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There are various types of mixers available, and each type is designed to meet specific requirements depending on the nature of the materials being mixed and the desired outcome. There are two broad categories of concrete mixer machines, Concrete Batch Mixers, and Continuous Mixers. We will be explaining both of them in detail along with their types.
A Concrete Batch Mixer is a type of mixer used in the construction industry to mix a specific quantity of concrete at a time. This type of mixer is suitable for small to medium-sized construction projects where the demand for concrete is not too high. The concrete batch mixer typically consists of a drum or container where all the ingredients are added in a predetermined order. The ingredients usually include cement, sand, water, and aggregates such as crushed stone or gravel. This mixer comes in different sizes, and the size of the mixer is determined by the amount of concrete that needs to be mixed. Small batch mixers can hold up to 1 cubic yard of concrete, while larger mixers can hold up to 6 cubic yards of concrete or more.
A Concrete Batch Mixer is a reliable and efficient option for small to medium-sized construction projects where a specific quantity of concrete needs to be mixed at a time.
A Drum Mixer, also known as a barrel mixer, is a type of mixer used in the construction industry to mix large quantities of concrete or cement. It consists of a drum or barrel that rotates on its axis, with blades or fins attached to the inside of the drum that help to mix the concrete as it rotates. An advantage is their ability to mix large quantities of concrete efficiently. They are also easy to operate and require less labour compared to other types of mixers. This makes them suitable for both small and large construction projects and can be used to mix concrete, mortar, or any other construction material.
Drum mixers can be further classified into three categories: tilting drum mixers, non-tilting drum mixers and reversing drum mixers.
i. Tilting Drum Mixer
Tilting Drum Mixers are designed with a tilting drum that can be rotated to pour out the mixed concrete or cement, making them a popular choice for construction projects where material needs to be quickly unloaded. These mixers consist of a drum tilted on its axis allowing the mixed material to be poured out of the drum into a designated area. One of the advantages of this type of mixers is that they require less manual labour compared to Non-Tilting Drum Mixers, as the mixed material can be easily unloaded by tilting the drum. This makes them a popular choice for small to medium-sized construction projects.
ii. Non-Tilting Drum Mixer
Unlike Tilting Drum Mixers, Non-Tilting Drum mixers do not have a tilting mechanism and rely on manual labour to unload the mixed material. One of the advantages of this concrete mixer is their simple design and easy operation. They are suitable for small to medium-sized construction projects and can be used to mix wet and dry mixes. They also have a relatively low maintenance requirement. However, one of the main drawbacks is their inability to unload the mixed material automatically. This requires manual labour to unload the mixed material, which may be inefficient for large construction projects.
iii. Reversing Drum mixer
A reversing drum mixer’s drum can rotate in both directions, allowing the mixing blades to effectively mix the material. The drum has mixing blades or fins attached to the inside of the drum to help mix the material. One of the advantages of this type of mixer is its ability to produce highly homogeneous concrete mixes, including wet and dry mixes. They are suitable for small to medium-sized construction projects and can be easily cleaned and maintained. However, their relatively high cost may make them less attractive for some construction projects.
It is also known as a circular mixer or a pan mixer because of its circular-shaped mixing pan. This concrete mixer consists of a circular mixing pan that is mounted horizontally on a frame with wheels. One of the advantages is their ability to produce highly homogeneous concrete mixes. Pan-Type mixers are also suitable for producing different types of concrete mixes, including wet/dry mixes, mortar, plaster, and refractory materials. However, one of the main drawbacks is their lower mixing capacity compared to other types of mixers. They may not be suitable for larger construction projects that require high-capacity mixing equipment.
Continuous Mixers, also known as continuous flow mixers, are a type of mixer used in the construction industry to mix concrete or other construction materials. Unlike batch mixers, which mix a set amount of material at a time, this cement mixer mixes materials continuously as they move through the mixing chamber. The material is continuously fed into the mixing chamber at one end, while the mixed material is continuously discharged from the other end. Its advantage is the ability to produce large volumes of homogeneous material quickly and efficiently. They can be used to mix a wide range of construction materials, including concrete(including wet and dry mixes), mortar, and asphalt.
However, one of the main drawbacks is their relatively high cost. They also require a relatively large amount of space for operation, making them less suitable for smaller construction projects.
There are several types of mixers used in the construction industry for mixing concrete or other construction materials. The most common types include batch mixers, drum mixers, pan-type mixers, tilting drum mixers, non-tilting drum mixers, reversing drum mixers, and continuous mixers. Summarising cement mixers below :
In conclusion, each type of mixer has its own advantages and drawbacks, and the choice of mixer will depend on the specific requirements of the construction project. It is important to consider factors such as mixing capacity, speed, efficiency, and versatility when choosing the suitable types of concrete mixers for a construction project.
