Impact Crusher VS Hammer Crusher, What is The Difference
Impact crushers and hammer crushers are the best machineries to use when it comes to crushing pieces of equipment. Different industries largely utilize the two crushers to help crush materials and reduce their sizes for use or further processing. Both have similar purposes, but when it comes to functionalities and characteristics, they vary to make them suitable for applications. In the following article, we will elaborate on the differences between hammer crushers and impact crushers to help you get all the information you need to make a choice.
What is the Working Principle of Impact Crusher and Hammer Crusher?
The difference between a hammer and an impact crusher is displayed clearly in the working principles. Let’s start with the impact crusher and discuss its operating principles.
Impact Crusher:
It uses impact to break down materials. Crushing starts to occur when the material is fed into the crushing chamber; the material comes across moving blow bars that move at high speed that break into smaller parts. Since the blow bars are moving at high speed, they cause the materials to break down through the natural fissures producing cubical shape products. The impact crusher is ideal for making high-quality aggregates of construction for roads and structures.
Hammer Crusher:
When it comes to the hammer crusher, it contains hammers that move in circular motion rapidly into the cylindrical chamber. The hammers use force to strike the materials breaking them into smaller pieces. A hammer crusher can be used on brittle materials. It also produces particles that are less cubical and uneven than the impact crusher. Therefore, it`s preferred in industries that accept coarse products.
What are the Applications and Materials of Hammer Crusher and Impact Crusher?
Hammer Crusher:
The hammer crusher is preferred by industries that crush soft to medium-hard feed, including coal, limestone and gypsum. It is used for crushing materials that are relatively small, therefore, used in tertiary or secondary stages. The next question that comes to your mind is, where is the hammer crusher commonly found? Hammer crushers can be found in recycling centres and gravel pits since they can crush non-abrasive feed. The most important thing to note is that hammer crushers are less efficient than impact crushers in producing the highest quality of aggregates. It makes hammer crushers unsuitable for crushing ores and hard rocks.
Impact Crusher:
Impact crushers crush materials such as sandstone, granite, and limestone. The following materials are mainly in the category of medium-hard to hard materials. Impact crushers are the opposite of hammer crushers since they produce high-quality materials such as construction aggregates. They have a high reduction ratio. Therefore, they are also preferred in the mining of ores and minerals. It is important to note that impact crushers are successful in producing cubical-shaped final products, making them ideal for manufacturing asphalt and concrete.
How are the Maintenance and Operating Costs of Impact Crusher and Hammer Crusher?
Impact Crusher:
In general, impact crusher has fewer maintenance activities than hammer crushers. The impact crusher bears a few parts, which can be easily changed when worn down. It is important to note that the initial investment in an impact crusher may be higher but can change due to the low maintenance cost over time. Impact crushers, as we learned in this article, have a higher processing capacity, increasing productivity and lowering operating costs.
Hammer Crusher:
When it comes to the hammer crusher, there are regular inspections and maintenance. All the hammer components, including hammers, liners and rotor, experience wear. When the crusher is irregularly maintained, it may decrease the whole efficiency of the crusher. The initial cost of these crushers is lower, but you should consider the operational costs and high maintenance when deciding.
What are the Sizes and Configuration of Impact and Hammer Crusher?
Impact Crusher:
There are various sizes and configurations of the impact crusher. Some impact crushers can be either vertical shaft impactors or horizontal shaft impactors. Let’s start with the vertical shaft impactors, which are more effective for materials classified as medium to hard materials. Horizontal shaft impactors are preferred for soft materials. As the name suggests, horizontal shaft impactors use a horizontal impact crushing mechanism, while vertical shaft impactors use a vertical shaft to compact crushing action.
Hammer Crusher:
Regarding sizes and configuration, hammer crushers have different sizes. It’s important to note that these crushers are large and bulky to support their crushing process. Depending on the application industry, the hammer crushers are designed with either swinging or fixed hammers.
Conclusion
Impact crushers and hammer crushers have different operating mechanisms but also have advantages for other applications. An impact crusher is the best choice for industries that require high-quality aggregates. A hammer crusher is suitable if the initiatives deal with soft materials.
