How Do Hammer Mills Work?

Hammer Mills work on the principle of impact, where a series of hammers mounted on a central shaft, rotate rapidly striking the material repeatedly until it is pulverized and reduced to the desired size.

The basic principle of a hammer mill is straightforward. Large materials are fed into the mill’s chamber through a hopper located on the top via a conveyor belt or transfer auger. The high-speed rotating hammers inside the chamber then strike the material repeatedly, causing it to break into smaller pieces.

The size of the final product can be controlled by the size of the screen or grate. Smaller holes in the screen will produce smaller particles, while larger holes will allow larger pieces to pass through producing larger particles.

The speed at which the hammers rotate can also be adjusted to control the size of the particles produced. In agriculture use such as on the farm out in the fields the tractor powers the hammer mill via the PTO.  Additionally, some hammer mills have a built-in fan or airflow system to help aid in the removal of dust and unwanted particulate while transporting the material through the mill and out of the discharge chute.  Depending on the end goal and application the material can exit the bottom of the machine via a blower, belt, or bagger.

Overall, a hammer mill is an efficient and versatile machine for processing a wide range of materials including grinding corn feed for livestock and poultry, wood chips for animal bedding, and other custom applications.  Industrial applications include agriculture, mining, food processing, and waste management.