How to choose between hammer crusher and impact crusher

Hammer crusher and impact crusher are two common types of fine crushing equipment, they have significant differences in structure, working principle, applicable materials, product particle shape, maintenance costs and other aspects. The following is a detailed comparison of the two:

1、Comparison of the working principle
Hammer Crusher: The high-speed rotating hammer head directly impacts the material, and the material is crushed by repeated impacts between the hammer head and the impact plate (or screen plate). Characteristics: The impact force acts directly on the material, high crushing efficiency, but the hammer head wears out faster.
Impact Crusher: The material is impacted by the high-speed rotating hammers, and then rebounded to the impact plate to be crushed again, forming multiple impact and shearing effect. Characteristics: The material is crushed several times in the crushing chamber, the particle shape is more uniform, but the wear of the hammer and the impact plate is faster.

2、Comparison of applicable materials
Hammer Crusher: It is suitable for medium hard and brittle materials (such as limestone, coal, gypsum, shale, etc.). It is not suitable for high hardness materials (such as granite, basalt) or high humidity materials (easy to be clogged).
Impact Crusher: Suitable for medium-hard and below materials (such as limestone, coal gangue, concrete, etc.), especially suitable for occasions with high requirements on grain shape. Not suitable for high hardness materials (such as iron ore, quartzite) or highly abrasive materials (easy to accelerate the wear of the hammer).

3、Comparison of grain shape
Hammer Crusher:
The grain shape of the product is poor, with more needles and flakes, and a wider particle size distribution.
It is suitable for occasions that do not require high particle size (such as general building materials production).
Impact Crusher:
Good particle shape, high percentage of cubic particles, uniform particle size.
It is suitable for occasions with high requirements on particle shape (e.g. sand and gravel aggregate for highways and railways).

4、Comparison of maintenance cost
Hammer Crusher: wearing parts are hammer head, screen plate, impact plate, high maintenance frequency, medium maintenance cost.
Impact crusher: wearing parts are hammer, impact plate, liner plate, high maintenance frequency, high maintenance cost.
Hammer crusher: the hammer head needs to be replaced after wear, but the replacement is relatively simple and the cost is moderate.
Impact crusher: hammers and impact plates wear out faster and have higher replacement cost, but some equipment can extend the life by adjusting the angle of impact plates.

5、Comparison of structure and energy consumption
Hammer crusher:
Simple structure, small footprint, low initial investment.
Lower energy consumption, but the crushing efficiency is greatly affected by the hardness of the material.
Impact crusher:
Complex structure, large size, high initial investment.
Energy consumption is slightly higher, but the crushing efficiency is high, especially suitable for medium and fine crushing.

6、Comparison of Application Scenarios
Hammer Crusher: widely used in building materials industry (such as cement factories, brick factories), coal industry, small and medium-sized mines (dealing with brittle materials).
Impact crusher: widely used in sand and gravel aggregate production (e.g. sand and gravel for highways and railways), construction waste recycling, and large-scale mines (medium and fine crushing operation).

7、Summary and selection suggestions
Scenarios for choosing hammer crusher:
Processing medium-hard and brittle materials with low requirements for grain shape.
Limited budget, low initial investment, simple structure of the equipment.
Scenarios for choosing Impact Crusher:
Processing medium-hard and below materials with high requirements on grain shape (e.g. mechanism sand production).
Pursuing high efficient crushing and uniform particle size, and with sufficient budget.
Final recommendation: Choose according to material characteristics, product requirements, budget and maintenance ability. For example, if you need to produce high-quality sand and gravel aggregate, impact crusher is a better choice; if you need to deal with ordinary brittle materials and have limited budget, hammer crusher is more suitable.