If you decide to start farming, you will have to take care of preparing animal feed. Grinding feed is a necessary process when raising poultry, pigs and other animals, so we invite you to find out how to make a feed cutter with your own hands at home according to drawings and videos. Simple design – good way save on feed and achieve good growth animals on the farm.
Making a simple feed cutter with your own hands
The simplest design is a feed cutter-grater, which is useful for small farms. You can make a feed cutter at home from a piece of stainless steel measuring approximately 50 cm in height and 30 cm in width. Following the example of a kitchen grater, holes with a curved edge are made in the bottom of the product using a punch. To increase comfort during use, a wooden frame is screwed to the feed cutter.
DIY feed cutter drawing
A do-it-yourself mechanized feed cutter can be made at home using old buckets and a grinder. You will need two metal buckets, always stainless steel, because... Some types of feed may react with the galvanized surface and food poisoning may occur in animals.
Detailed drawing for the manufacture of feed cutters
- Holes are made in the bucket with a punch, the edges are bent into them, and a hole for fastening is also drilled in the bottom of the bucket.
- A tripod frame is welded from pieces of thick reinforcement or metal corners.
- Then the container is attached to this frame using seals and flanges. It turns out to be a rotating drum.
- Another bucket with the bottom cut off is attached above the drum - this will be a container for pouring raw materials.
- The grinder is screwed to the flange with a bolt, all fasteners are checked and they begin to check the finished product.
Accurate drawing of a homemade feed cutter
The mechanism of action of a feed cutter made by yourself at home is as follows: the raw materials are poured into a receiving container, and at controlled rotation speeds the grinder is selected required speed grinding. Based on this model, you can make a manual feed cutter with your own hands: instead of a grinder, a handle is attached and the result is something like an ordinary meat grinder.
How to make a feed cutter from a washing machine
For making a feed cutter at home from washing machine you will need a motor and a drum. A hole is made in the drum wall into which the motor shaft will be inserted. 4 more are drilled around it for fastenings.
Photo of a feed chopper
A hole is also cut in an arbitrary place small size for the release of crushed feed. There will be two knives to grind food at home - one in the form of a propeller, which will be installed at the bottom of the drum, and the second, made from a saw blade, for example, and will do the main job.
Photo of a do-it-yourself feed cutter at home
The finished structure should be attached to a metal frame on legs with bolts. This washing machine feed cutter is suitable for grass, vegetables, and fruits. The longer the raw material is in the unit, the finer it is at the output.
Watch the video: Making an electric feed cutter from a washing machine
Photo of a grain crusher with your own hands
Now you know, how to make a feed cutter with your own hands at home. The drawings will help you decide on the model of the dry food chopper and you can make it from scrap materials.
IN agriculture Having available tools is very necessary, since the process of raising livestock or poultry takes a lot of time and causes a lot of trouble. Designs such as a feed cutter will make work easier and make it possible to provide all animals with food on the farm. A large number of animals will not allow you to make food manually; there is simply not enough time for this; various devices will help you cope with the tasks.
Design and technical description
A mechanical product will require a motor in the design. A single-phase motor is used with a prepared bushing, which is made in the form of an adapter. Emphasis cutting knife create claws that are attached to the plate through an adapter, their purpose is to release the finished product from the container. The blade mount of a DIY feed chopper should be recessed into the design for a more consistent product output.
Making a body with your own hands requires the use of a steel pipe with a diameter of at least 30 cm, with a pre-prepared hole for the feed to exit. The structure is fastened to a support or wooden board, to which they are attached metal corners or studs. The feed cutter drum is secured by welding to the corners, just like the engine.
The housing has a front cover through which feed is loaded. The back cover serves as access to the cutting element and has a hole designed for unscrewing the bolt securing the knives. The front cover is complemented by a feed delivery structure made of metal plate. The body is secured with metal plates around the perimeter by welding.
Principle of operation
When the electric motor starts, the mass for grinding is fed into the loading hole with your own hands. The knives rotate at low speed, cutting the product into the required pieces, the blades remove the finished mass to the outlet. Adjusting the gap between cutting edges and the plate can achieve cutting quality and process various raw materials. The harvested feed is fed against the location of the stems to increase speed and also to prevent clogging of the structure.
For increased productivity, the knives are installed in a cross-shape. If necessary, an electric motor with a power of 3000 rpm is installed. Drawings of a homemade feed chopper will help you calculate the productivity and degree of cutting of raw materials.
Advantages of do-it-yourself feed choppers
The main advantages of a homemade feed cutter is that it can be adapted to meet the necessary needs. Homemade design can be made from improvised materials available on the farm.
Making the simplest feed cutter involves having a stainless steel tin bucket, more complex designs made from an old washing machine.
Using a grinder or a high-speed drill in feed cutting also provides the possibility of cutting grass varieties of feed. All designs and accessories of a self-made feed cutter are made according to drawings.
Types of Shredders
There are different types of feed for livestock and poultry, succulent types of feed, grain and grass varieties. Each design implies manufacturing for convenient use and the production of a high-quality product.
A variety of designs makes it possible to use the device in various fields. We produce manual feed cutters with a track mechanism, straw cutters, as well as hand mills. Do-it-yourself mechanized feed cutters are, in most cases, equipped with electric motors for maximum productivity in household or industrial settings. Exist universal devices, capable of grinding different kinds feed by replacing the cutting element.
Juicy feed chopper
Juicy feed is crushed using a grater with large notches. When the process requires mechanization, an electric motor is used, to which a bucket and grater are attached. The feed cutter is manufactured in accordance with a pre-prepared drawing, the bucket is reinforced by welded strips at the edging, with a width of 1 cm. Holes for the buddy are made across the entire area of the bucket in the desired order.
To make the frame, a small table is used, which is installed a few centimeters below the rear part. Filling with food uses a homemade box, which is installed at an angle of up to 40⁰ relative to the main container. At the very bottom there is a tray for collecting finished products. The low-speed engine drives the chopper, which is located as close to the walls as possible for better grinding.
Cereal grinder
Cereals are processed universal type feed cutter The main difference is the use of a different type of cutting element and engine speed. The presence of a mesh in the design allows you to regulate the degree of grinding of grain crops; the throughput is controlled by opening the door. For a reliable slave, a single-phase two-speed motor with a maximum speed of up to 3000 per minute is used.
The size of the finished raw material can be adjusted with your own hands by installing a sieve various types. Ground grain or other materials may be passed through the machine several times to achieve the desired result.
Grass chopper
The design features do not differ from the above examples, however, special parameters are observed. The container for the shredder is selected with your own hands depending on the volume of work; the shape must correspond to the cylinder. Rectangular hole manufactured in the lower part, adapted for the ejection of finished products through a box fastened with rivets.
The power of the feed cutter engine is selected depending on the selected container, the main criterion is the number of revolutions, it should be maintained at 3 thousand/min. The cutting element is made from available stainless steel products.
Feed cutter grater
The most common method of processing raw materials in the household is a feed cutter from a grater. A homemade feed cutter of this kind allows you to produce ready-made food for a small household. Making a structure with your own hands is not difficult; drawings may not be needed at all. Some basic elements for making the case:
- Stainless steel sheet, a 30x50 piece will do.
- Plate connecting elements.
- The lever that will cause the rotation.
- Table top for mounting.
Made with your own hands manual feed cutter quite easy, you just need to follow the steps correctly. The lid holes are cut out required diameter For quality cutting. The manufacturing process will not take much time if you have the accompanying materials and tools.
Grinder feed cutter
For increased tool performance, more serious parts are needed. Bulgarian is suitable for the role electric drive for a self-made feed cutter. The container is selected carefully and must be made of thick steel. A stainless steel tin bucket is suitable for the work. Holes of just over a centimeter are made in the walls, and the edges are folded for a cutting effect.
The frame is constructed from metal corners. To connect to the feed cutter body, you need to punch a hole in the bottom of the bucket. The resulting structure will serve as a drum; the collection container is made of a larger diameter bucket or sheet steel. The grinder is bolted to the inner bucket and rotates it to obtain the finished product.
The vertical arrangement allows the workpieces to be pressed under their own weight during processing. Adjusting the speed of the grinder in the feed cutter with your own hands makes it possible to influence both the quality and the speed of grinding. To preserve the mass of raw materials inside the drum, it is necessary to close the opening for loading feed.
Feed cutter from washing machine
An old washing machine can be used around the house. Pre-prepared drawings will tell you how to make a feed cutter from a washing machine. The main elements are the drum, housing and engine.
A hole with a diameter corresponding to the shaft drive is drilled in the drum body. Mounting bolts are installed in four places to secure the drum. To throw out the food, a hole is cut in the wall. The electric motor is fastened with bolts, which also serve as a connection for knives made by hand. The primary knife is made with a rounded edge to eject feed from the bottom of the drum. The next knife is sharpened from the blade of an unused hacksaw.
Preservation of feed inside the structure is achieved through a lid that is mounted on hinges. At the exit, a self-made container is installed, adapted to collect the finished mass. The productivity of this design can reach up to 100 kilograms per hour; the installation can be used for juicy grinding and herbs.
Making a feed cutting tool with your own hands will not take a lot of effort and money. Ready solutions They are sold in specialized stores, but their prices are high due to the new parts installed. A DIY product can last quite a long time for various needs and household needs.
Do-it-yourself feed cutter is Additional income in a subsidiary farm, good mood and cost savings. After all, to make it you will need the most common available materials that can be found in every yard of a village house.
A self-made feed cutter will serve for a long time and will bring great profit when purchasing feed. With its help you can chop substandard potatoes, beets and carrots brought from nearby farms.
To make a feed cutter with your own hands, prepare the following material:
- A tank with a capacity of three to four buckets for making a feed cutter body;
- Steel plate for a knife. (5 cm wide, 2 mm thick, long = 2/3 of the tank diameter);
- Electric motor (suitable from an old washing machine);
- An axis for transmitting torque from the electric motor to the knife;
- One bearing and metal corners for fastening mechanisms.
In this article I will tell you how to make a feed cutter yourself from scrap materials, so the sizes of the component parts will depend on what is at hand.
We make the body of the feed cutter from an iron tank by cutting holes in the bottom for the exit of the finished product, as shown in the figure below.
The narrower the holes you cut, the better the feed will be crushed.
A knife for a feed cutter must be made of durable metal so that it does not tear due to centripetal acceleration during operation. If such material is not at hand, but you need to make a knife, then sharpen the ends with a triangle, lightening the weight at the edges. This approach will increase the safety of the structure, but will weaken the inertia, which will have a bad effect on the operation of the structure if it is equipped with a weak electric motor.
To make a feed cutter knife:
- Cut a piece of metal plate at least two millimeters thick, suitable in size for the previously made case;
- Sharpen it in the right places;
- Mark the center as accurately as possible;
- Drill a hole for the fourteen bolt;
- Secure the bolt into the knife with a nut;
- Calibrate the width of the bushing (thread) using a washer to the size of the seat.
- We weld the bolt head to the axis that transmits torque from the motor to the knife.
On the side of the body, we weld a bearing or bushing, which will act as a seat for the end of the axle (calibrated in size above the bushing/thread).
Instead of a washer, it is better to use a small bearing or a thicker bushing (I wore it out after two hundred buckets of potatoes, and I replaced it with three).
When assembling the feed cutter, be sure to leave a gap in the places where the electric motor is mounted so that it can move around a little. Since you will not be able to make a perfectly straight shaft and your unit will vibrate when the motor rotates, which means a rigid mount will lead to failure.
DIY electric feed cutter
For our feed cutter we will use an electric motor from an old washing machine, having obtained which, do not forget to get a capacitor or a special switch that activates the starting winding during startup (without this, you will not be able to start the installation).
Connection diagram for the motor in an electric feed cutter.
The starting winding gives a starting impulse to the electric motor and then turns off (the capacitor charges and stops passing electric current), and the motor continues to rotate thanks to the working winding.
Instead of a capacitor, it is possible to use a switch in the form of a normally open contact button, which is pressed for a couple of seconds and then released.
This is a photo of the simplest feed cutter that I made in a couple of hours from scrap materials without spending a penny of money.
At the time of writing this article, the feed cutter worked for two months, grinding 7 - 8 buckets of vegetables a day without a single breakdown, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise for me.
Video of making a feed cutter with your own hands
This video demonstrates how to assemble a feed cutter using available materials:
In the conditions of farms with an impressive number of livestock or poultry, a feed cutter seems to be an indispensable unit. It is quite possible to make such a device with your own hands, which will significantly simplify the procedure for preparing feed, as well as reduce costs.
Planning to simplify the care of their pets, many farmers prefer to purchase special household grinders, which allow them to process an impressive amount of raw materials into feed of the required fraction. At the same time, their cost is quite high, which is why many make the units themselves.
The simplest vegetable cutter can be made with your own hands in a short time, and its assembly will require a minimal amount of material. In terms of its performance indicators and functionality, it will not differ from purchased analogues, but its cost will be significantly lower.
You can make a feed cutter yourself
There are several varieties homemade units, among which it is worth mentioning:
- manual feed cutter for root crops;
- model from an angle grinder;
- drill device;
- device made from a barrel/gas cylinder;
- craft from a washing machine.
It must be remembered that a homemade device may not withstand the loads of intensive use, which is why it is recommended to operate the unit intermittently.
How the device works
Before you figure out how to make a feed chopper from a washing machine or other variations of a similar device, you should study the principle of its operation and the main design elements. To the number the most important nodes any model of homemade or purchased cutting includes:
- bunker - designed for storing processed raw materials;
- working chamber - used for grinding grain and root crops to the desired fraction;
- motor - responsible for rotating the knives;
- output hopper - used to supply finished products.
If desired, the design can be changed by the master towards simplification, which will reduce the list necessary materials. For example, it is possible to supply feed directly into the chamber, eliminating the use of the input hopper.
The operating principle of the unit is extremely simple- the raw material enters the working chamber, where it is crushed by the working bodies to the desired state. It is then fed into the output hopper, after which it is used to feed livestock and poultry.
Electric feed cutter from a washing machine
If a craftsman is interested in a do-it-yourself feed crusher, he should pay attention to the most efficient and easy-to-use variation of the unit, made from a washing machine. In order to successfully create such a product, you will need to adhere to the simplest algorithm of actions:
- Remove the motor and drum from the washing machine.
- Drill a hole in the back of the drum so that it is sized to match the motor shaft. You will also need to make holes for fasteners.
- In one of the walls you will need to implement an output for the finished product using metal part, which will need to be secured to the drum.
- Make cutting elements- the first resembles a propeller, is mounted closer to the bottom of the working chamber, and the second is on top.
Drawing of a homemade feed cutter
Grinder root vegetable grinder
Homemade units can be made from various devices, for example, from a grinder saw. To do this, you will need to select a suitable tank for the working chamber, and then perform the following steps:
- Install a raw material receiver, which can be made from sheet metal.
- A hole is cut in the central part of the body corresponding to the gearbox shaft of the angle grinder.
- Craft a knife using stainless steel, sharpen it.
- Install it inside the body, attach the angle grinder shaft.
In order to avoid mistakes when constructing the device, it may be convenient to use video instructions. This model is electric, like the unit from the washing machine, which requires electricity for correct operation.
Manual chopping for vegetables
If in the process of agricultural activity there is a need to prepare small quantity food for several pets, you can make a simple cut for vegetables manual type. Its operating principle is similar to a grater, but the productivity is significantly higher. Similar option Ideally suited in cases where the farm does not have access to a source of electricity.
The feed cutter is a simple and very convenient unit, which is indispensable for anyone who has a large number of livestock and poultry.
Designed for grinding various vegetables, herbs and grains, the unit can be not only factory-produced, but also made independently.
At the same time, a do-it-yourself feed cutter may not be inferior to purchased analogues in terms of reliability and performance. It can be made quite simply and quickly from almost any available materials.
Design and principle of operation
The main components of a homemade feed cutter are:
- Receiving tray or hopper, – structural element, located above the working chamber (on the side of it) and used for laying the crushed feed raw materials (grass, vegetables, fruits, grain).
- Working chamber with a knife rotating inside it– in this part of the feed cutter, raw materials are crushed by the sharp edges of moving knives.
- Power unit (motor)– designed to give the chopper knife a high rotation speed. It is most often used as Electrical engine from any electrical appliance(washing machine, juicer).
- Outlet pipe, or tray for crushed food,– is located, as a rule, in the lower part of the working chamber and serves to divert the result of the feed chopper operation into a container placed under them.
However, in some cases, due to the lack of materials and the need for quick manufacturing, this design is simplified, as a result of which the raw materials are placed directly into the working chamber and the crushed feed is subsequently poured out of it.
A simple, but at the same time quite productive homemade grass cutter from such electric tool, like a drill, can be made as follows:
- In the middle of the seat is simple wooden stool a hole with a diameter of 12 mm is made.
- To the wooden narrow end wooden block 20x40 mm bearing unit UPC 201 is attached.
- The block together with the bearing assembly is attached to back side stool seats. In this case, the inner hole of the bearing and the similar one drilled in the seat of the stool must completely coincide (be coaxial).
- A galvanized 12-liter bucket with a 12 mm hole drilled in the center of its bottom is secured to the stool using short self-tapping screws.
- The shaft for the grass cutter knife is made from a durable rod with a diameter of 12 mm. To do this, an M12 thread is cut at one end of it, after which. By pushing it with the other end through the holes in the bottom of the bucket and the seat of the stool, it is pressed into the bearing. In this case, the length of the threaded rod protruding inside the bucket should be no more than 10-15 mm. The length of the lower end is selected taking into account the size of the drill used: it should be such that when the shaft is clamped in the chuck of a vertically installed tool, it rests on the floor and is stable.
- A diamond-shaped knife 10-180 mm long and 35-40 mm wide is cut from durable tool steel.
- The narrow ends and ends of the knife are sharpened on one side.
- The knife is installed on the working shaft and secured with a nut.
The drive for this grass cutter is simple drill power 850-1000 W. The chopped grass is loaded in small portions when the drive is turned on, and the container must be closed with a lid.
After the working chamber of the grass cutter is filled with chopped food, tilt the stool with the bucket and pour it into a larger container.
Important! If there is no metal bucket available, under no circumstances should it be replaced with a plastic one - such a seemingly profitable and simple way out of the current situation can lead to disastrous consequences in the future. The fact is that if the knife is destroyed, this material will not be able to protect a person nearby from metal fragments flying at high speed.
Homemade apple, potato, tomato crusher
The assembly technology for vegetables and fruits used for feed consists of the following stages:
- Making a working chamber - any old boiler will do for this. A hole is made in the center of its bottom, and a rectangular window is cut on the side, to which a small box is welded.
- A disk with a diameter 15-20 mm smaller than that of the bottom of the working chamber is cut out of metal 3 mm thick.
- A hole is made in the center of the cut out disk.
- Stepping back 20-30 mm from the central hole and the edges of the disk, 4 oval-shaped slits are made on the disk for knives. The angle between two adjacent slots should be 900.
- According to the size of the slots, 4 blanks are made from a 30x30 mm corner. In the outer plane of one of the corner shelves, 2 oblong adjustment holes are drilled. The distance between them is measured and recorded.
- Blanks from the corners with the ends of the shelves are welded to the side of the oblong slots. In this case, the adjustment holes should be located on the outer plane of the shelf that faces directly to the slot.
- To drain the crushed feed from the tank into the receiving tray, two rubber elastic strips are also attached to the lower surface of the disk.
- 4 knives with one-sided sharpening are made from rapid cloth. After releasing them on the fire, 2 holes are drilled into them. In this case, the distance between them is equal to the same value between the adjustment holes on the corners.
- A frame with legs is welded from the corner.
- The tank is welded to the frame.
- Next to the tank, an engine with a power of 500-700 W is attached to the frame using 2-3 bolts. Before installing it on the frame, a seam (driven) is attached to the motor shaft.
- A shaft for a disk with knives is made from a strong rod. A thread is cut at one end, and a groove for a keyed joint is cut at the other.
- The disk with knives is installed on the shaft.
- The shaft is inserted into a hole in the bottom of the tank.
- A second pulley (drive) is attached to the end of the shaft.
- The pulleys are connected by a belt.
- A button to turn the engine on/off is mounted at the end of the stand.
- The motor is connected to the button and to the electrical network.
- To eliminate the need for human participation in the process of grinding raw materials placed in the device, a special stop-bar is attached to the inner wall of its tank, resting against which, the raw materials will be crushed faster by the disc knives.
- To prevent impacts electric shock The frame of the feed cutter is grounded.
Using such a device, you can chop not only tomatoes, but even harder and denser apples and watermelons.
You can make a simple, but at the same time very productive and convenient feed cutter from an angle grinder (grinder) using the following technology:
- The frame of an old 40-50 liter aquarium is thoroughly cleaned of rust and welded if necessary.
- A pyramidal receptacle for crushed feed with a hole in the lower part (has a truncated top) is welded into one of the ends of the frame.
- A plate is cut out of thick metal according to the dimensions of the end part, and a hole is made in the center of it for the gearbox shaft of the grinder. Also, to load raw materials, a window is made in the plate, to which a funnel-shaped hopper or large diameter pipe (80-100 mm) is welded.
- A trapezoidal knife is made from tool steel.
- The grinder shaft is inserted into the hole in the plate, and the knife is secured to it using the lower support washer and a locking nut.
- The platinum is fixed at the end of the frame with 4-6 bolts.
- The body of the angle grinder is attached to the plate using a bracket.
When working on such a feed cutter, the raw materials - various vegetables, fruits, grains - are placed in a funnel-shaped hopper and, under the influence of gravity, gradually fall onto a knife rotating at high speed, which crushes them.
The finished feed enters the pyramidal receptacle and is poured through its truncated top into a container placed under the feed chopper.
Important! The finer and better the food is crushed, the better it will be eaten by a domestic animal (cow, pigs, rabbits) or poultry (chickens, ducks).
Making a powerful and compact feed cutter from an old gas cylinder is as follows:
- All the gas is drained from the old cylinder.
- Using a hacksaw for metal, cut off the top of the cylinder.
- From thick wall pipe with a diameter of 50-60 cm of reinforcement number 12 (diameter 12 mm) and corners, weld a frame with 3 legs and 6 reinforcements connecting the frame at the top and bottom.
- A 3-phase motor with a power of 2-2.5 kW is placed on the frame so that its shaft faces upward.
- A hole is drilled in the center of the bottom of the container, a window and a tray on the side for ready-made crushed food.
- In a similar way, as in the case of a vegetable crusher, a disk with 2 knives is made.
- The disk is connected to the motor shaft using a rod of the required length.
- The motor is connected to the network via a starter.
- A bolt is welded to one of the lower frame reinforcements to connect the unit to the ground loop.
This feed chopper, unlike those described above, has a very high engine power, which directly affects how much electricity it will consume. However, since its operating time, even when the tank is fully loaded, does not exceed 5-7 minutes, the electricity consumption will not be too large.
The design of such homemade device comprises:
- Tank from an activator-type washing machine (with vertical loading, without a rotating drum).
- A two-blade sharp chopper knife mounted on the activator shaft instead of a disk for mixing water.
- A tray for crushed feed, which is a continuation of the extended drain hole of the tank, with a pipe with a diameter of 50-60 mm inserted into it.
- Square frame on 4 legs.
- A motor connected to the chopper shaft using V-belt transmission(two pulleys and a belt).
- Engine start buttons.
- Cable for connecting the feed chopper to the network.
To ensure that the raw materials crushed in such a feed cutter do not fly out of the tank during operation of the unit, it is covered with a lid.
Advantages of DIY feed choppers
The main advantages of homemade feed choppers are:
- Cheap and relatively easy to manufacture. A do-it-yourself feed chopper will cost 3-5 times less than its factory counterpart, allowing you to save from 4,000 to 7,000 rubles.
- High performance. Such units can grind up to 100-150 kg of raw materials per hour.
- Ease of repair and improvement. A homemade feed chopper can be very easily improved.
- High-quality grinding of the supplied feed. High speed rotation sharp knives allows the units to sufficiently and uniformly grind all the raw materials placed in them.
The main disadvantage of such units is their noise. – the knives rotating at a speed of at least a thousand revolutions per minute, chopping the food, make a very loud noise.
Conclusion
Homemade feed cutter - a convenient and practical device that has earned positive feedback among the craftsmen who made and used them.
Different high performance and high-quality grinding of the raw materials put into it, its cost is several times lower than purchased analogues, which will allow you to keep a household (chickens, rabbits, geese) without extra costs.
