Design, rating of the best grain crushers, manufacturing

For any person who is involved in farming, it is well known how important it is to have an electrically driven grain and vegetable crusher at home . It allows you to save a lot of time and effort, while not requiring large expenses, since it does not consume a large amount of electricity.

But when it comes to purchasing such a unit, the question arises, which grain crusher is best for the household? Choosing one can be difficult because you have to be torn between its cost and power.

Although the answer to this question is obvious - the more work you can do in a short time, the more profitable the purchase will be as a result.

In any case, a grain crusher will be very useful for achieving good feeding results - although domestic animals have been eating whole grain almost all the time, it is only in the last few decades that good results have been achieved thanks to its grinding and preparation of compound feed.

Only in this way do the animals become much better, gain weight faster and naturally, remain satisfied and joyful, and practically walk around with smiles. And all thanks to a simple device - an adjustable grain crusher.

Structure of a grain crusher

Before studying the design of the chopper, it is worth considering what the grain crusher is for. Its main task is to provide the farm with a sufficient amount of flour.

The fact is that to raise certain types of livestock, especially young animals, only ground grain is required. Flour completely dissolves in water and is saturated with food additives. It is absorbed more quickly in the body of birds and livestock. In addition, flour is removed from the body in a timely manner. It does not accumulate in the intestines and does not lead to bloating, which often becomes fatal for fragile young animals.

Equipment for everyday grain processing has almost the same design. A standard farm unit consists of:

electric motor necessary to drive the cutting elements of the chopper. It is the engine that is responsible for the ability to start and uninterrupted operation of the equipment throughout all periods of its operation;
motor casing - a household shredder often works with wet raw materials. To prevent water and dust from entering the engine compartment, it must be equipped with a cover;
support frame - it holds the motor and other components of the unit. The frame must be as strong as possible and withstand the high vibration created when the working hopper is filled;
cutting knives , which are fixedly mounted on the electric motor shaft. Knives need constant and high-quality sharpening, since otherwise they will not be able to grind raw materials;
receiving hopper - a durable metal container designed for filling grain crops;
reflector - an element located at the bottom of the receiving hopper;
sieves - when processing grains, as a rule, a lot of husk remains. The sieve is used to sift out waste and prepare suitable meal for quails or chickens;
power cable and plugnecessary for a safe connection to the home electrical network.

Often, a grain crusher is equipped with several replaceable sieves. Each of them has a mesh with a suitable hole diameter. The use of different sieves allows you to set the equipment to fine or coarse grinding mode.

The operating principle of most shredders is as follows:

First, the grain is poured into a metal receiving hopper;
Then the operator connects the cable to the power supply and starts the unit’s motor;
When the engine starts running, the standard cutting knives are activated;
Moving in a circle, they grind the grain;
The finished flour is sifted through a sieve and placed in a collection container.

The operation pattern of a grain crusher for home is repeated in a cycle. Equipment operation continues until the operator turns off the engine.

Technical characteristics of grain crushers

When choosing a device for grinding grain, it is necessary to evaluate a number of parameters, which are the main criteria for choosing this agricultural equipment.

Grain crushers are needed for grinding and mixing grain for better absorption by animals. Some animals cannot eat whole grains at all, such as young cattle and some poultry, but those that can will thrive better if ground grains are fed to them.

There are two types of grain crushers for farming: those that process grain and various types of feed: vegetables, grass and also grain.

What to pay attention to:

The power of the unit, which determines its performance.

The best ones usually have a power of just under 2 kW. This is the maximum that the unit can develop. Everyday power is less, no more than one and a half kilowatts. The scope of use of these units is households. Industrial ones have high power, up to 22 kilowatts, and impressive sizes. They process at least 800 kg per hour.

Rotational speed.

This is the number of revolutions over a certain period of time. The larger it is, the better. But the easiest way to determine equipment performance is to pay attention to the amount of raw materials processed per hour. This important characteristic is often placed in the name opposite the model with a number.

Weight and dimensions of the unit for the production of mixed feed.

The smaller they are, the more convenient. Naturally, performance may suffer. To avoid mistakes when choosing, you need to decide before purchasing what or for whom the unit is needed, where it is possible to place it, in a house or building on the site, at what price the option should be found. This all directly depends on the weight and dimensions of the unit.

Availability of removable spare parts.

The presence of grids or various parts of the unit in the kit, which allows you to calibrate the finished product. For example, meshes with holes of different sizes.

The size of the tank for filling feed. Reduces human effort to maintain the machine.

Most often, machines, the scope of which is a home or a small farm, are built in this way: crushed grain is poured out from the bottom, the machine must be placed on a stand made by the owner himself, a container for ready-made food, and a hole in the stand. Or there are options that are placed on a bucket.

Types of grain crushers according to operating principle

There are different types of grain crushers. The description from the manufacturer may not contain information about what type of unit it is according to this criterion.

Hammer - grind more thoroughly, but take more energy. Hammer devices for grinding feed crops. These types grind food using the impact force of the mechanisms. The apparatus has a drum and a sieve; in the drum, the feed is crushed. Grain particles of appropriate size fall out through the drum holes. By adjusting the size of these holes, you can choose the option you need.
Rotary grinders grind the grain so that particles of different sizes are obtained unevenly. But they are more economical. Rotary grinders that use knives often have a mesh inserted into them so that the particles are no larger than a certain size. To choose the right cars for you, it is best to rely on their overall qualities, based on reviews and technical specifications.
Pneumatic grain crushers, regardless of type, whether they are rotary or hammer, use an air supply system for raw materials, saving electricity and human effort. These types of devices, as a rule, crush very finely. The particles move through the hoses.

Disc grain crushers have discs that act as millstones. There are knives on the disks. The distance between them is adjustable, which determines the size of the crushed finished feed.
Roller grain crushers. The principle of operation is the movement of corrugated elements, between which the raw materials that fall between them are crushed.

Types of home grain crushers

All commercially available grain grinders are divided into household and industrial units. The main differences between them are power, performance and size. The home grain crusher is small in size and suitable for short-term use. Powerful industrial equipment designed for continuous use for several hours.

Based on the type of cutting elements and grinding principle, crushers are divided into:

rotary - this equipment is used in most farms. It is equipped with durable metal knives that move and hit the steel walls of the housing, thereby grinding the poured grain into flour. A rotary crusher is capable of crushing large portions of grain with a minimum of waste;
hammer – these units are simple and do not require regular maintenance. Even a beginner can repair them and install new spare parts. The hammer grain crusher is equipped with knives securely mounted on the built-in rotor;

roller - factory equipment of this type is used for crushing and simultaneous grinding of various grain crops. A standard roller crusher is equipped with rollers that thoroughly process wet grain;
disk – cutting metal knives in the proprietary design of these units are attached to the discs. Thanks to this arrangement, the disk chopper can be actively used for regular processing of harvested corn.

Shredders are also divided according to the type of built-in drive. The manual crusher is used only in small private farms or where there is no electricity. The electric dry grain grinder is the most popular on the agricultural equipment market.

Varieties

Grain crushers are classified into industrial and household. The first option is distinguished by its large dimensions, high productivity, resistance to heavy loads and the ability to process rough raw materials that have not undergone preliminary preparation.

To solve standard problems, private farms use small-sized, economical, affordable household devices. Such machines can grind only pre-cleaned grain with a minimum amount of husk.

Interesting to know: Despite their small size and average volume of processed plant products per hour, household grain crushers can cope with their tasks without significant costs.

Industrial and household grain grinding machines are of the following types:

Hammer mills are distinguished by high-quality grinding and high energy consumption.
Rotary ones consume a minimal amount of energy, but produce uneven fractions of different sizes; to improve the characteristics of the original product, a special mesh is installed in such units.
Disc type, the crushing element is discs with adjustable distance between them, which allows you to set the required grinding density.
Roller mills produce grinding due to corrugated parts.

Grain crushers are also divided into manual and electric. The first option is now used only in special cases, where there are problems with power supply and a minimum number of livestock or poultry. Electrically driven machines are especially popular and help to quickly and efficiently prepare a large volume of crushed grain.

Which grain crusher is better - hammer or rotary?

To find out which type of cutting elements in household shredders is better, you need to consider the pros and cons of the two types of equipment. The advantages of an impact crusher include:

high reliability and impressive performance;
simplicity of factory design;
Possibility of setting settings with grinding adjustment.

Among the disadvantages of rotary units, one can highlight only vulnerability to foreign solid objects. If a stone gets inside the camera, it may cause serious damage to the equipment.

A hammer grinder for household use has its own advantages:

better grinding quality;
reduced energy costs;
ease of maintenance.

The only disadvantage of such a crusher is its insufficient productivity. This is due to the fact that hammer equipment operates much slower than rotary units.

Crushing methods

The crushing device is not complicated. Main structural elements: body and cutting parts. For ease of transportation, the grain crusher can be equipped with handles and removable wheels. Different types of grain crushers differ from each other in the way they crush grain.

The most popular varieties include the following:

Rotary.
Hammer.
Roller

The most common ones on the market are rotary and hammer grain crushers. The quality of work of both types is approximately the same, but the differences in design result in different parameters and characteristics.

The main components that make up the structure of electric grain crushers:

Frame. Can be made of plastic or metal. The grain intended for grinding is poured into the housing.
Work zone. Knives, hammers or rollers are located here, depending on the design of the grain crusher. The grain grinding process takes place here.
Electric motor. Activates elements located in the working area.
The container where the crushed grain goes.

Grain crushers for domestic use are divided into various models depending on the type of drive used. The simplest is a manual chopper, which operates mechanically. A pneumatic grinder does not require much physical effort and produces smaller grain fractions at the output. The main advantage of an electric shredder is its high performance.

Rotary grain crusher

A rotary grain mill grinds grain using moving knives. Sharpened on both sides, the knives are mounted on rotating shafts.

This machine has many advantages:

high productivity;
low energy costs;
small dimensions;
reliability during operation.

The parts of the rotary grain crusher are made from materials that have particularly high strength. The rotary chopper is a grain crusher with adjustable grinding. The level and size of the grain depend on the setting of the rotation speed of the shafts with knives. The output is finely ground grain. The downside is that the resulting pieces have different sizes and shapes.

Hammer grain crusher

For better crushing, a grain hammer crusher is used. The design consists of several units: a drum, a sieve and a deck. Grinding occurs when the drum with hammers attached to it rotates. The size of crushed grains is adjusted by choosing gratings with cells of different sizes. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain the desired dimensions of the final product.

This result is due to the large amplitude of movement of the hammers. They are able to grind all grains, including those located far away. When deciding which grain crusher to choose - rotary or motor, you should take into account that a rotary grinder consumes much less electricity, while having more power. In addition, its productivity is higher than that of a hammer one, and it takes less time to process. The rotary machine has a lower price and is cheaper to maintain.

Both rotary and hammer grain crushers have both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, which grain crusher to choose can be determined correctly by understanding for what purpose it is going to be used.

We should not forget that different models of the same type have their own characteristics.

Roller grain crusher

The peculiarity of a roller grain crusher is that it can not only crush grain, but also grind it. This is explained by its design. The main detail is the grooved rollers. As grains pass through them, grinding occurs.

A grain roller crusher can process not only grain, but also malt used to make beer. If flat teeth are installed, then not only crushing is carried out, but also flattening. In this case, the grain remains intact, but is cleared of its shell.

The product after processing by a roller grain crusher can be obtained in various types. This depends on the machine settings and the shape of the teeth installed on the rollers. It is possible to set different speeds at which the rollers will rotate. The size of the gap between them is also subject to adjustment. After correctly setting all the parameters, the product can be obtained with the required degree of grinding, suitable for feeding different animals.

Mini grain crushers

Mini grain crushers are widely used on private farms. They save time and significantly solve the problem of feeding pets, even with a small number of them. For a low cost you can get an excellent helper in the household.

How to choose a grain crusher?

When choosing a shredder, you need to pay attention to three main factors. These include:

unit performance - before purchasing, it is extremely important to find out how much flour a grain grinder should produce. Some models are capable of processing up to 300 kg of grain per hour, others - no more than 150. The first are used for larger farms, others for medium-sized animals;
sizes - small units are easier to transport and store, but their performance is much lower than that of large models. The buyer must choose the “golden mean” - a device with suitable dimensions and sufficient performance;
equipment - many manufacturers equip their grain crushers with additional equipment. For example, replaceable sieves or pushers. They make the operation of the unit easier, but the cost of such grinders will be higher.

In addition, when choosing a grain crusher, it is important to consider the presence of protection for its engine. It should be equipped with sensors that turn off the motor in case of overheating.

Grinder grain crusher

Many households have hand saws with rotating blades that are no longer needed. A grain crusher made from a grinder can be a good option for saw attachment. In addition to the saw itself, the following spare parts for grain crushers are needed:

A piece of pipe with a diameter of at least 15 cm,
Fine-section grating or mesh,
Cutting discs (can be used from a meat grinder),
Grain box,
Sheet of plywood or laminate.

A do-it-yourself grain crusher from a grinder is made like this: the chainsaw body is mounted on a plywood sheet, in which small holes for fastening are pre-cut. An additional slot is made on the sheet and under the box or jar into which the crushed grain will be poured. Secure the chainsaw with metal brackets and bolts. A homemade crusher must be equipped with a sharp metal knife, sharpened on both sides. A mesh or sieve is attached to the bottom of the plywood sheet; you can also use homemade items from a saucepan. In this model, the engine for the grain crusher is the engine of an electric saw. DIY kruporushka is ready!

Crusher from washing machine

A do-it-yourself grain crusher made from a washing machine is also very popular among farmers.

The body of the washing machine is a ready-made powerful feed cutter. This type of grain crusher works on a principle similar to a coffee grinder: the grains are crushed in a drum by rotating sharp knives in different directions. You can make this model with the following spare parts for grain crushers:

Cutting discs or knives,
Lattice,
Additional engine,
Metal corner or narrow plates,
Hammer,
A small piece of metal pipe.

Before making a crusher from a washing machine, you need to sharpen the knives or cutting discs used well. The knives are mounted on the shaft, and the shaft is then attached to the activator pulley with a washer.

The drain hole is increased in size using a hammer to a diameter of 12.5 cm. A piece of pipe is inserted into the resulting hole. The crushed grain will be poured along it into a box or box. A grid with small cells is installed in the tank of the machine at an angle of 13-17 degrees.

Better grinding will help you get an additional engine for the grain crusher. It is installed under the cover, and a corner or metal plates are used for fastening. Another knife is placed on the motor shaft, the diameter of which is smaller than the size of the tank. It is advisable to cover the additional motor for the grain crusher with a casing. This will prevent dust and food particles from getting inside.

A grain crusher is a universal unit for grinding large and small grain crops that are included in the diet of cattle and other domestic animals. A grain crusher significantly saves the time and effort of its owner, and the food processed in it can be mixed with various additives that improve the diet of pets.

Rating of grain crushers by quality

There are a wide variety of shredders on the market, many of which are popular for their reliability and performance. We have compiled the TOP 5 grain crushers that are most often used in various private farms. Our rating includes:

5th place – Farmer. This model differs from most market analogues in its extremely high strength and durability. Maximum simplicity of design, minimum plastic parts and increased engine power - all this allows the chopper to serve for 5 years or more;
4th place – Cyclone IZKB-2. This modification is capable of processing not only different types of grains, but also prepared root vegetables. The crusher equipment includes a durable 1.8 kW electric motor, a knife drum and a reliable metal body;

3rd place – Clever Don . This chopper differs from its analogues in its increased power, which allows it to produce up to 200 kg of flour in just an hour of operation. The crusher is equipped with 3 sieves designed to adjust the grinding amount;
2nd place – Zubr-2. One of the most popular grinders is designed for use in small and medium-sized animal farms. The unit is equipped with a reliable electric motor, two replaceable sieves and a durable lock;

1st place – Zubrenok-Mais. The productivity of this unit is 140 kg of grain per 1 hour of operation. This is much more than any Chinese crusher can grind.

Our review included only household crushers from the low and medium price segment. Despite their modest size, each of them demonstrates maximum performance and impressive efficiency.

Choosing a grain crusher

How to choose a grain crusher is a very important question, given that there are different models on the market. The main point in choosing a machine is the coarseness of the required grinding. He is the one who plays the key role. Another important point is which grain will be processed as the main grain. If a grain crusher is purchased for hard varieties, then it is better to give preference to hammer models, and fragile ones - to cutting ones. For plastic grains, the best crushers are jaw crushers, which grind the grains between two shafts. If the selected device is required to work with different types, then you should give preference to rotary models. Attention should be paid to the power of the machine, the duration of its operating cycle, as well as the material of its manufacture. The optimal thickness of the crusher walls should be at least 2 mm.

As for the material, I choose metal out of two - metal or plastic. It makes the structure a little heavier, but is more durable and reliable. The last point is productivity, which comes from the total number of livestock and poultry. If there are a dozen chickens and several goats in the yard, then there is no point in buying a device, even with minimal performance. It’s easier to make a manual grain crusher out of a meat grinder. The larger the number of livestock, the higher the productivity of the device should be. Buying only a grain crusher or a 3 in 1 feed cutter is a personal matter for everyone. Even experienced farmers are divided in their opinions: it is better to have one unit that combines the capabilities of three, or three different units.

How to make a grain crusher with your own hands?

Today you can assemble a chopper for processing different types of grains with your own hands from anything. For this, washing machines, working angle grinders and other equipment with electric motors are used. We propose to consider how to make a grain crusher from an unnecessary vacuum cleaner.

Before starting assembly, you will need to study the drawings. They must indicate the exact dimensions of each part of the chopper.

After this, you can proceed directly to making a household crusher at home. The order of work should be as follows:

First you need to make a strong and stable base. To do this, you can take a sheet of thick plywood and carefully drill a round hole in its center, in which the electric motor shaft should later be located;
To make a cutting knife, you will need a sharpened steel plate. You can take a ready-made knife from an old vegetable cutter and secure it to the electric motor shaft with bolts and nuts;
A homemade crusher must be equipped with a working tank. A ready-made fine-mesh sieve is suitable for this, but it is much better to make a working tank with your own hands. It will be possible to crush not only various grains, but also harvested root crops. In this case, you will need to make several removable sieves with different diameters of the existing cells. To make them, you will need a steel sheet 70 cm long. It needs to be bent into a ring and the edges securely fastened with nuts and bolts;
To pour the harvested grain into the prepared working chamber, it is necessary to make a tin box. It must be equipped with a movable damper, which will allow you to regulate the amount of grain poured.

The finished grinder will be able to process up to 100 kg of grain per hour. It will not require specialized maintenance. It is enough to ensure that the homemade motor does not overheat.

What it is

Grain crusher is a unit for grinding grains for feeding to livestock or poultry. The product will help save labor and time of the person doing the housework. In a crusher you can not only grind food, but also mix its components in the required proportions. This device is very convenient to use at home.

Purpose

A good grain crusher for the household grinds everything that you can’t throw into its mouth: wheat, barley, rye, peas. And corn - even on the cob.

It is better if the cobs lie for a day or two in the sun beforehand. And if there is no time for drying, you can throw freshly picked cobs for grinding. There is no need to do double work: first peel the grains from the cobs, and only then pour them into the mill.

If the bottom mesh is replaced with a fine one (up to three millimeters), then flour can be obtained from corn.

Modern models of grain crushers allow you to grind river shell rock and eggshells. Poultry eats all this with great pleasure. For chickens, shells ground into flour are more suitable.

Using a crusher, you can also grind the cake.

Device Features

Grain grinding units can have different designs. Home crushers are small in size and easy to operate.

Despite their small size, home grain crushers are characterized by fairly high productivity, which allows you to grind a large amount of grain raw materials in a short time.

Classification of crushing units according to operating principle:

Hammer crusher for grain - elements for grinding raw materials are attached to a rotor rotating in a receiving hopper.
Rotary grain crushing units - the crusher chamber is made of high-grade steel, ensuring high-level design reliability. The crushing elements strike the walls of the receiving hopper, ensuring a continuous crushing process. The crushing elements continue to beat against the walls of the receiver until they turn the grain into crushed grain of the desired fraction.
Disc grain crushers - crushing knives are fixed to the shaft using disks.
Rollers not only crush, but also grind grain raw materials. The main elements are rollers with a corrugated surface or notches. Effective operation of a roller grain crusher is possible provided the grain material is moistened. Before feeding to the rollers, the grain should be moistened with water or treated with steam.

Grain crushers used in households can be divided according to the type of drive mechanism:

Manually driven units are the simplest type of crusher, requiring manual labor and time.
Pneumatic crusher - crushes grain into the smallest fractions, which can be used to feed growing young poultry. A household grain grinder is used to crush corn, wheat and other grains. The speed of work is high.
An electric mill has the highest productivity and, at the same time, is quite simple to implement. It has a compact size and is used on farms and by individuals.

Types of crushers

Grain crusher

Potato digger for walk-behind tractor

During the development of the production of portable mills, a large number of types of these devices were created. There are mainly two types of these products on our market: a rotary grain crusher and a hammer crusher. Their main differences are in the principle of operation, since different grinding tools are used.

A hammer grain crusher, unlike others, has a lower grinding speed and lower productivity. However, in this case, the quality of the processed feed greatly benefits. Thanks to the design features, any desired size of crushed grain is achieved. It is possible to set the quality level of the food received so that it suits different categories of pets.

Impact crusher

The main difference from a hammer machine is that a rotary machine works on the principle of cutting grains using knives. These knives are located in a special drum and attached to the shafts. They are sharpened on both sides. Processing occurs on the principle of cutting crops into small pieces. The downside is that the pieces come out in different sizes and shapes, unlike hammer milling. The level of grinding and the size of pieces of feed are set using different speeds of rotation of the shafts with knives.

To choose the right device, you need to determine the goals that need to be achieved with the help of the device. If coarse grinding is sufficient, and product quality and time play a role, then you definitely need to choose a rotary grinder. If the quality of processing and the ability to obtain different fractions are more valued, then you can choose a hammer one.

Grain crusher

Among the crushers on the market, you can make a product rating:

Grain crusher Grain DZ-350P. This is one of the best devices for home use. It has compact dimensions and a high level of energy saving. This is a household appliance designed for preparing food for poultry and animals. Has a power of 1450 W and a productivity of 350 kg per hour;
Bison It is a hammer crusher with high functionality and simplicity of design. It is possible to install a grater for green feed. Its productivity is 600 kg per hour.

Grain crusher

Shredder rating

Nowadays you can find a lot of different crushers on the market, each of which has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. That is why any person working in the agricultural field will certainly be interested in reading the rating of the highest quality devices that can serve their owner for a long time without requiring special maintenance. This review does not include Chinese devices, since they often do not have a high service life and are not able to withstand heavy loads. So, the rating:

The fifth position in the ranking was taken by production devices. At a fairly low price, these units are very popular due to their ease of use. The market offers the widest range of shredders with high productivity. As for the minuses, it is worth noting the poor quality of the material of the receiving chambers and the inflated cost of spare parts for the machine;
fourth place went to crushers. These shredders have become popular due to their low price and high power. However, the machines of this manufacturer have large dimensions, which significantly complicates their transportation and use in different places;
The third place is rightfully occupied by devices of the “Farmer” brand. These shredders are famous for their reliability, good quality and long service life. True, such crushers are often unaffordable for beginning farmers;
The second position is occupied by shredders. These devices do not stand out for their high performance, but at the same time they are reliable and can withstand prolonged loads even in extreme conditions;
but the first place rightfully went to the famous shredders. This company produces truly high-quality, reliable machines, which are characterized by a significant working life and small size. Such grain crushers make it possible to process literally any type of grain in large quantities.

A grain crusher for a household is a necessary thing. It saves the farmer a lot of labor, as well as money. You no longer need to transport grain somewhere to have it ground. If you want to buy a household grain crusher, you inevitably face the problem of choosing: what parameters to evaluate it by. This article discusses the questions most often asked by those who are planning to choose a grain crusher for their household.