14 replies to this topic

[Bonny]

I'm curious if anyone has built a shaker machine for sifting powders. I can't be the only person that gets tired of shaking containers by hand to sift powders...I have been looking for one but they are fairly expensive (new). I've used an orbital sander clamped in a vise with some success, but movement is too fast.
I'm hoping to power it off my drive pulley on my ball mill motor by mounting the mill on a larger base with the shaker table beside it, using a connecting rod attached to the pulley (off centre) and roller table.Any design tips would be helpful.

[YT2095]

well an off center weight (an eccentric) will require quite a bit of speed to work properly, if you had a pulley plate with a pin sticking out and an arm on that pin so as the disc rotates the arm pulls back and forth, and maybe a bed mounted on springs? (even bed/mattress springs).

just a thought

[Bonny]

well an off center weight (an eccentric) will require quite a bit of speed to work properly, if you had a pulley plate with a pin sticking out and an arm on that pin so as the disc rotates the arm pulls back and forth, and maybe a bed mounted on springs? (even bed/mattress springs).

just a thought

The connecting rod would be mounted off centre on the pulley (attached to a pin) as you said. Stroke would be determined by pulley diameter and/or pin location, this would drive a base (on rollers) back and forth in a frame.The motor I use is a barn fan motor which should easily provide enough speed. I have the speed reduced (by pulley) on the ball mill, but could run same size pulley to shaker attachment to keep speed up. Might need to go to buddy's machine shop to make parts for this project though.
Maybe easier to buy one on ebay...shipping is always a killer though.

[YT2095]

postage is a killer for that sort of weight

besides, it`s more fun making it yourself and think of the satisfaction! it sounds like you`re already half way there anyway

[sasman]

Ebay!! i got one from ebay It is pretty big and very heavy well over 100lbs.. I had to pick it up as the postage would have been very expensive..I think it cost be about £50 which i think was a bargain..altho i have seen a few go on ebay for stupid prices..

[Arthur Brown]

Companies that do Lab fittings may have them. One of my former labs had a shaker for a set of sieves. A floor standing thing with a big buzz motor and lots of mesh sizes. That way you could get specific cuts of mesh size. Set the thing running with the meshes graded from coarsest at the top, and after a while the meshes below all held their specific cut range.


LOTS of pyro relies on particle size selection for correct function. You may need 400mesh to propel and 50mesh for the sparks thrown out.

There are solutions to shaking using a solenoid in a suspension and an audio amplifier.

[Bonny]

There are solutions to shaking using a solenoid in a suspension and an audio amplifier.
[/quote]


No idea how to make that one.
I'll likely try and buy a Vortex Genie shaker currently on ebay. Sifters can be easily made and mounted, just need the machine. I work in plastics industry so have free access to 20,40,60 and 100 mesh screens. Also have some 10mesh, 200 and 250 mesh screen. Anything finer I'll try and buy the chem...

[Bonny]

I broke down last night and bought a shaker on ebay. Cost $38US and another $32 shipping. Looking forward to receiving it and trying it out. It's a Fisher Scientific Industries Vortex-Genie mixer shaker. Anyone else have one of these? It is variable speed and hopefully will perform to my expectations.

[YT2095]

no I don`t, but Nice Find

[pyrotrev]

Could someone post a pic of one of these things please? I'm curious to see what they're like, thanks.

[Bonny]

I have a picture on my computer, but I don't know how to insert here...

[pudi.dk]

Go to http://www.imageshack.us and browse for the image and press "host it!"
Then copy/paste the text next to "Hotlink for forums (1)"

[Bonny]

Go to http://www.imageshack.us and browse for the image and press "host it!"
Then copy/paste the text next to "Hotlink for forums (1)"

Got it (hopefully):


Shot at 2007-08-06

[sasman]

I am in need of some coarse charcoal (40 to 80 mesh) so i decided to sieve some of my Pine charcoal to get the mesh size needed..I have a sieve shaker but it is very big and heavy so never really needed to use it.. But after trying to sieve charcoal for about 20 minutes through fine sieves was taking ages..& hardly any usable charcoal + i was covered in dust...

I thought stuff it.. get out the shaker...I got this from ebay a few years ago for i think £50 It takes sieves up to 12" diameter i have 8" sieves ..It made short work of my charcoal...and no dust..here is a photo

[Bonny]

I just (finally)received my shaker today. A few simple mods to do, but am looking forward to using it. It doesn't look nearly as heavy duty as yours sasman, but I hope it works as well.

Just tested out the shaker on some MgAl I had ball milled...worked mint. Ran a few hundred grams through 100 and 200mesh screens on top of each other in 10 minutes or so.

Edited by Bonny, 08 September 2007 - 01:34 AM.