Cement mixers are powerful tools, but they’re only as good as the parts that compromise them. That’s what this article is all about: looking at the anatomy of a good cement mixer. We’ll break down all the most important parts of a cement mixer, pointing out how their purpose and how to recognize the quality of these components when making a purchase.
Furthermore, there are times when these parts come in different varieties, each suited to different needs. We will help you identify which of these you should look out for based on the individual needs of your planned project. With this guide, you’ll be well equipped to explore BS Power’s range of mixers, confident that you’ll be able to choose the perfect mixer.
Drum
The drum, or mixing barrel, is one of the first things you’ll notice about mixers. This is no surprise, as not only is this often the most physically dominant component of a cement mixer, its also where the primary action of the device takes place. Within this robust drum, cement, aggregates and water are added and spun to mix, resulting in the creation of concrete.
When selecting a cement mixer, one will then want to pay close attention to the quality of a machine’s drum to determine whether it’s a worthwhile purchase. A drum made of inferior quality materials runs the risk of cracking or chipping over the course of its arduous task, which will significantly reduce the efficiency of the cement mixing process and may even lead to a total breakdown—which means an expensive repair or replacement (and subsequent project delay) that could have been otherwise avoided by investing into a higher quality drum. Look out for cement mixers with a solid steel drum that’s built thick enough to withstand steady use.
The other factor to consider is size. Drums come in a great variety of internal capacities, from the very smallest ones made for home projects, to titanic truck-mounted barrels designed to handle the huge loads of infrastructural projects. The bigger the drum, the more concrete can be produced in a single batch, increasing efficiency on large scale projects. Consider what your own needs are.
If you only need to replace a few cracked tiles in the garden or sort out the bottom of the porch, a small drum should do the trick—anything more would be expensive overkill. However, opting for a small drum on larger projects is likely to slow down the entire construction process. Keep in mind that overloading a drum is going to place strain on its structure and compromise its integrity.
The final tip is to always ensure that once a task has been completed with a cement mixer, one should thoroughly clean the interior of the drum, ensuring that there are no remaining clumps of cement sticking to the interior, as these may go on to damage the drum. Do this as soon as possible after use for maximum ease and use water pressure for the most thorough clean.
Blades
We return to the drum for this next piece of anatomy but look inside to find the blades—sometimes called fins. The purpose of these sturdy blades is to better tumble and lift the cement, aggregates and water inside of the drum, helping create concrete with a more uniform blend. Without these blades to ensure a smooth distribution of ingredients, all the power of a rotating drum is put to waste as the final product would be unreliable and of poor quality, building structures that are as likely to crumble as they are to stand.
With this in consideration, one can understand why it’s important to purchase mixers with high quality blades or fins. Considering their task of slicing through heavy, tough and gritty material all day, good blades are made of enduring steel and additionally reinforced to give them the extra durability they need to keep them from faltering.
Other industries outside of construction have begun to increasingly utilize the power of the mixer, recognizing the usefulness of these devices and their various components. Artists in particular have noticed that the blades can be easily modified into paddles, which allow cement mixers to be used to efficiently mix large batches of paint or dye.
Frame
The frame, or chassis, is the primary body of a cement mixer and keeps all of its various components together. Therefore, a cement mixer’s individual components can all be of stellar make, but if the frame holding them all together is of poor quality, the entire structure (and therefore viability) of the mixer becomes compromised. More than simply hampering the workflow of a construction project or resulting in costly repairs or replacements, a poor frame can even be dangerous.
An ill-designed or weak frame could collapse or tip over, potentially dropping some very heavy equipment and ingredients on hapless construction workers, which nobody can afford to let happen. Therefore, anyone looking to purchase a high-quality cement mixer should be looking for a well-balanced frame that sits sturdily and is made of a good steel that resists rust and corrosion.
When browsing the selection of cement mixers, one will notice that certain kinds of frames come with wheels. Smaller mixers made for household use are often mounted on lightweight wheels to make them easily mobile and quick to navigate through a property. Larger mixers will generally forgo wheels entirely and instead opt for thick treads or skis. Then finally, the very largest cement mixer have their frames mounted directly onto trucks.
Motor
The motor is an incredibly important component of any cement mixer, providing the significant ‘oomph’ needed to spin and mix a significant load. In the modern market, there are a variety of different motor options available for cement mixers. The ‘traditional’ option, so to speak, are petrol motors that guzzle fuel to produce power. They’re powerful, loud, and mobile– great for use on remote sites where access to electricity simply isn’t possible. Their downsides are that they can be quite expensive to run, their high vibrations can be not only disruptively loud for nearby workers but actually inflict wear-and-tear on the mixer, and finally, they produce emissions that are harmful to the environment.
Their greatest alternatives are electric mixers. These are quieter, more energy-economic mixers that don’t inadvertently damage themselves with high vibrations or release harmful emissions. However, these mixers tend be less powerful than their petrol-run counterparts and are less mobile— relying on close proximity to a source of electricity. This makes this latter variety ill-suited to large or remote jobs, but otherwise perfect for smaller residential work that only require smaller mixers to get the job done.
Finally, there are a few antiquated models that have ensured their way into the modern age which employ neither a petrol nor electrical power source. Instead, these are powered by a manual crank. Obviously, these are not very efficient and are thus not very widely utilized, despite their advantages of being very mobile and inexpensive to run. Only the smallest DIY mixers will utilize this manual mechanism.
When selecting your own cement mixer, ensure that it’s outfitted with a power source that’s going to give you the right kind of performance you need to complete your project.
Loading Mechanism
Of course, to mix concrete, the machine must first receive the various ingredients required to make the final product—cement powder, water and aggregates. However, this is sometimes easier said than done, especially on larger cement mixers where very large quantities to ingredients need to be added to make similarly large batches of concrete. Some of these larger mixers are outfitted with a hopper and lever system to allow labourers to more easily add these ingredients.
Meanwhile, the latest advancement in cement mixer technology have led to the development of machines that are capable of self-loading, helping almost entirely eliminate human labour from the process of cement mixing.
However, when it comes to the smaller cement mixers made for household or DIY use, there’s no need for any fancy tech; simple manual loading more than does the trick. Ensure that when you’re purchasing your mixer, you select one with a loading mechanism suited to your needs— if you get a large mixer without a leading mechanism of sorts, you’ll likely see slower progress in the cement mixing process or have to expend additional labour on the loading process.
Discharge System
The discharge system is important for when the main mixing job has been done. After all, a huge steel barrel of cement isn’t much use if one can’t then easily access its contents. That’s why most cement mixers are outfitted with either a titling or reverse drum, or additionally a chute or some kind of sliding mechanism.
A tilting drum is as simple as a drum that can easily be titled onto its side, letting the concrete within pour out. Reverse drums rotate in the opposite direction as mixing to then discharge the contents. The chute or sliding mechanism can be outfitted to help direct the flow of discharged concrete, allowing for precise pouring.
Safety Features
Of course, one would be very hesitant to invest in a cement mixer that might be unsafe. Fortunately, modern mixers are outfitted with a number of safety features that help mitigate the likelihood of any accidents or injuries. The drum might be outfitted with a cover to prevent any accidental contact with the moving drum, which might otherwise snag and pull unwary hands, loose clothing or tools.
The drive belt and pulleys might be covered for similar reasons. There should be an emergency stop to instantly turn the machine off, should an emergency occur. The frame should be reinforced with stability features like wide wheels or anchors to prevent it from tipping over. The electrical components should be encapsulated in a weatherproof casing to prevent the elements from getting wet. Damaging the inner workings of the cement mixer, potentially leading to dangerous shocks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the anatomy of a good cement mixer features many different parts, which each come in their own different varieties and models. From a drum, blades, frame, motor, loading mechanism, discharge system and safety features, one should familiarize themselves with all of these components and be aware of the signs of good (or bad) quality to look out for when making a purchase.
Furthermore, recognize that the different varieties of each of these components all serve different purposes, and that one should select a mixer with all the right kinds of pieces needed to serve your own specific needs. Don’t end up overspending on a cement mixer with more power or capacity than you realistically need or waste an investment into a machine incapable of handling the load you have planned for it. Visit our website today and find a mixer that works for you.