How to make a grain extruder with your own hands? How to make a homemade extruder with your own hands Do-it-yourself extruder drawings
An extruder is a tool that allows you to process large volumes of cereals, fruits and vegetables, which are turned into complete feed. On a farm, such a device is indispensable, especially for those that require feed for normal growth. But the problem is high prices.
Not all farmers can afford to buy such a tool. As a solution, you can make your own feed extruder.
1 How does a feed extruder work?
Before you make an extruder with your own hands, you need to understand the principle of its operation. The operating principle of the extruder includes the following stages:
- grains, vegetables and fruits are loaded into the tank of the device;
- here they enter a compartment where high pressure (about 60 atmospheres) acts on the raw materials;
- Then the feed is processed at high temperature (in most extruders it reaches 1.5 thousand degrees);
- the resulting composition is compacted and comes out in the form of a long rod with a thickness of 3 cm;
- the rod is cut into smaller pieces, after which it is completely ready for use.
The main advantage of food processed by such a device is that it is very quickly and completely absorbed by the animal. Under the influence of high temperatures and strong pressure, the structure of the original components breaks down into simpler components, which are individually absorbed much better. According to this principle.
1.1 What does a feed extruder consist of?
The structure of this device is quite simple. It is based on a frame that connects all units and ensures the stability of their operation. A hopper is installed on the frame, into which everything is supplied, and the mechanism drive.
Next there is a dosing auger and a delivery auger, through which small portions of cereals are fed into the receiving chamber. The whole process is organized by a motor with a gearbox. When leaving the device, the finished feed rods are automatically cut off with a special knife or manually.
2 What is a homemade feed extruder made of?
The main snag when assembling the device at home is the need to purchase most of the parts, since the design is quite complex. First of all, an accurate drawing is needed.
You can either download it from the Internet (here you can find all imaginable models) or use ready-made instructions from the factory model. The drawing must convey as accurately as possible the dimensions of the components and all required material. After the drawing is ready and that's it important points thought out, you can proceed to collecting materials.
2.1 Assembling a homemade extruder
First of all, let's start making a screw for the device. It consists of a cylinder and a body. To make the cylinder, gears from the tractor transmission are used. They are tightly welded together. If standard gears were used, then the diameter of the resulting part should be somewhere around 62 mm.
Next we work with the body. The basis for it will be the previously prepared rod from the hydraulic cylinder. A wire is wound around the rod in the form of a spiral (if you have a long enough spring that matches the diameter, you can use it). The wire on the rod must be placed so that the distance between the turns of the spiral gradually decreases towards the end of the part. The initial clearance is 25 mm, after which there is a gradual decrease to 20 mm.
As soon as the wire (spring) is correctly secured, we grab it with a welding machine. The welding must be very strong, since the part will be subject to serious loads. Next, the auger is carefully inspected for irregularities and extra protrusions.
All detected defects are erased using a file or grinding machine. The screw can also be turned on lathe, if there is one. The part will be of higher quality, and the work will be much less. In addition, the channels will be much deeper, which will simplify grain feeding.
How to make a housing for an auger? Any piece of pipe of suitable diameter will be suitable for this component. The auger cylinder is placed inside it. It must be connected to the extruder head and the gearbox that drives the screw. To do this, we turn two bushings on a lathe. Then we connect all the parts. At the junction between the gearbox and the auger shaft, it is necessary to additionally install a bearing.
First of all, you need to make a strong frame on which the device will be installed. Specific instructions there is no. Its design depends on the features. The main requirements for the frame are stability, stability and strength. The first two points can be achieved by making a wider base, which, after assembly, is screwed to the floor with bolts with a larger diameter. The frame can be assembled from corners welded together.
We install the engine and gearbox with a screw and head welded to it on the frame. The transmission of torque to the gearbox will be carried out by a belt. It connects the trigger mechanism, gearbox and electric motor.
We fix the grain hopper onto the installed auger. This part can be any metal container with a hole in the bottom. In the absence of one, an ordinary iron bucket will do. The hopper is fixed so that the grain easily passes into the auger, where it is pushed and compressed. It reaches its peak in the spinneret, which produces ready-made food. The thickness of the resulting feed rod will depend on the diameter of the die.
We install the frame in the selected part of the room, after which we weld all parts of the device. The self-made extruder is ready.
2.2 Last checks and first launch
The resulting extruder is quite powerful electrical device, which requires a thorough check of all components and assemblies before direct work. For safety reasons, you should adhere to the following inspection plan:
- The first point is re-checking the reliability of all seams and connections. If individual components are connected using bolts, tighten them as much as possible.
- Next comes checking the flatness of the surface on which the device is installed.
- The next stage is starting the mechanism. The mechanism should run idle for some time. This will allow you to warm it up before work. To check whether the extruder is warm enough, you can put flour into it. The readiness of the device for operation can be determined by the shape of the processed raw materials.
- If all preparatory processes went well, you can proceed to checking with grain. Cereals should be fed into the bunker gradually and steadily. Interruptions in flow lead to negative idle, which harms the machine. But, an excess of raw materials will lead to work “through force”, which can damage the mechanisms.
- The finished product should be constantly twisted. This will remove gaps in the die and increase density.
- Under no circumstances should you suddenly stop the device after active operation. If required quantity the grain has already been processed, add flour or sunflower seed waste into the bin again. During processing, such material collects cereal oils and unprocessed residues released during processing, which contaminate the mechanisms.
- Gradually reduce the engine speed until it cools down. After stopping, you need some more time for the machine to cool down, otherwise there is a risk of getting burned on the hot extruder mechanisms.
2.3 Operation of a homemade grain extruder (video)
Prepared very often. To do this, you also need equipment, and industrial designs cost a lot. But there is still a way out - to assemble a grain extruder with your own hands.
Description and purpose
This mechanism is designed to process raw materials (grain, straw, etc.) into “light” animal feed. Necessary conditions To obtain such products, high pressure and high temperature are required.
This specificity of work leaves an imprint on the entire structure. Among the main parts and assemblies are:
- frame (aka bed) that will hold the entire apparatus;
- receiving hopper;
- belt drive;
- engine;
- gearbox;
- screw;
- fiera;
- cylinder;
- cuff;
- adjusting key;
- washers;
- control panel.
Of course, industrial designs are more complex and productive, but the owner of the farmstead will have enough homemade version. If you have a fairly powerful electric motor at hand, you can get up to 40 kg of high-quality mixture per hour.
Principle of operation
Having found out what the extruder is intended for and how it can help in preparing the food supply, let’s take a closer look at the processing process itself.
Most extruders (both factory-made and home-made) are distinguished by their versatility. In addition to grain mass, the following are suitable raw materials for processing:
- and soybeans;
- meal and cake obtained from these crops;
- and meat meal.
Important!During operation, the case warms up almost immediately-be careful not to touch it.
That is, the unit can “dispense” any compound feed, and this is a direct savings - you don’t need to buy bags at the market every weekend, you just need to fill in wheat or soybeans from existing stocks. In addition, such food is easier for animals to digest (which has a good effect on weight gain).
Processing begins with the raw material entering the bunker being fed to the injection screw, the heating washers of which soften the grain.
The last stage is passing through a disk controlled by a handle (by changing the position, you can set the desired fraction value). A small roller with a knife is attached to it by a spring, which cuts the resulting “sausages”. They come out through the holes in the form of a thin (up to 3 cm) dense tourniquet. Note that this is typical for large, industrial units. For homemade ones, the output is established directly from the fiery.
An extruder designed for preparing feed has the advantage of being able to use even stale and slightly ripe grain - with this heat treatment, the mold is “neutralized”.
How to make it yourself
You can assemble such a device at home. To do this, you will need suitable parts and metalworking skills (although familiarity with turners is also desirable). Let's start with preparing the hardware.
Materials and tools
First of all, they select electric motor. Here you need a 4 kW (1400 rpm) motor - to work with a 220 V household power supply this is best option. A less powerful “engine” will not cope with such loads.
Often for such purposes they take old motors that have not been used for years, gathering dust in the corner. In this case, the unit will have to be thoroughly inspected - the housing is disassembled, the condition of the rotor, winding and bearing is checked.
Basic diagnostics won't hurt either. A simple “rotation” test: try to spin the rotor manually (only with an unconnected motor). If with effort, but it still works, there are no problems. In turn, rough movement may be the result of clogged or unusable lubricant in the bearings (or the use of the wrong one).
After making sure that the motor is working properly, put the casing back in place and try turning it on. Listen - the hum should be smooth, without any “wedges” cutting your ear. Their presence indicates play in the bearings or a broken race.
We sorted out the engine. In addition to the “heart”, you will need the following components:
- iron corner (25 and 35 mm);
- auger shaft;
- steel wire (diameter 10 mm);
- rods (8 mm);
- pipe (for the body);
- preparation for fiera;
- threaded transition;
- coupling with lock nut for outlet;
- axle box with two bearings (63x18 in diameter);
Important!It is advisable to wipe the prepared bearings before installation. A rag soaked in kerosene or gasoline will do for this.
- two pulleys (gear ratio ¼);
- galvanized iron for the bunker;
- capacitors (4 operating capacitors of 8 mKf and 2 starting capacitors of 280 mKf);
- plug and switch.
Manufacturing process
The algorithm of actions at the beginning of the assembly will be as follows:
- The frame is prepared first. The corners are cut to size, aligned and boiled. In our case, the base of the “bed” has dimensions of 40x80 cm. The upper platform for the body is 16x40.
- Then the legs (40 cm) are placed on the frame. Having welded them to the base, they move on to connecting to the “top”. Paired jumpers are placed about 5 centimeters below it.
- To mount the engine, you will have to weld another frame from the same corner. Elongated slots are made in its racks, thanks to which the belt tension will be adjusted. It is finally secured only after both shafts are exposed.
- On one of the edges of the shaft (42 cm long and 27 mm in diameter), a 2-centimeter cone with angles of 45° is turned on a lathe. It plays the role of the tip.
Did you know?In 1963, a moose farm was founded near Kostroma! There were few animals, they periodically scattered, and then the local population was involved in the search. Surprisingly, the experimental farm is still operating today.
- A “ten” wire is wound onto the base of the shaft, tightly clamped in a yew. These will be the screws. It will have to be set at the desired angle, welded and the ridges carefully trimmed with a grinder. Without an assistant this is almost impossible.
- The first one comes out from a roller that has not been processed by the machine. From the first to the second screw there should be about 25 mm (if measured at the center of the ridge) - this is where the raw materials go. The gap between second and third will be the same.
- Five central turns are placed at intervals of 20 mm;
- At a distance of 2–2.5 cm from them, two pieces of wire are tightly “riveted” together - a blank of a heating washer. Having leveled its surface, use a grinder to make slightly oblique shallow cuts (along the entire circumference, in 1 cm increments).
- The auger of the outer part will protrude from the edge of the washer, after which three more come with a gap of 20 mm. This kind of work can take a whole day.
WITH cylinder You'll also have to tinker.
It’s not possible to simply place the rods “by eye.” To avoid distortion, look for a “magpie” pipe (it has an outer diameter of 48 mm). Clamps are placed on both ends that will clamp the rods. But there is one more nuance. Even before “scalding”, several rods will have to be cut so that a loading window (3x2 cm) is obtained, which will be located 3 cm from one of the edges.
Important!A flat surface is selected as a working platform. Tilt in any direction is contraindicated-in this case, the device will either overheat or “grind” idle.
The shaft should come out of the cylinder with a reserve - it should be enough to install the pulley. Everything is set up and adjusted - you can cook. Be prepared for the workpiece to heat up and sag, and it will not be easy to knock it out of the pipe. To make the task easier, take a longer pipe, and if necessary, weld a nickel to the wall of the body, which you will have to hit hard with a sledgehammer.
When the cylinder has cooled, it is cleaned of rust. Then the finished screw is inserted. There should be no more than 1 mm between the walls and the screws. The tapered edge of the shaft will come out completely. It is there that a thread of suitable diameter (here “50”), 2 cm long, will be welded.
A separate topic is manufacturing fieras. This is a complex turning job. The fact is that one end of it must be put on the tapered edge of the shaft (you will have to make a similar notch in the center). Don’t forget about the external thread, which will screw the entire part onto the cylinder. And here are its parameters:
- length - 80 mm;
- “joint” diameter - 49 mm;
- internal hole - 15 mm.
Did you know?Older people may remember the ban on keeping livestock in the suburbs in the early 1960s. Some owners at that time resorted to cunning, sending their breadwinners underground (in the literal sense of the word).
Don't forget about bearings, which will have to be stuffed onto the shaft. Crimping requires care and installation of support bushings. Keep in mind that they make bearing maintenance somewhat difficult, therefore, the races must be “fresh”.
For a small farm, a regular filler will be sufficient. bunker made of galvanized iron. It is based on a riveted square (16x16 cm). Counting 14 cm from its top, make a uniform bend at the bottom of the front wall. Then the back wall is adjusted and a hole is made that should fit into the window on the body.
It is connected to the upper frame by “legs” made from a 25 mm corner, welded at an angle. The bunker is riveted to them on both sides, after pre-drilling holes.
Final installation related to electrical equipment:
- All working compensators are placed in one block and soldered in series. It's the same story with launchers.
- Then both wires are removed from the first worker.
- The free ends from the fork should already be attached to the middle and bottom bolt of the engine block. One of the free wires from the capacitor is hooked to the top bolt, and the second is led out to the starting “cond”.
- A wire from the starting switch is soldered onto the first working “cond” (the second is already connected to them).
Important!All capacitors must be “packed” in wooden boxes. Of course, after work they are covered to prevent moisture from getting in there.
The final chord is the installation and “hanging” of the pulleys, which must stand strictly vertically and without the slightest distortion relative to each other. If everything comes together, you can test and start working. The first “runs” are made on soft raw materials like cake.
Make or buy?
We gave an example of how you can assemble an extruder at home, and this “manual” is enough to understand what it is and whether it’s worth taking on the production yourself.
The following arguments are given in favor of this decision:
- cheapness;
- the ability to “adjust” the unit to your needs by choosing the appropriate size;
- ease of maintenance;
- uncomplicated electrical circuit without many pads and plugs;
- savings on the purchase of compound feed (home supplies are used);
- good productivity.
- labor-intensive assembly, which requires tools and skills;
- accelerated heating of the cylinder, which affects almost all “homemade” products;
- unprotected wiring.
Let everyone draw their own conclusions based on their own considerations. We can only state that the extruder will be an excellent help for a small farmstead with a “handy” owner. But a farmer on a large scale will need a stable (and expensive) factory product.
Now you know how an extruder is useful and what is involved in its manufacture. We hope you will correctly calculate the design and assemble a durable device. Good luck in your farming!
Was this article helpful?
Thank you for your opinion!
Write in the comments what questions you have not received an answer to, we will definitely respond!
54
times already
helped
An extruder is an indispensable device for preparing combined feed in private households. Granulates are healthier and more economical: animals do not have the opportunity to choose tasty morsels from the mixture, they eat food better, and receive more vitamins. You can make the device yourself in several ways from scrap materials.
The device consists of several parts, and is divided into three sections:
- The first is responsible for receiving raw materials,
- In the second, plasticization and compression occur,
- In the third - pressing.
Grain processing in industrial extruders occurs at high temperatures: from 110 to 180°C, and pressure above 40 atmospheres. Such conditions are necessary for the breakdown of fiber, proteins and starch contained in whole grains. The whole process takes only a few minutes, which means the split protein does not have time to coagulate.
Another advantage of extrusion is the production of clean and safe feed: almost all types of bacteria and fungi die during heat treatment.
The grain extruder is equipped with a special chamber in which the products are pressed. It also contains a shaft with screw pressing, intermediate and feeding elements. The power of the device depends on the engine and rotor, which is responsible for the operation of the cutting unit.
Types of homemade extruders
Industrial models of the device start at 45,000 rubles in price, which is not always acceptable for small farms and private farmsteads. To prepare complete and healthy feed for livestock and poultry, many farmers have learned to assemble the device themselves. There are several ways to make an extruder with your own hands:
- For large volumes of raw materials,
- From spare parts for agricultural machinery,
- From a vacuum cleaner.
Before you start manufacturing, you need to find diagrams and drawings. They will help you understand the intricacies and nuances of fastening and location of the main working units.
A homemade extruder will not only be cheaper. It can be made in a size suitable for the needs of the farm, equipped with additional figured knives or several matrices.
Extruder for large volumes of feed
This device consists of:
- Receiving bunker,
- Motor and drive,
- Frames,
- Gearbox,
- cuff,
- cutting unit,
- Dosing screw with drive,
- Cylinder.
The chamber of the pressing unit is a cylinder into which the injection screw is inserted. The auger is divided into three parts: initial, middle and outlet. For greater strength, each of them is secured with a stud with a left-hand thread. The unit is covered with a casing made of steel sheet.
The frame is welded from a corner or pipe sections. The dimensions depend on the planned volumes of processed raw materials and the length of the cylinder. The pressing unit is installed on the frame and secured with several bolts. Next, we begin to manufacture the receiving hopper. Usually it is welded from steel sheets, and a hole is made in the lower part under which a tray is placed. Through it, the raw material flows from the receiver to the supercharger screw. To move the grain, longitudinal recesses are made in the lower part of the body. At the end of the screw section, a cutting unit is installed to regulate the size of the granules. It includes:
- bow hull,
- Matrix,
- Knives.
The knives are pressed against the matrix by a spring, and the shaft rotates using a drive and a driver. The finished product comes out through the holes in the matrix and is cut with knives according to the specified parameters.
The feed extruder processes grain only at high temperatures created by the operation of the motor and gearbox.
They are connected to the shaft and bow housing by a chain drive and attached to the frame. For safety, the electrical assembly can also be covered with steel cuffs. Temperature regulation is carried out by changing the position of the matrix, and control is carried out with a thermometer. Install it next to the cutting element.
Extruder made from spare parts for agricultural machinery
To make this device, you must have:
- Electrical engine,
- Gears from a tractor gearbox,
- Rod, diameter 5 mm, from a hydraulic cylinder,
- Wire, 8 mm thick,
- Sheet metal.
To make a cylinder, several gears are welded together. The result should be a screw with a diameter of about 6.25 cm. Next, a wire is wound onto it at variable pitches. The step width gradually decreases from 2.4 cm to 2 cm. All elements are welded, and the seam is cleaned with a grinding machine.
The next stage: turning the axle boxes on a lathe. One is made for the auger, the second for the gear shaft. When the elements are ready, the parts are welded together in the following sequence: shaft, axle boxes, bearing, auger. The extruder head is attached to the latter using a die.
The assembly of the feed extruder begins with welding the frame on which the motor is mounted. It is connected to the working unit and the starting element using a chain drive. A loading hopper is placed on top: it can be either a bucket or a box welded from iron. At the opposite end, a form is installed to compress the processed mass. Passing through the die, the grain is pressed through the holes and enters the dispenser.
A grain extruder operates on the principle of a meat grinder, and the size of the granules depends on the shape and size of the holes in the die.
Extruder from an old vacuum cleaner
For production you will need:
- Housing and motor from a vacuum cleaner,
- plywood sheet,
- Steel blank for knives,
- Metal disk,
- Wooden pins,
- Fasteners and bushings.
This device is not very powerful, so it is most often used to prepare feed for a small number of poultry, rabbits, piglets or small cattle.
How to make a grain extruder: a square is cut out of a sheet of plywood - a base with a side of 30 cm. A motor is installed on it so that the shaft is 4 cm below the base. For the manufacture of knives, steel grade STZ or higher is used, or they are machined from car holders. The thickness of the knife should not be less than 1.5 mm, and the length and width should not be less than 20 * 1.5 cm. The knife should be sharpened in the direction of the rotating axis. For greater efficiency, the workpiece is shaped like a propeller or the angle of the corner edges is changed.
To attach the cutting element, a hole is drilled on the motor axis, and a regular bushing acts as a fastening element. The working chamber is made of metal sheet. Container dimensions: 70*6 cm. The sheet is bent into the shape of a cylinder, and the upper and lower parts are bent outward. Flanges 1 cm wide should form. They are needed to secure the chamber and hold the sieve. Three pins are installed at the bottom of the cylinder.
The mesh size of the sieve determines the size of the finished granules. The smallest is used to obtain feed flour. A receiving hopper with dampers is welded above the working chamber. With its help, you can regulate the volume of supplied raw materials.
The grain extruder is installed on a flat, flat surface. It is advisable to use the device in a room with low humidity and good ventilation. The grain is fed evenly and constantly, otherwise the compartment with the press will be overloaded. To adjust the size of the finished granules, change the sieve or tighten the matrix bolt.
Finish the work by gradually reducing the speed. After each use, the device must be disassembled and washed to avoid clogging of the working and cutting units with particles of dried food.
The life of a farmer is full of worries, as many people know. Relieve hard labour possible with the help of modern technology or machines. The feed extruder is designed for preparing pet food of different quality and in different quantities. But not everyone can purchase it for the farm due to its significant cost. A do-it-yourself feed extruder will significantly reduce costs and provide you with an excellent household assistant.
Is it possible to make such a unit? with my own hands? Let's try to figure it out.
What is an extruder used for?
Using such a unit, you can process grain into animal feed with high digestibility. Any grain, even not the first freshness, can be processed in an extruder under pressure (no more than 60 atmospheres) and exposure to high temperatures (up to 1600 degrees). The output is products resembling rods or flagella with a diameter of about 3 centimeters . Power may vary, depending on the desired quantity of final products. A productivity of 20-40 kg/hour is sufficient for a small farm, and for large farms - a device capable of processing 1-1.5 tons/hour.
Of course, you can prepare the food yourself, steam or boil the grain, adding different components to it. But its quality will be completely different, and animals will need more time to digest it. You need to spend a lot of time, production will produce a lot of waste. All these problems can be avoided by using a feed extruder.
Not everyone can afford to buy such a device, even if it has been used, due to its considerable cost. Many use their imagination, ingenuity, and their own skillful hands- and creativity begins. Some craftsmen manage to assemble good examples of a household extruder with their own hands. Every owner can try to make one, the main thing is to familiarize yourself with device and don’t be afraid to experiment.
How the unit works
The extruder is composed of the following elements:
The main work is performed by the pressing unit. It is assembled from a forcing screw, which is inserted inside the collection cylinder. Using a matrix With a cutting knife, the resulting mass takes the form of sticks or flagella.
The injection screw consists of three stages:
- entrance part;
- middle part;
- output screw;
- heating washers.
All components are mounted on a stud with a left-hand thread. The part is closed with a metal casing. The keys transmit rotation from the main shaft to the composite screw. The entire structure is attached to the supporting frame using powerful bolts. The case has a window with an attached tray.
Inside the housing itself there are several longitudinal grooves that move components along the axis of the screw. A pellet regulator is located near the exit. It includes:
- bow body;
- matrix (disk), which regulates the process with a handle;
- roller and knife, which are pressed to the matrix by a spring.
Rotate the shaft with the knife through the leash with your fingers. The finished extrudates exit through the nose housing and the hole adjustment dial. The disk is fixed in one position with a bolt; when the position changes, the temperature and pressure level in the apparatus will change. A thermocouple placed on the housing allows you to monitor the temperature.
It runs on electricity, but new models are appearing that run on liquid fuel. Warming up occurs gradually. At the first stage, while the extruder is heating up, cake or flour is loaded into it. The grain is fed only when the system is well heated; it breaks and turns into sticks only at high temperatures and strong pressure.
Is it possible to make an extruder yourself?
You can do many useful things with your own hands if you have a set of tools and necessary details. Many drawings can be found on the Internet or by reading the instructions before the factory machines. To create a unit yourself, you cannot do without:
- electric motor (for example, 2.2 kW, 300 rpm);
- gears from the tractor box;
- rod from a hydraulic cylinder (diameter 50 mm);
- wire (8 mm) or springs;
- turning and welding machines.
After preparing the tools and workpieces, they move directly to the manufacturing process of the unit.
Feed extruder made with your own hands can work non-stop for a long time without consuming too much electricity. The operating principle is reminiscent of a regular meat grinder, only in the end you get not minced meat, but harder sticks. The size of the finished feed depends on how large the spinneret holes are.
The homemade device should be thoroughly checked and tested before use.
DIY extruder, can process no more than 40 kg of grain per hour. For a small farm this is quite enough. Feed prepared by mechanical processing - good nutrition pets, reducing the cost of purchasing food and time for preparing it.
Extruded feed appeared on the market relatively recently. However, among livestock breeders they immediately gained recognition and began to enjoy wide popularity.
The thing is that when regular feed is extruded, some indigestible grain enzymes (for example, starch) are split into those that are fully digestible by both animals and poultry (sugar and simple carbohydrates). Such food is not only more healthy, but also, due to increased taste, is much better eaten.
Almost all livestock farmers know about the benefits of extruded feed. But not everyone can afford to buy a grain extruder itself because of its very high cost. To help those who “want to, but can’t,” we offer options for making an extruder with your own hands.
1 What is an extruder?
An extruder is a device that allows you to turn regular feed into extruded feed. In other words, a grain mixture is poured into the unit at the entrance, and the output is a kind of granulated feed.
Depending on the design of the unit, sausages with a diameter of up to 3 cm come out of it.
Any grain, even slightly spoiled grain, can be processed in an extruder. This device processes feed under high pressure up to 60 atmospheres and at high temperatures up to 180 degrees.
With this physical impact, enzymes are broken down. They release sugar and carbohydrates. In addition, the finished food is not only sweetish, but also acquires the aroma of freshly baked bread, which significantly improves both digestibility (from 60% to 90%) and palatability.
Extruded feed significantly reduces the energy consumption of animals for their consumption. Thanks to this, with less feed consumption, the farmer gets a much larger increase muscle mass on the farm. In addition, such food completely protects poultry and animals from gastrointestinal diseases and bacteria entering the intestines.
The grain extruder can be of different capacities. Everyone chooses what they need based on personal requirements and the size of the farm. For example, the KESH grain extruder has a capacity of up to 20 kg of finished feed per hour, while the EKZ 20 grain extruder produces 1.5-2 times less product in the same time.
1.1 Extruder functions
This unit is needed not only for converting simple grain into granulated feed. Its tasks include:
1.2 What does the unit consist of?
This unit, despite the complexity of the process being performed, has a rather simple configuration:
- frame base, which is the base of the unit. All other components are fixed on it;
- drive that sets the mechanism in motion;
- bunker It is loaded with raw materials that will be processed (grain, meal, etc.);
- a dosing screw supplies raw materials at a certain speed and in certain quantities;
- screw blower;
- cylinder – a housing in which raw material processing processes take place;
- receiving chamber;
- cutting knife;
- die;
- engine;
- gearbox;
- belt and cuff.
1.3 How does it work?
All manipulations to convert grain into extruded feed take place in. That is the injection auger does all the work, closed by a cylindrical body. The injection screw, in turn, consists of 3 parts (input, output and middle) and a heating washer.
There is a hole in the housing above the inlet part of the screw through which raw materials enter. There are longitudinal ribs on the inside of the body that help mix the grain to create a homogeneous mass. Due to the constant rotation of the auger, high pressure arises in the housing, which breaks the grain. After high temperature treatment, it comes out through the die finished product in the form of a sausage.
The extruder heats up gradually. Loading grain can only be done after the mechanism has completely warmed up, otherwise it will not rupture. When starting, you can load flour or meal into the hopper.
2 How to make an extruder with your own hands
Making a grain extruder with your own hands is not an easy task. But difficult does not mean unrealistic.
In addition, many elements of the unit will still have to be purchased. But, if you take into account the cost of the factory device, it will cost much less.
And so, in order to make the unit with your own hands, you will need:
- engine with a power of at least 2.2 kW with a rotation speed of 3000 rpm and above;
- springs or rod, 10-12 mm in diameter for making a sleeve;
- a rod, for example, from a hydraulic cylinder with a diameter of at least 50 mm;
- wire, 8 mm in diameter or cone spring;
- welding machine and lathe.
2.1 Making a granulator
Having made sure that all the necessary elements are present, we proceed to assembling the unit.
2.2 Assembling the extruder
2.3 Launching
You need to start the extruder made by yourself gradually. After starting the engine, let it run idle for 2-3 minutes. Then, we begin to gradually add small raw materials (flour, flour, meal) so that the unit warms up, the matrix is filled and the required pressure is created.
When the finished feed begins to come out through the spinneret in granular form, you can fill the hopper with whole grain.
Making an extruder with your own hands is a long, expensive and labor-intensive process, but it’s worth it. Now you can prepare complete, balanced food at home.
2.4 Manufacturing and launching a grain extruder (video)
