So, I loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly, kidding.. I did meet up with an aquaintence of mine who happens to hold claim on 70 acres outside of Oatman, AZ called the White Chief, which in itself is a historical site. There is two piles of ore, one was from the 60's or 70's the other older one was from the 30's I'm told.
On to the impact mill. I wanted to design something that "I" myself would buy and use! I wanted something within a resonable price range and still have the "tough" Crazycrusher construction to it. I designed it with the features I felt would be desired... like "Height" so you don't have to stoop down to use it". Like size, 14" diameter with walls a lot thicker than cheap sheet metal. Something that "I" could handle by myself. I put wheels on the front legs, so if you lift on the other end, IT ROLLS AROUND! How cool is that? I wanted something that, in order to open it up for cleaning or maintenance, I would not have to pull out a bunch of bolts! I used a single hinge system on the 10 gage door with a single hook latch!
Most all of the impact mills on the market are "chain flail" types. That is, they have a couple of links of chains bolted on the center axis and they spin around. I got to thinking... I chain "bends". I don't care how fast it's going, if it meets resistence it flexes. Think of being struck with a belt. Yeah it hurts like hell and stings! But the belt flexes. Now think of being struck by a baseball bat. You don't feel the sting because your arm is totally broken. I made my hammers using forged steel! They don't flex when they strike the incoming rocks.
Another feature I implemented that others don't is that I have "breakers" inside. Some IM's are round (to me that is not the best feature). The Crazycrusher IM is octagon shaped with a 5/8" breaker welded in at each of the 8 corners, so that pieces that are struck by the hammers will ALSO strike in to the breakers, thus making a single pass more effective.
Now, on to the "Bad"... There was a vibration on the frame. The frame I made is of 1-1/2" angle iron as well as the legs. I realized that this may be too "flexible" and will have to go with another base design which I already have on the drawing table.
Problem #2 was that the coupler between the two shafts kept coming loose and moving (on the impact mill side) until they seperated far enough that the IM would stop and the motor kept running. Using a keyed shaft with a key and set key, no matter how tight I got them, the IM side would always come loose. I equate it to the vibrations and perhaps a slight misalignment, which should be remidied with the new frame.
On to the "Good"... The crusher (when the coupler didn't loosen up) ran great! The rocks fed in shattered and the output was so fine that I think the 4 inch space between the bottom of the exit pipe and the top of the bucket, well the wind carried it away like it was smoke! About 1/2 just blew away! A shop vac could be attached to create a virturally dust free operation.
The door seal held tight with no leaks however the seal that exented in to the mill was chewed up, and the seal part beween the door and the mill sides were intact however I think maybe a harder rubber would be better.
From the ore that I did run, about 1/3 passed through a 100 mesh screen, and 1/2 passed through a 40 mesh screen. The remainder was over 40 mesh, only because I did not let it run and run, but swept out the inside of the mill when I was finished.
All in all, I think I will be ordering the new materials and begin to make them over the next couple of weeks. It works well, just have to fix the little things. I would not sell anything that I personally would not buy or own or use myself.
With the Crazycrusher hand operated model, I've built and sold over 300 of them, and only ONE asked for their money back. I want the Impact mill to carry the same solid construction and satisfaction that the hand operated one offers!
Cheers and happy hunting!
