What is the one thing that is synonymous with classic, old-school cartoons? (Aside from the steady stream of adult-themed jokes and widespread violence…)
Hammers!
And not just any hammers — we’re talking massive, gravity-defying crusher hammers that usually appeared from the most unlikely places. Have a roadrunner to catch? Sure – just whip out your impossibly large, industrial-sized tool from behind a desert highway sign!
Of course, these cartoons failed to capture the true size and tremendous smashing power contained within modern crusher hammers — these powerhouse machines are designed to perform in the worlds’ most demanding environments and can weigh over 60,000 pounds each! (Not to mention the fact no real living thing could ever pass through one of these instruments of destruction and survive — that only happens in the cartoons.)
So What Exactly Are Crusher Hammers?
Despite their name, crusher hammers don’t actually look anything like traditional sledgehammers, framing hammers, or run-of-the-mill, handyman hammers. Crusher hammers are large, industrial machines that crush, grind, and spin material into smaller sized pieces, chunks, or powder. These machines can be stationary (fixed) or mobile. They are constructed mainly from metal and can weigh up to 30 tons each.
How Do They Work?
Crusher hammers work by creating a high-speed collision between the massive hammer faces and the raw materials being fed into the machine. Each crusher hammer is comprised of a powerful, high-speed motor that is connected to an axle (or rotor) via a drive belt. Numerous hammers (heavy-duty slabs of metal) are affixed to this rotor; the size and style of the hammers vary, depending on the application. The rotor or axle is contained inside a reinforced solid enclosure that has a feed chute.
When the crusher hammer is powered on, the hammers rotate on a high speed rotor element. Any material that is fed into the chute is struck with tremendous force by the face of the hammers. This causes the material to break down and discharge through the exit chute. Depending on the size of the crusher hammer, the speed of the rotor element, and the raw material being fed into the machine, the crusher hammer can create various sizes and textures of crushed product. It can shred raw wood pulp for use in paper mills, reduce large pieces of coal into smaller chunks, and pulverize rocks into dust. The impact area, over time, wears away and must be rebuilt; or the hammer must be replaced.
Who Uses Them?
Crusher hammers are commonly used in tough, demanding environments like coal plants, pulp and paper mills, stone quarries, forestry sites, and highway maintenance operations. They are also used in food processing plants to extract oils from seeds, grind coffee beans, and break down waste materials such as animal by-products.
Learn More
How does Kennametal deliver cost-effective wear solutions for crusher hammers to tackle the world’s most demanding environments? Ask a Kennametal Specialist about our Tri-Braze™ Wear Plates today!
In the meantime, here’s some technical information required when quoting a hammer:
- Base material
- Rebuild or replacement
- Thickness, width, and length
- Hole diameter and tolerance
- Which surfaces to be overlayed
- Number of hard surface layers
- Hard surface material options (with or without Tungsten)
- Weight tolerance required
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