Changing a Hammer Mill Screen (<20 Min)
Intro
Glass is highly abrasive on equipment. If you grind glass, your hammer mill screens will wear out. It is just part of the job. The real question is how long it takes to change them.
Most hammer mills turn a simple task into a small project. Too many bolts. Too many panels. Too much downtime. Downtime KILLS in the glass pozzolan business.
Previous 3rd-party hammer mills caused constant pain and downtime at our Binghamton Facility. So when we designed our own Hammer Mill, making the screen easy to replace was a requirement.
This machine is designed to work for the operator, not against them. In the video above, we go from lockout to ready-to-run in 19 minutes.
1. Start With Safety and Access
First step: lock out the hammer mill. No exceptions.
After lockout, loosen the clamp on the feed chute and remove the three bolts securing the main hatch. Pneumatic cylinders swing the hatch open, and a safety pin locks it in place so it can’t close unexpectedly.
2. Remove the Armor Plates
Inside the mill are armor plates that protect the housing from wear.
They’re held in place by carriage bolts. Remove the bolts and lift the plates out. Once they’re out of the way, the grinding screen is loose.
3. Remove the Worn Screen
Glass dust and abrasion can make screens stick slightly.
Usually a quick tap with a hammer or a small pry bar loosens it. Once free, the screen can be rotated and pulled out by hand.
4. Install the New Screen
Slide the replacement screen into position and align the holes.
A properly fitted screen should seat easily and sit flush against the housing.
5. Reassemble and Seal the Hatch
Reinstall the armor plates and tighten the carriage bolts.
Then close the hatch and tighten the front bolts in a center-out pattern:
Center bolt
Left bolt
Right bolt
Repeat the sequence while gradually tightening until the gasket compresses evenly. This ensures a tight seal and prevents glass dust leaks.
6. Final Check and Restart
Before restarting the mill, do a quick inspection:
All bolts tight
Gasket compressed evenly
Hatch secured
Then remove lockout and start the mill!