Crusher

A crusher is a machine designed to reduce large rocks or ore into smaller pieces by applying compressive, impact, or shear forces. The operation is essential in mining, quarrying, construction, and recycling, enabling material handling, processing, and transport by producing uniform aggregate sizes or liberated minerals.

Common crusher types include jaw crushers, which use a moving jaw to crush material against a fixed jaw; gyratory crushers, featuring a conical head in a concave outer shell; cone crushers, where a rotating cone crushes material against a fixed outer wall; and impact crushers, which break material through rapid impact from hammers or blow bars. Other variants include hammer crushers, roll crushers, and mobile or portable units for on-site use.

Crushers work by applying force to reduce material size. The reduction ratio, feed size, and capacity depend on machine design, operating speed, chamber geometry, and settings such as the closed-side gap. Wear parts like jaws, mantles, concaves, and blow bars require regular replacement and maintenance to maintain performance and safety.

In use, crushers produce products ranging from coarse aggregates to fines for concrete, asphalt, or mineral processing. They are employed as primary, secondary, or tertiary equipment and are often configured in series or integrated with other processing steps. Safety considerations include dust control, guarding, and lockout/tagout procedures.