Non-Chemical Ball mill has hit a snag

[ericrm]

i have had many issue(this is also why my final answer is so late)solder breaking, chain poping, and material leaking ... but for now it seem to work 8)

 

[butcher]

ericrm, Your making good progress, just a few more bugs to work out.

Rusty, I do not have shoe laces on my boots, and I am not going to get my boot twisted up in that tractor PTO. :lol: I do like the idea of a hydraulic ball mill.

 

[DONNZ]

YouTubing the other day and ran across this video.

Muffin Monster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=ibEdgQJEdTA

‪This Machine Destroys EVERYTHING‬

 

[etack]

I have a question why no use a variable controlled motor? AC or DC AC is more expensive but any moor with brushes will work think electric lawn mower allot are thrown out now and many work. some dryer motors are variable speed motors. How about a treadmill motor some are real strong they move a lot of weight. treadmills are given away around me. I will have o get me one to try it out.

There may be reasons why this wont work so please share them.

Eric

 

[ericrm]

sorry i just understand your post now.
the most of the 110 motor i have seen where ac, and even if on the short time putting ac motor on a dimmer will work,you will kill the motor (from what i have read). now dc motor aint cheap and i dont know electronic enuf to make myself a systeme like that... in my case it realy is because of the lack of knowledge and the money saving...

 

[butcher]

DC motors can be run off of alternating current using diodes to convert the AC to DC, the speed of these motors can be controlled by adjusting the voltage to them simple as resistors or more complicated using electronic circuits.
The diodes and resistors or other components are sized to be able to handle the current going through them.

AC motors can be run with adjustable speeds but the circuitry to do so is much more complicated, simple light dimmers could not do this, Ac motors sometimes have wiring for different speeds, but these are usually fan motors (not motors that have a lot of starting or running torque).

Three phase motors can be run off of single phase power, using capacitors banks or pony motors as phase converters.

Gear boxes, or pulleys, are also a good way to change speed or torque.

Lawn mowers are made to turn a blade fast, but would not have much torque, same with a dryer motor. the tread mill can possibly use a DC motor and gear box, with an motor speed control circuit, Hey it would probably have a circuit to measure RPM also.

The treadmill would be a good idea, when taking it apart make good notes of where those wires go, check online for schematics also.

 

[etack]

I was also thinking of the mobility scooters They seem to have a lot of toque. Some of the people using them are quite portly. the motors are quite large on them. sometimes you can find them for parts on craigslist. tread mills are proboble the cheapest route. If you get a treadmill with a sliding speed controller you should be all set. one with button controls will be more difficult to use if you don't make a panel for it.

AC motors can be run with adjustable speeds but the circuitry to do so is much more complicated, simple light dimmers could not do this, Ac motors sometimes have wiring for different speeds, but these are usually fan motors (not motors that have a lot of starting or running torque).

You can get a variable speed controller cheep http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=variable+speed+controller&hl=en&prmd=imvns&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=655&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=9122903117452595909&sa=X&ei=d4dWUOS8N4Lv0gGV6YCYDA&ved=0CIQBEPMCMAE This should be all you need Its unlikely your motor will pull more than 15amps.

This is a link to an ebay sale that you can see the motor http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pride-Celebrity-X-Mobility-Scooter-Trans-axle-Motor-electric-brake-Wheels-Tires-/150898889840?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2322465470

Eric

 

[butcher]

The speed controller would work for some types of fan motors, these fan motors would not have much torque, that speed contol would not be good to use for many of the AC motors, not all of the AC motors work the same, I think that speed controller is just like a light dimmer using an SCR circuit.

DC motor and gear box on that mobility scooter would be great if you could get it for almost free.

 

[grance]

I have been reading alot of post about ball mills and such on here and wanted to put this possible idea out there. My dad reloads a massive amount of rifle ammo and he uses a wheelbarrow type cement mixer and a sand looking type stuff to clean the cases first. I would guess you could use it as a cheaper ball mill it was only $150 in Master tool catalog. He use hardware (1/4" steel screen) mesh on a frame he built and 2 5 gallon buckets to filter the cases and the sand from eachother. Just replace the sand with steel balls and the rifle cases with what ever you want smashed up and plug it in I would guess.

 

[butcher]

I grind rock to mud in my old thick metal barrel cement mixer, the larger rocks act as the balls do in a mill, when the mud builds up this is dumped and washed in a tub of water, screens are used to remove fines from the coarser material, the material is sieved for size an returned to mixer, larger rocks added as needed, the smaller material is sluiced, then panned.

This works ok for ore, the speed is just right bringing the rock to the top and dropping them down on material in the center, but not as good as a ball mill.

 

[ericrm]

my ball mill is dead, i was looking to build a new one but i have discover this...
apparently i have eated my gearbox gear.... does someone know if i can change that part for cheap(i have no knowledge about that particular subject...) or should i look to change the whole thing?

 

[bswartzwelder]

I had the same thing happen to my cement mixer. It was only used to mix cement and nothing else. An Internet search sowed I could get a replacement gear. It was pretty cheap as I recall and made of nylon, just like the original. I replaced all the bushings at the same time. Try a Google search of the cement mixer make and model and good luck.

Bert

 

[nivrnb]

I was looking to purchase some ball bearnings to use at a local store and they where expensive. So what I ended up doing was getting the roller balls out of old mice. Has anyone used the balls from old mice?

 

[goldsilverpro]

ericrm,

I have seen ball mills turned on 4 heavy duty solid rubber wheels mounted on a heavy duty frame. One shaft turned freely and the other shaft was driven - by heavy chain, if I remember right. Maybe not.

___________________

nivrnb,

Since ball-milling is a crushing mechanism from the balls dropping onto the material from the apex, you need good-sized heavy balls. I can't see those tiny mouse balls doing anything except burnishing the parts.

 

[etack]

I just bought a MagneTek AC Speed Drive Control that changes the frequency with voltage of 60.00us shipped. I think that this will be the easiest way to get my RPMs right.

It runs on 240v and that OK I can find a .5-1 HP motor around for next to nothing. Max sure when you buy it you have the right voltage available to you. Some are for 480, or 408 ,some are for 115 just make sure you look. I didn't till I won but I'm luck cause I have 220v in the garage.

With all this manufacturing closing or has closed there is allot of this stuff in commercial liquidators stores. Had I know what they were before I wouldn't of had to buy one I scraped Three last year.

Eric