have to.

A common misconception about a high-quality product is the amount of time you put into it. While taking things slow and being extra careful can and does translate into higher quality, sometimes it can backfire and leave you exhausted when there’s no need to be. This is the defining logic of vibratory screeners and tumbling drums. These efficient machines are used in countless industries to separate particles, encourage smooth textures and generally reduce the need to oversee every single part of the process. That doesn’t mean they do all the work, however.

What Is A Tumbling Drum?

The function of a tumbling drum is to cut down on hands-on work without providing a dip in quality. The most popular barrel dimensions to date will vary in diameter and in length, from 18″ by 36″ to occasionally 18″ by 42″. Barrel speeds will vary immensely from 20 RPM to nearly 40 RPM depending on both the size and the items that need to be tumbled. Dry tumbling is used almost exclusively in a horizontal octagonal barrel, with a metal skin and hardwood lining used in conjuction to create the perfect inside and outside coating.

Are They Only For Professionals?

While vibratory screeners and tumbling is frequently used in manufacturing plants, hobbyists who regularly produce a large volume of work or who want higher quality results can benefit from tumbling drums. It’s important for hobbyists to pay close attention to the limitations of their tumbling drums, as filling them too full can not just risk lowering the quality of your materials but straining the machine. Fashion designers, jewelers and independent chefs sometimes use vibratory screeners and surge machines to aid their craft.

Which Industries Use Vibratory Screeners?

Vibratory screeners save on time, effort and money. Vibratory screeners are used by manufacturing plants, food industries and medicinal industries, to name a few. Any industry that requires parts to be separated, smoothed or rattled require steady access to high quality tumbling drums to keep up with demand. Screening generally falls under two categories — dry and wet — and these provide a superior ability to determine how the material is developed. These grades are judged, measured and further processed to either an in-between product or finished result.

What Should I Be Careful Of When Tumbling?

The speed, size and power of your vibratory screeners needs to be taken into account. Rotary speed varies from 85 RPM to as much as 1,200 RPM, with modern models able to be more closely customized to suit your needs. This means providing different sets of hammers to allow the machine to work on a wide range of materials or a very specific material. It’s also important not to overload your machine too much. This can cause it to underperform or even, in a worst case scenario, break down.

Which Tumbling Drum Is Best Suited For Me?

The type of tumbling drum you choose makes all the difference. You’re seeking out this machine not to circumvent quality, but enhance it with a more hands-off approach. This can be applied to food, medicine or materials for future products (or the final one, depending). Your food crusher or crumblers need to be strong enough to separate particles but not so strong it crushes the food. High frequency vibrating equipment is a shaker with a fixed frame, able to rattle the inside screen cloth to provide the perfect balance for delicate particles.

Save yourself time and effort by investing in good vibratory screeners. You’ll find they make all the difference.