Rotary drum mill TM 500

batchimpactfor sample preparation

Overview
The TM 500 is a laboratory drum (ball) mill designed for grinding large batch volumes up to 35 L in a 150 L drum. It accepts feed sizes up to 20 mm and reaches final fineness down to <15 µm by combined impact and friction. Variable speed (10–50 rpm), multiple grinding ball sizes and runs up to 100 h enable process adaptation and reproducible results. A FoodGrade version with stainless steel 316L drum and hopper is available for contamination-sensitive applications.

Operation and control
Ergonomic handling with feed hopper and optional separating screen for balls/sample. The drum is emptied via electronic tilt. Grinding time, start delay and interval mode are set and saved on the display. Programmable breaks and forward/reverse intervals prevent overheating and caking. Emergency stop increases operator safety. A grid funnel is available to separate balls from product.

Grinding examples / Performance
Example — Gravel grinding: 40 kg (27 L) sample with 80 kg (17.6 L) of 20 mm balls at 50 rpm over several hours. Measured D90: 2 h = 98 µm; 4 h = 37 µm; 6 h = 21 µm; 8 h = 15 µm.

Typical sample materials

• activated carbon
• alloys
• bentonite
• bones
• carbon fibers
• catalysts
• cellulose
• cement clinker
• ceramics
• chemical products
• clay minerals
• coal, coke
• compost
• concrete
• electronic scrap
• fibres
• gypsum
• glass
• hair
• hydroxyl apatite
• kaolin
• lime stone
• metal oxides
• minerals, ores
• paint and varnish
• paper
• pharmaceutical products
• pigments
• plants
• polymers
• quartz
• seeds
• semi-precious stones
• sewage sludge
• slag
• soil
• tissue
• tobacco
• waste
• wood

Optional features
FoodGrade execution with stainless steel 316L drum and hopper for heavy-metal-free processing. Grinding balls available in 10 mm, 20 mm and 30 mm (1.4404 steel). Optional sieve section (mesh inserts, collecting vessels) for ball/sample separation.

Functional principle
The sample and grinding balls are placed in the rotating horizontal drum. Size reduction is achieved by impact and friction; larger balls promote breakage, smaller balls increase final fineness. Process parameters (ball size, speed, time, intervals) control particle size distribution.

Technical specifications

• Applications: pulverizing, mixing, dry grinding
• Fields: agriculture, biology, chemistry, construction materials, engineering/electronics, environment/recycling, geology/metallurgy, glass/ceramics, medicine/pharmaceuticals
• Feed material: soft, hard, brittle, fibrous
• Size reduction principle: friction, impact
• Material feed size*: < 20 mm
• Final fineness*: < 15 µm
• Batch size / feed quantity*: min. 1 L / max. 35 L
• Rotation speed: 10 - 50 min-1
• No. of grinding stations: 1
• Grinding tool materials: hardened steel, stainless steel, 316L
• Grinding drum size: 150 L
• Grinding time setting: digital, 00:00:01 to 99:59:59
• Drive: 3-phase asynchronous motor with frequency converter
• Drive power: 2.2 kW
• Electrical supply: 200-240 V, 50/60 Hz
• Power connection: 1-phase
• Protection code: IP 30
• Power consumption: ~ 2200 W (VA)
• Dimensions W x H x D (closed): 1100 x 1604 x 936 mm
• Net weight: ~ 460 kg
• Standards: CE

*depending on feed material and instrument configuration/settings