Which version of the concrete mixer is the best do-it-yourself. Homemade concrete mixers: manual, electric. A few words about the drive

If you have own house or cottage, then you are often faced with the need to carry out construction work of one scale or another.

No construction can do without concrete - be it a gazebo, a fence, a terrace or a path.

If you have planned several large buildings, then you can place an order for ready-made factory concrete - it will be delivered directly to your site. The construction team usually does just that.

But this option has the following disadvantages:

• high price of concrete mix;
• you will have to purchase a volume concrete mixer, i.e. several cubes. Not every construction site requires this amount of concrete;
• dense housing developments may not allow heavy vehicles to pass through.

There is another option - to rent a concrete mixer, but with frequent use it will be more expensive than acquiring it as a property.

Due to all of the above, having your own concrete mixer is the best way out. It is quite feasible to make such a necessary unit with your own hands.

Advantages of a homemade concrete mixer

A do-it-yourself concrete mixer has the following advantages:

• It will have the shape you need;
• Such a unit has a low cost, as it can be made from the material at hand;
• A homemade concrete mixer is easy to maintain and repair;
• She can be proud of her neighbors and friends.

Before manufacturing a concrete mixer, it is better to try out the purchase option on your own experience - offer your help to neighbors who have an industrial copy, or use a one-time rental. This will help to understand the principle of its operation and choose the appropriate parameters.

Big size does not mean the best option. Such units are very energy intensive. Both small and large containers limit the amount of concrete produced in 1 cycle. As a result, the choice of tank parameters should be approached very responsibly.

General technology for creating concrete mixers

To make a concrete mixer with your own hands, you will need a strong cylinder-shaped container, a solid frame structure, a reversing mechanism to unload the finished concrete, and a gear motor.

Don't be intimidated by the amount of materials needed - many of them can be bought at a low price or found in the garage.

Instructions for making a manual concrete mixer

You will need:

• metal barrel with a capacity of 100 - 200 l;
• steel corner or profile for the bed;
• two used bearings;
• line segment metal pipe for axle and handle.

Of the tools you will need a grinder and a welding machine.

• We cut a hole in the barrel in the form of a rectangle, forming a gap along the joint. We weld a nut from the corner on the inner surface and lay it with rubber for the purpose of sealing.
• The lid will swing open outward, so you need to install strong hinges and a reliable constipation. The existing filler hole can not be welded, the standard cap is quite reliable.
• Inside, we weld several blades of sheet steel 2-3 mm thick for mixing.
• We weld the bearings in the center of the side parts, fasten the hubs or push the steel axle through.
• We fix the barrel on the frame, weld a handle on one end, like a well. The concrete mixer is ready!

Electric Concrete Mixer

The essence of such a concrete mixer is in a stationary tank and active mixing blades.

This unit has both pros and cons.

The advantage of an electric concrete mixer is that it does not require making an airtight hole, as in a manual version.

The downside is the need for glands on the drive axis.

The tank is made from a 200 l barrel with welded walls. The upper part is covered with a lattice. For the base, a profiled pipe is used. The tank is firmly attached. The initial components of the solution are loaded from above, the finished concrete is drained thanks to a shutter with a rubber gasket.

Note!

The mixing shaft is made from an automotive cranked analogue, the blades are made from corners and steel sheets welded to them, 3 mm thick. An oil seal is located at the exit point of the shaft to the gearbox.

The engine is used from a crane. Its power is 5.5 kW. The gearbox is from there. The motor has 3 phases and the ability to change the direction of rotation.

A pallet is placed under the working concrete mixer, collecting the water flowing out at the beginning. It is poured back into the concrete mixer.

In conclusion, we note that a self-made concrete mixer is better than analogues from China. We hope that this article will help you to do such a necessary thing yourself.

DIY concrete mixer photo

Note!

Concrete mixing machine, or concrete mixer, or concrete block - building device, designed for self-preparation of high-quality building mixture. Such a machine can be stationary and mobile, differing in purpose and principle of operation. To date, a do-it-yourself concrete mixer is good option practical and convenient unit. Its production will require minimal financial costs.

Types of concrete mixers and the principle of their work

A concrete mixer is a technical device widely used in modern construction for the preparation of concrete or other cement-based mortar, and is represented by very different types or forms. Regardless of the typical characteristics and design features, the main function of the concrete mixing machine or mixer is to obtain maximum efficiency in the process of mixing all the components.

Continuous concrete mixers

Continuous concrete mixers have a forced mixing process of all components. From a constructive point of view, these units are the same, and the main differences are in the size, performance and shape of the mixing blades.

The principle of operation of a continuous concrete mixer is the forced process of mixing the components of the solution

Continuous concrete mixing machines carry out a complete set of all technological processes, represented by the loading and mixing of individual components, as well as unloading ready mix from the unit, which is provided not only by production, but also by control equipment.

The diagram shows the device of a continuous unit

• 8 - a continuous flow of the components of the mixture is fed into the trough;
• 7 - blades mounted on shafts inside the trough at an angle of 40–45 °;
• 6 - shafts inside the trough;
• 5 - unloading gate;
• 4 - gear pair;
• 3 - reducer;
• 2 - belt drive.

The principle of operation of the mixer is based on the loading of a continuous flow of components by belt feeders or conveyors. Simultaneous supply of bulk components and water makes it possible to obtain a homogeneous and high-quality solution in the mixing tank, which is discharged through the discharge opening and can be loaded directly into a special vehicle.

The technical performance indicators of continuous mixers depend on the volume of solution that moves in a certain time in the direction of the axis, as well as on the size and angle of the blade part with their rotational speed. The advantages of this version of the concrete mixer are represented by the ability to prepare mortars and hard concretes in significant quantities, as well as the complete static nature of the body. The disadvantages include the need for a constant supply of components, and the inability to obtain a small volume of solution.

Cyclic action

Installations of cyclic action are distinguished by the loading of new components of the mixture only after the complete unloading of the already prepared solution. This version of mixing equipment is more mobile, and the performance level is determined by the quality of the loaded components and the total volume of the mixing tank.

Cyclic concrete mixers are more mobile

The main function of the cyclic device is to obtain high-quality concrete of mobile, molding and rigid type with the presence of special additives. Units of this type can have a cylindrical or trough-shaped body with a vertical or horizontal shaft.

Mixing of the solution occurs with the help of paddle shafts

• 1 - bearing;
• 2 - electric motor;
• 3 - frame structure;
• 4 - V-belt transmission;
• 5 - reducer;
• 6 - clutch;
• 7 - unit body;
• 8 - blade part;
• 9 - holder;
• 10 - opening for loading;
• 11 - shaft;
• 12 - pneumatic cylinder;
• 13 - shutter;
• 14 - unloading opening of the unit.

The principle of operation is ensured by the rotation of the blades on the shafts in the mutual direction, which causes the electric motor to turn on and V-belt transmission. Due to the extremely uniform arrangement of the blades on the shafts, such elements fit perfectly into the free spaces. Mixed components are delivered inside the working mixer through a lock-type opening, after which mixing takes place with the help of paddle shafts and the finished mixture is unloaded through an unloading opening controlled by a pneumatic cylinder.

The advantages of the most modern models lie in the high quality of mixing in a relatively short period of time and in the possibility of using components with different densities, resulting in a high-quality finished composition. The main disadvantages of cyclic equipment are represented by the high cost and technical complexity of the transmission, which implies the provision of regular and competent Maintenance unit.

Gravitational

A variant of a construction machine, characterized by mixing concrete mixtures due to gravity. Gravity mixers are a drum that rotates around an axis of a horizontal or inclined type. A prerequisite for the functioning is strictly a certain amount of blade rotation, which prevents an excess of centrifugal force inside the drum.

The advantages of this type of concrete mixer are ease of installation and performance.

Gravity construction mixers are usually designed to prepare mixtures that do not exceed one cubic meter. A modern mobile type plant is very easy to transport. The most popular and common gravity models are concrete mixing plants in the form of traditional concrete mixer trucks.

The rotational speed in this type of concrete mixer is 20 rpm.

• 1 - loading bucket;
• 2 - a pair of lifting drums;
• 3 - self-braking worm-type gearbox;
• 4 - flange electric motor;
• 5 - mixing drum with blades;
• 6 - steering wheel of the unit;
• 7 - output shaft of a three-stage cylindro-conical type gearbox;
• 8 - the ends of the rope, which covers the bucket;
• 9 and 10 - limit switches for turning off the electric motor;
• 11 - traverse;
• 12 - flange electric motor;
• 13 - single-stage gearbox;
• 14 - fixing device.

Principle of operation: bladed elements inside the drum during their uniform rotation pick up, lift and drop down the prepared solution. The standard speed in gravity concrete mixing technology is limited to 20 rpm.

The undoubted advantages of any gravity mixer are represented by the optimal ratio of the weight of the installation and the total working volume of the tank, the simplicity and reliability of the design, the possibility of using large aggregates, as well as the very low energy load of such equipment. Serious disadvantages of such models include low rates of versatility and the risk of not obtaining homogeneous rigid mixtures.

Forced

Forced-action concrete mixing units are used in the production of not only mobile, but also rigid molding-type concrete, and also allow the production of lightweight concrete with a significant amount of various additives. Forced mixers can be equipped with a horizontal or vertical shaft, which is placed in a trough-shaped or cylindrical body.

In such a concrete mixer, you can prepare solutions with different densities

In forced mixers, high-quality mixing of all components is ensured, and due to the versatility of the design, the production of concretes, as well as solutions with different density and mobility levels, is greatly facilitated.

All components are loaded inside the concrete mixer drum, thanks to the blades they are mixed, and a high-quality solution is obtained

• 1 - mixer body;
• 2 - frame structure;
• 3 - electric motor;
• 4 - unit control panel;
• 5 - sector type shutter;
• 6 - drive handle for opening the shutter;
• 7 - protective element;
• 8 - drive gear for shafts;
• 9 - belt drive protection;
• 10 - safety clutch;
• 11 - mixing shaft.

The principle of operation is based on the loading of all components inside the drum and the ability of the blades to mix the components during rotation to obtain a homogeneous and high-quality mass of the finished solution.

The advantages of forced construction mixers are represented by the high quality of mixing, the reliability of the equipment and its ability to function even in difficult conditions, as well as small dimensions and ease of transportation. The disadvantages include the lack of a maximum ratio of the weight of the equipment to the usable volume of the mixer, as well as the too high installed power of the electric drive.

How to make a concrete mixer with your own hands

Of course, mixing can be done in a trough using a conventional shovel, but this approach is very labor-intensive, not allowing to obtain a sufficient amount of a homogeneous and high-quality mixture, and the consumption of components in this case increases significantly.

Independent production of a concrete mixer does not cause difficulties even in the absence of professional knowledge and special skills in this area. It is enough to familiarize yourself with the manufacturing scheme, prepare necessary material and a set of tools, as well as strictly adhere to the step-by-step instructions.

From the barrel

The design has a peculiar trajectory of movement, in the form of an axis of rotation, going through the tank strictly obliquely. Simple mortar mixers are able to function well at a temperature of at least plus 2 ° C, since the design does not provide heating of the prepared mixture.

The design of such a concrete mixer is quite simple.

• 1 - metal barrel;
• 2 - base from a metal corner;
• 3 - a shaft from a pipe;
• 4 - bearing system;
• 5, 6 - handle and handle;
• 7 - hatch cover;
• 8 - lock connection;
• 9 - rubber seal;
• 10 - loop.

The prepared solution moves between two walls, which ensures the simplicity and efficiency of regular operation. A barrel mixer is capable of mixing about three buckets of concrete mortar very well in twenty revolutions.

Materials and tools:

• metal barrel;
• a set of hardware, represented by bolts, nuts and washers;
• bearings;
• fittings for the handle;
• standard metal corner;
• welding machine;
• electric drill;
• "Bulgarian" or a hacksaw for working with metal;
• spanners;
• level, tape measure and marker.

1. Drill holes on the ends of the barrel for the installation of the shaft.
2. Install bearings under the rotary handle on the outer part of the covers.
3. Cut a hole for unimpeded extraction of the finished solution.
4. Seal the door with rubber.
5. Fix the door with hinged hinges on the hinged latches.
6. Weld the supporting frame structure from metal corners.
7. Equip the shaft with blades of steel sheet.
8. Install shaft and knobs.
9. Place the barrel on a supporting metal structure.

If desired, the design can be supplemented by an electric motor, a gearbox to reduce torque, a V-belt and a moisture-proof switch, as well as a wire system. In operation, this model of a concrete mixer is less stable, therefore, it is necessary to ensure high-quality additional fixation.

From the washing machine

The construction mixer, made on the basis of a washing machine, has a fairly high performance. In the process of drum rotation, stable stability is necessary, but the presence of a certain dissonance is explained by the components of the solution, which constantly shift the center of gravity. For this reason, it is necessary to resolve the issue of a reliable base or frame for installing a concrete mixer made using a washing machine.

The most sustainable geometric figure- a triangle that can withstand significant loads and retains its position well. The advantages of a self-assembled concrete mixer based on a washing machine are represented by individual height selection, but the best option is a design with a lower tank location at a level of 50–80 cm. The volume of the finished cement mortar directly depends on the size of the washing machine tank.

To ensure sustainability, you need to solid foundation for concrete mixer

Materials and tools:

• welding machine;
• electric drill;
• standard set of screwdrivers;
• hacksaw for working with metal;
• capacity from the washing machine;
• metal corners or a pipe for the manufacture of a frame frame;
• steel sheet for the manufacture of blades.

If you want to make your own auger concrete mixer, you need to make a special shaft.

Step by step manufacturing process:

1. Seal the drain hole in the working activator type washing machine.
2. Make a swivel mechanism from metal corners or pipes.
3. Place the washing machine on the swivel tipping mechanism.
4. Install the frame on "legs" half a meter high to ensure maximum stability of the structure.

It is important not to carry out a rigid fastening of the tank along the perimeter of the frame, and installation on a canopy should allow tipping with emphasis on the frame base. Such a design is fixed on the basis of an activator-type washing machine with only four metal corners. The performance of the finished construction mixer is ensured by connecting the unit to a 220 V network.

From a flask

Traditional flasks made from milk or paint can be an excellent base used in the manufacture of a compact concrete mixer. Technological capabilities allow the frame to be made on the basis of metal corners or pipes, as well as ordinary wooden bars. As a rule, three buckets of concrete mortar can be made at the same time inside such a mixer.

Compact concrete mixer that allows you to prepare three buckets of mortar in one go

The flask must be placed in an inclined position, using for this purpose four conventional rotating supports or a frame structure with an angle of 20–30 ° relative to the horizon. Thus, the device is provided with the rotation of the unit in accordance with the longitudinal axis.

Photo gallery: components of a homemade flask-based concrete mixer

The flask will be a good reservoir for mixing Engine elements Manual variant Working principle of concrete mixer Composite mechanism for homemade concrete mixer

A homemade manual concrete mixer can be made within a couple of hours using a milk flask and almost any scrap metal for this purpose.

Materials and tools:

• welding machine;
• electric drill;
• screwdrivers;
• hacksaw for working with metals;
• metal flask;
• metal corners for the manufacture of a frame frame.

Step by step manufacturing process:

• Drill holes for the handle.
• Pass the axle equipped with a handle through the holes drilled in the flask.
• Fabricate a supporting metal frame structure.
• Install the unit on the frame.

Easy operation of the construction mixer is ensured by the obligatory balance of such a unit, therefore the axis is passed only through the center of gravity. Ordinary water couplings can serve as bushings for the axle, and the stops are made by welding nuts lubricated with lithol or grease to the axial part. This option is very simple to use, but a large amount of the solution is not mixed well enough and quickly.

Variants of concrete mixers for self-production (with drawings)

There are several easy do-it-yourself options for construction mixers that have proven their worth. high efficiency in the preparation of concrete solutions of various volumes.

Mechanical option

The main advantage is a fairly large volume, and both electric and manual drives can be used for equipment. The unloading of the finished composition is carried out by the traditional tilt of the structure to the side.

The main disadvantage is cylindrical tub consists in insufficiently high-quality mixing of the solution in the corner zones and the risk of splashing the mixture if the design is too fast. The model is able to knead a simple mixture within five minutes, and mixing dry ingredients takes no more than ten minutes.

Combined horizontal version with combs

Electric or manual design based on a cylindrical tank with high uniformity and excellent mixing speed. The device also has a high speed and quality of the solution manufacturing procedure. To mix one batch of solution, it is enough to perform only four turns of the handle.

Combined type concrete mixers have good mixing speed

The disadvantage is the structural complexity and the large number of constituent parts, and the installation of an unloading hatch with high-quality and very reliable seals, latches and hinges requires increased attention.

Combs are made from ordinary metal corners

For the manufacture of the comb, metal corners should be used, which are securely fixed on the base.

For reliability and stability under the concrete mixer, it is recommended to make a base

For welding side racks, struts, channels are used, cut into individual elements, as well as durable metal corners.

Electric option

The most common and popular design of a construction mixer, most often done by hand. To date, a huge number of variations of such a unit are known, which may have some differences in terms of design and specifications.

Such a construction mixer is able to provide a considerable yield of the finished solution

The best option it is considered to be the use of a cylindrical tank, in which the bottom part and the neck must necessarily be strengthened with cross-welded strips. Such a frame electric concrete mixing structure, securely welded on the axis, is characterized by high productivity and sufficient output of the finished solution.

Some difficulty can be caused by the assembly of the container rotated together with the axial element, which is due to the need to make a high-strength frame structure. Nevertheless, it is thanks to this technical feature that the electric concrete mixer can be operated for the longest possible time.

vibration option

If you have a hammer drill with a power rating of 1.0–1.3 kW and a percussion forced mechanism, it is quite possible to make a home-made vibratory concrete mixer.

In this design, it must be taken into account that the distance to the bottom part must correspond to the radius of the unit

In the manufacture of such a design, it must be remembered that the tank used must be round and high, not very wide, located on the axis. The standard distance to the bottom must correspond to the radius of the machine. It is strictly forbidden to use any flat containers made of sheet metal. In such a tank, there is no wave excitation necessary for mixing the solution. The best option is to use a pair of metal plates stacked together, and the diameter of the vibrator should be a quarter of a meter for every 1.3 kW of power.

Modern barrel variant

An interesting design from a technical point of view, which can be easily carried out in accordance with the step-by-step illustrations below. It is necessary to prepare a two-hundred-liter barrel, an electric motor for 250 W and 1430 revolutions, as well as a wheel from a conventional motorcycle, two belts and a couple of rings welded to each other. The pulley is securely welded to the bottom of the tank. The frame structure is made on the basis of a channel and a durable metal pipe.

Photo gallery: making a concrete mixer from an ordinary barrel

For the manufacture of a concrete mixer, an ordinary barrel is suitable Drive mechanism part Fastening metal sheets to the frame Preparation of the base for a concrete mixer Installing the concrete mixer on the base Concrete mixer ready to go The construction unit can be equipped with an engine Engine drive belt Reservoir with blades for mixing the components of the solution Concrete mixer at work

Video: homemade concrete mixer at work

Video: making a concrete mixing unit from a barrel

Thus, the standard ready-made design of a self-made construction mixer is represented by a stationary or mobile bed, mixing working elements, a tank for a direct mixing process and an unloading mechanism. Also important parts of the design include transmission and gasoline or electric propulsion unit.

It is not difficult to make an efficient concrete mixing unit on your own, but it should be remembered that the distance from the gears to the pulleys should be as correctly verified as possible even before installation work is performed. The impossibility of connecting a grounding contract to a concrete mixer is leveled by the electrification of the device using a standard RCD, and all moving internal parts must be equipped with protective covers. The starting start of the concrete mixing machine is carried out in idle mode, but the preparation of the first concrete solution should not be the full load of the device.

When performing heavy construction work, a manual concrete mixer will become an indispensable and sought-after assistant. The capabilities of this useful device are not limited to concrete itself; with no less success, any cement-sand mortar can be kneaded in it.

Mechanical concrete mixer - pros and cons

It is quite easy to determine the scope of a home-made concrete mixer. It should be based on the personal ability for heavy construction work. Because it is relatively easy to knead the mortar in a mechanized 200-liter barrel, but this cement-gravel mixture still needs to be delivered to its destination, poured into a mold and subjected to vibration compaction (if such is provided by the technology). The solution that has not been worked out during the day will harden into a shapeless pile, as a monument to your mismanagement.

The other extreme is to try to concrete the foundation 10x20 meters with a homemade mortar. No mechanical concrete mixer can handle such volumes of work, and its owner even more so. It is more reasonable to order a concrete dump truck with a volume of several cubes and scatter its contents over a pre-set formwork - this will be optimal both in terms of financial and physical costs.

The website site masters have prepared a special calculator for you. You can easily calculate the required amount of concrete.

Therefore, a personal concrete mixer is used for work such as building a porch with your own hands, creating a screed in one room, or when installing piles for a fence. The volume of concreting should correspond to your physical capabilities and the hardware capacity of the device itself.

Concrete mixer - electric or mechanical?

Basically, there is not much difference in manufacturing labor intensity between electric and mechanical concrete mixer. Another thing is that the complexity of the electric version is much higher, but it can be used alone. The manual version is necessarily associated with the work of two, but someone needs to “turn the drum”, as the permanent host says in one famous show.

But! A mechanical manual concrete mixer can be made mobile, that is, mobile. The electric version is difficult to pile up on wheels and carry around. personal plot– it is complex, cumbersome and needs more strong frame and chassis. The vibration from the electric motor is also very high. If necessary, it is better to buy an electric mobile concrete mixer in a store than to strive for the laurels of a great designer. Such a desire can end with a break in the drive belt (at best) or a breakdown of voltage on the metal case (but from such embarrassment the consequences are the most deplorable).

Manual concrete mixer - we make a mechanical assistant with our own hands

The sequence of manufacturing a handicraft device for mixing a solution consists of several stages:

Do-it-yourself manual concrete mixer - step by step diagram

Step 1: calculated

It is connected not with work on the apparatus, but with the assessment of the metal belongings available on the farm. We will get to the drawings a little later. The basis of any concrete mixer is a voluminous metal container. As such, a barrel of 150-250 liters is best suited, you can use it. If the desired barrel is not found on the farm, you can look for something similar from neighbors or acquaintances. You can captivate them with the prospect of forgetting about manual mixing of concrete and taking a barrel mutually, with the condition of subsequent rent of a concrete mixer. Yes, for our barrel we definitely need a "native" lid, which we will weld onto the seat.

In addition, you will need to make a supporting frame using a welding rectifier or inverter. To do this, you will need pipes or corners made of ferrous metal (the frame will turn out to be heavy from reinforcement) and the welding machine itself. It is quite reasonable to buy it - modern models are inexpensive, work from household 220 Volts, are relatively easy to master and greatly facilitate household chores in the bosom of nature.

Step 2: marking and checking

We mark the contours of the frame, based on the dimensions of the barrel - it will be the center of our man-made composition. If the frame base is made up of corners, then the size of their shelves should be at least 50x50 mm. If pipes - then ordinary plumbing pipes, 25 mm in outer diameter, are well suited (again, you can use them, if only they are not rusty). Reinforcement for the frame and handles is needed with a diameter of at least 15 mm, preferably corrugated. The shaft needs thick and smooth fittings of large diameter, at least 40 mm.

We test the barrel for tightness and strength. You should tap its walls and find out if there are any rusted areas. If any are found, they will need to be welded with sheet metal from the outside and checked for leaks again. We stock up on two bearings, two door hinges, check the functionality welding machine and Bulgarians.

Step 3: Welding

In the geometric center of the bottom of the barrel, a hole is made for the shaft. The same hole is drilled in the cover (it is not welded yet!). A flange with a shaft is welded to the center of the bottom, a bearing is placed on it from the outside. It will be more difficult with the lid - a movable flange with blades is welded to it, which will stir the solution when the handle is rotated.

You will need at least three blades, their dimensions should reach the middle of the barrel, but not scrape along its walls. That is, we show the skill of artistic welding and create an internal iron flower - the flywheel of the concrete mixing process. The side racks of the frame are welded in the shape of the letter A, their size is identical. If the concrete mixer is self-propelled, then the side racks are welded to each other with long reinforcing bars, and metal wheels are attached to the ends of the legs of both letters A - wide and durable.

The bottom is seated on the shaft with a bearing, the cover with the blades is inserted into the seat and welded around the perimeter. The second support with a handle slides in and is also installed on the bearing - the main part of the work is completed.

Step 4: finishing

In the side part of the barrel, a hole of at least 30x30 cm is cut in the center for loading the mortar components and unloading the finished concrete. The work is carried out with the help of a grinder, and be careful - you can not damage the main part of the wall. The cut out part is planted on two loops, with sealing of the bolt holes with cement-resistant compounds ( silicone sealant and etc.). The narrower the cutting disc of the grinder, the better, this will ensure a tight pairing of the man-made hatch and the wall. Therefore, the final part of the cuts is made with a sharp hacksaw for metal.

A long and strong handle is welded to the side of the barrel where the blades are located. To mix standard concrete, it is enough to load sand, gravel, cement and water through the door, close it well, turn the handle 15-20 full turns and you can substitute a wheelbarrow to unload the finished solution.

Manual concrete mixer made by hand! Fill it with water "to the eyeballs" to check the tightness and you can knead a test batch of the solution. When your own stages of heavy construction are a thing of the past, your mechanical assistant will become a sought-after guest with neighbors who are just about to do fundamental work.

To carry out construction activities and landscaping, cement and concrete mortars are used. The process of manual preparation of mixtures is laborious and lengthy. It does not guarantee the uniformity of the working mixture. And it is not advisable to purchase an expensive concrete mixer for a one-time batch. The way out of this situation is a do-it-yourself concrete mixer. She will allow minimum expenses independently prepare a solution with a homogeneous consistency.

An example of a concrete mixer suitable for the home

The device of a household concrete mixer and the classification of mixers

Units designed for mixing concrete solutions are offered to enterprises and are made by home craftsmen in various versions. Consider the design of the mixer, which consists of the following units:

• a metal frame or bed that combines the nodes into a single structure. The frame perceives dynamic and static loads, ensuring the stability of the equipment. For heavy units, the bed is stationary, and for small-sized mixers it is equipped with wheels that facilitate transportation. For the manufacture of a metal frame, you can use a corner or a steel profile of a different section;
• a working body designed to increase the homogeneity of the batch. The activator in contact with the stirred solution acts on the components of the mixture. As a result, the concrete solution acquires a uniform consistency. As mixing organs, blades of complex configuration, special blades, screws and other types of activators are used;
• a tank in which concrete is mixed. Such a container is called a barrel and can be made from various materials. For self-production of a working container, you can use household appliances that have lost their relevance and performance - from washing machines to metal barrels. The containers used differ in size and volume, affecting performance;
• unloading device, facilitating and accelerating the discharge of the prepared solution. The design of the drain mechanism is determined by the layout of the concrete mixer, the design and dimensions of the barrel, as well as the mass of the concrete solution. Various technical solutions are used to facilitate the unloading process;
• drive station. An electric motor is used as a driving unit. The transmission of torque from the electric motor can be carried out through a reduction gear or belt drive. gear ratio and transmission power must allow the heavy container filled with solution to rotate freely.

The concrete mixer differs not only in the design option, but also in the mixing methods. According to the principle of operation, mortar mixers are divided into the following types:

• gravitational. A distinctive feature of these mechanisms is the presence of a rotating container and a fixed screw activator. Stirred cement mixture under the influence of gravity without the application of force falls on the screw axis. Uniform mixing of the ingredients is ensured by the action of the blades welded inside the rotating tank. The gravitational method of mixing allows you to prepare concrete with the required degree of mobility;
• forced. They mix the cement slurry inside a permanently fixed tank due to the action of moving elements. The operational characteristics and uniformity of the working solution prepared in such mixers are much higher when compared with gravity units. The forced principle of mixing in private housing construction is rarely used. It is relevant in concrete mixers designed for industrial use.

According to the duration of operation, the mixers are divided into the following types:

• periodic action, used for private use. They are equipped with a low power electric motor;
• continuous operation. They are used for industrial purposes and are equipped with a powerful electric drive.

Let us dwell in more detail on the design of devices, the independent manufacture of which is quite simple.

Do-it-yourself homemade concrete mixer - popular designs

When planning independent production, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with proven designs in practice. Various device schemes are possible, of which the following units are most popular:

• mechanical concrete mixer. It is a barrel cut along the longitudinal axis, hinged on a metal frame. Inside the tank there is a movable shaft with blades. The transmission of torque from the electric motor is carried out through a V-belt transmission and a gearbox. The prepared solution is unloaded by tilting the bucket. The advantage of this mortar mixer is the shortened mixing time. The disadvantage of the unit is the spraying of the solution when increased speed rotation;
• concrete mixer from a barrel equipped with an activator. According to the layout solution, this version of the mortar mixer is similar to the previously described one. The main difference is the use of a whole barrel, in which a sealed hatch is made for loading ingredients and unloading the solution. Torque transmission can be carried out both manually and with the help of an electric drive. In this embodiment, the container rotates, inside which the longitudinal combs are fixed. The quality of the batch is determined by the number of revolutions, not the duration of mixing. Despite the complexity of the design, such mechanisms are mass-produced;
• homemade concrete mixer with a mixer. When planning to make a concrete mixer with your own hands, you should pay attention to this option. Despite the complexity of the design of such a mortar mixer, it is worth working on it. The device provides increased uniformity of mixing of the concrete mixture due to the additional degree of freedom. The container with the activator is fixed on a metal frame and can rotate about the longitudinal axis. The frame assembly with the tank has an additional degree of freedom due to the hinged mounting on the base frame of the unit. It is important to ensure the tightness of the tank and the convenience of unloading;
• vibrating concrete mixers. To create a mortar mixer with a vibrational principle of operation, a high-power puncher is required, in the cartridge of which a metal shaft is fixed. The perforator should be rigidly fixed on the frame, ensuring that the shaft is aligned with the center of the container. On the opposite side of the shaft, a car disk should be rigidly fixed, the diameter of which is smaller than the internal size of the barrel. The vertically mounted barrel is then filled with ingredients. The components of the cement-concrete mixture under the influence of vibration are uniformly mixed. When deciding how to make a concrete mixer with your own hands from a car disk, use this option.

For self-production of a concrete mixer, any design option is suitable.

Do-it-yourself concrete mixer - pros and cons

Regardless of whether a large concrete mixer or a small-sized mixer will be manufactured, familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of home-made devices before starting production.

Advantages of self-made mortar mixers:

• saving money compared to purchasing a ready-made unit;
• improved quality of the prepared cement-concrete mixture;
• reduced duration of mixing the ingredients of the concrete solution;
• convenience of unloading the prepared mixture by tilting the mixer barrel;
• the possibility of manufacturing a mixing device with a manual drive;
• a wide range of materials and containers for self-manufacturing.

Problem points associated with the independent manufacture of mortar mixers:

• the complexity of manufacturing at home without professional training;
• the need to adjust components and elements to ensure trouble-free operation;
• splashing of cement slurry at an increased frequency of mixing.

Analyzing the advantages and disadvantages, many developers prefer the independent production of concrete mixers. At the same time, it must be taken into account that if a concrete mixer is made from a barrel with your own hands, the drawings must be used only proven in practice.

How to make a concrete mixer from a barrel with your own hands

Thinking about how to make a concrete mixer with your own hands, prepare drawings or sketches in advance. It is possible to sketch out a full-scale sample for manufacturing, which has positively proven itself in operating conditions. Consider the features of self-production of various options.

How to make a manual and electric concrete mixer

The manual version of the mortar mixer is the simplest. It is best suited for making small amounts of mix and is cheaper than electric models. The mixing process is carried out by filling the tank with components, followed by the transfer of torque by turning the handle.

The design of the manual device is a metal frame, on which a rotary shaft with a mixing container is fixed in hinged supports. A handle is fixed on one side of the drive shaft.

The assembly algorithm provides for the following operations:

• Welding of metal structures. It consists of two triangular sidewalls connected by jumpers. In the upper part there are bushings for fastening the rotary shaft.
• Preparation of the mixing tank. As a container, you can use a barrel, a milk can or a washing machine body. Inside it is necessary to fix the blades.
• Installation of the container on the rotary shaft. It is important to ensure a rigid connection and seal the gaps in the shaft attachment areas.
• Fixation of the handle for mixing and control of the tightness of the mixer. For testing, it is necessary to fill the container with water and make sure that there are no leaks.

By following the indicated sequence of operations, a concrete mixer can be easily made by hand. Drawings or sketches can be corrected, providing for the possibility of using a milk can or other container.

If a V-belt pulley or a chain drive sprocket is fixed on the side of the shaft opposite to the handle, then it is possible to ensure the transmission of torque from the gearbox connected to the electric motor. A do-it-yourself concrete mixer from a barrel, driven by an electric motor, will provide increased efficiency mixing.

Homemade concrete mixer with a washing machine engine

Using a 0.18 kW motor with a rotation speed of 1500 rpm, it is possible to assemble an electric drive for a mortar mixer. To transmit torque, a starter gear and a flywheel from a car are used.

Do-it-yourself mobile concrete mixer from a washing machine is made in the following order:

• Weld the frame with the gear axles.
• Fasten the wheels.
• Install the drive gears on the axles.
• Attach the motor with a pulley.
• Assemble the belt drive.
• Attach the barrel to the end of the flywheel.

It remains to connect the power supply and check how the homemade concrete mixer from the washing machine works.

Conclusion

Guided by the above recommendations, it is easy to make a concrete mixer with your own hands. Before starting self-manufacturing, it is important to decide on the design of the device. When figuring out how to make a concrete mixer with your own hands, prepare the drawings first. They will help you avoid mistakes.

It is difficult even to imagine any building without technological processes using cement mortars. And for the owners of their own country house, with their constant state of “permanent” repair and landscaping, concreting is generally a very popular operation - either garden paths need to be poured, then the foundation for the gazebo, then the blind area should be renewed, then a fence should be put up ... In a word, literally on every step requires the manufacture of concrete - the difference is only in the scale of the event.

Many individual builders prefer not to bother with self-mixing of the mortar - this can be avoided if there is a concrete goods plant nearby or another company that provides services for the manufacture of concrete and its delivery to the place of work. But, firstly, it costs a lot of money. Secondly, not everywhere such an opportunity is present. And, thirdly, it does not always make sense to use such services for reasons of a small scale construction or repair task - it will be either simply ridiculous or extremely unprofitable. It’s easier to make the right amount of solution yourself. This, of course, can be done manually, but it is better to purchase (rent) a concrete mixer or show yourself a real owner: for the future, make yourself a concrete mixer with your own hands.

The article will discuss several homemade models concrete mixers - from the simplest to those that already differ little from the samples presented in stores.

Brief excursion - what are concrete mixers

By and large, you can cook without any equipment at all. Some masters even like to work in the “old fashioned way” mixing cement nt with sand and other components (if necessary), and then gradually adding the right amount of water. For this, large containers with low sides are used, factory-made or even home-made, knocked together from boards and sheathed with thin metal.

Mixing by hand - how much time do you have?

Some people prefer to do without containers altogether, by preparing the solution simply on a prepared flat area. However, in any case, the procedure of mixing with a shovel or hoe, first dry components, and then with water, is a very laborious process that takes a lot of effort even at the preliminary stage, before concreting. And if the work is planned on a fairly large scale, then this approach will not justify itself.

Prices for concrete mixers Whirlwind

concrete mixer Whirlwind

Construction mixers or drill attachments - they will go more for dry mortars or composite polymer materials. Sand with cement for them is already a rather difficult “test”, and if there is still a need to add gravel, gravel or expanded clay of a large fraction, then the mixer or drill can be safely put aside: not only can you not achieve a high-quality, homogeneous batch, but also and there is a high risk of overheating the gearbox or the electric drive of the device.

Concrete mixers (concrete mixers) cope with this task, which differ not only in size, capacity and drive power, but also in the principle of their operation.

Forced mixing principle

Forced principle - the mixing of the components of the solution is carried out in a fixed container. It is carried out due to circular movements of the shaft with blades connected to a mechanical drive. (Working with a construction mixer or a drill with a nozzle can also be safely attributed to the forced kneading principle).

The layout of the installation may be different. So, the working drum can be a vertically located cylinder of small height, in which blades-blades rotate on a vertical axis (as in the figure above).

Another option is when the container itself is located horizontally, and the shaft with blades is also oriented in a horizontal plane. Below is a schematic diagram of such a concrete mixer - who knows, perhaps someone will use it as a prototype for self-production.

In the drawing, the numbers indicate:

1 – drum body, which solution is mixed.

2 - a frame on which all units of the unit are mounted.

3 - Electric drive. In this case, with such dimensions of the mixer, the power of the order of 5 ÷ 6 kW will be optimal.

4 – control and management elements: toggle switches, indicator lamps.

5 - Lower hatch (shutter) - for unloading the finished solution into a container substituted from below.

6 - lever to open the shutter.

7 - safety grill installed during kneading.

8 - a gearbox for transmitting rotation from an electric drive to a working shaft.

9 - Protective casing of the belt drive.

10 - safety clutch.

11 - a working shaft with blades installed on it for mixing the solution.

The unloading of the finished solution can also be organized according to a different principle - the working drum is mounted on the frame not rigidly, but pivotally. When mixing concrete, it is locked in working position. And in order to extract the finished solution, the container removed from the stopper, and with the help of a special lever it rotates in the suspension trunnions. The solution is unloaded into the substituted container through the top loading hatch.

Another scheme is somewhat simpler, with a lever for capsizing the container

Forced-action concrete mixers achieve very high levels of mortar homogeneity. They are actively used in industrial conditions, in construction, in private practice. However, they are not without significant drawbacks:

• In the working tank, it is often impossible to avoid the creation of "dead zones" - along the walls, especially in the corners. It is not easy to fit the blades with a minimum clearance to the inner walls of the cylinder, especially since under such conditions there is a constant increased wear of rubbing parts.
• Structural complexity - reliable hermetic protection of rotation units (bearing blocks) on the working shaft from the aggressive effects of cement mortar is necessary.
• It is almost impossible to prepare a solution with a filler of medium or large fraction in such a concrete mixer. But on the other hand, for plastering and finishing works, using ready-made building mixtures, this the most optimal option.

Gravity mixing

The gravitational principle of mixing - the components of the solution are mixed under the influence of their own gravity. illustrative example- place two different products in a glass jar, for example, two types of cereals, close the lid and start rotating - mixing will begin.

It is clear that such an approach in its "pure" form does not provide high-quality preparation of the solution, or it will take too much time to achieve an acceptable consistency. In industrial conditions, this method is not used, but for domestic needs, a small simple concrete mixer can be made.

The drawing shows a can - it is convenient in terms of tightly closing the lid. But, in principle, almost any container can be used, if the owner thinks well about the issue of its reliable closure while mixing the solution.

The axis of rotation can be fixed outside the container - in this case, it is not necessary to ensure the sealing of the assembly when it passes through the wall. But still, it is better to make it through - such an artificial obstacle during gravitational mixing of the solution will somewhat increase its quality.

On the Internet you can find many interesting solutions for the manufacture of such simple concrete mixers from improvised means. Very often old iron barrels are used. To make a stand - probably, not a single good home craftsman will have any special difficulties.

The most difficult thing, probably, again, is to think over the issue of a tightly fitting hatch, which, when open, will allow loading the components of the mixture and pouring water, and when closed, with stirring, will not allow the liquid solution to flow out. Approaches here can be different, but most often they use a door on welded hinges, the opening for which is sealed with rubber around the perimeter.

Some creative masters complicate the design somewhat in order to improve the quality of concrete mixing. So, for example, to increase the amplitude of differences in height, the barrel can be placed not along the “correct” axis of the cylinder, but diagonally.

Of course, it is somewhat more difficult to rotate such a concrete mixer, but on the other hand, the uniformity of mixing the solution will be achieved faster.

Combined principle

So, it was mentioned above that the gravitational principle of mixing in its “pure form” does not differ in productivity and high quality of the batch. Surely there will be objections - after all, it is believed, and many sources state that most of the usual concrete mixers with an angled rotating drum use the gravitational principle. One can agree with this, but only by making one very important remark.

In such mixing devices, the blades are necessarily rigidly fixed on the inner surface of the working drum. Their configuration and size are thought out by the designers. During rotation, these blades move relative to the solution tending downward under its own weight. Thus, in this case, it would be more appropriate to talk about the combination of two principles - both gravitational and forced. And indeed, this is how the vast majority of cooking devices are arranged.

There are several advantages right away:

• No sealing is required, neither the drum itself (it is constantly open at the top), nor the rotation unit (since no contact with the solution is expected here).
• Part wear is much less.
• Such concrete mixers are simple and reliable in operation, easy to maintain.
• There are practically no restrictions on the component composition of the solution - crushed stone, gravel, expanded clay, etc. can be used.

The manufacture of a concrete mixer of this type will be discussed in more detail.

By the way, let's return for a minute again to those simple concrete mixer-barrels, which were mentioned above. If you show a little ingenuity, then they are also very easy to upgrade, dramatically improving both their productivity and the quality of the mixed solution. To do this, it is enough to triple the blades or some other artificial obstacles on their inner surface.

One of the options is shown in the diagram. In this case, a comb was used, which is easy to weld from a corner and trim a reinforcing bar. Two such combs will immediately transfer the concrete mixer from the category of gravity to the “family” of more advanced, combined ones.

Vibratory mixing of mortar components

Not so often, but still, some enthusiasts try to apply the principle of mixing the concrete solution using vibration. In industrial conditions, such installations give excellent results, they are used for the manufacture of highly precise reinforced concrete parts with the highest performance characteristics.

And at home, the craftsmen try to use a powerful one as a drive (the main thing is that its vibrational action is independent, it does not require pressing the cartridge against an obstacle).

It turns out something like this scheme:

1 - the body of the container in which the components of the solution are mixed. Preference is given to round, not too large in radius, but high tubs (barrels).

2 - a bracket is rigidly attached to the body, in which the vibro-impulse generator is located, in our case - a perforator (pos. 3).

The power of the perforator should be at least 1.3 - 1.5 kW. Even this will not give a guarantee of success, and with less drive force, it is not worth trying.

A long rod (pos. 4) is inserted into the perforator chuck, which is connected to a vibrator (pos. 6). This rod must be of such length that the disk vibrator is approximately in the center of the prepared solution layer height (pos. 5).

It seems that everything is simple, but far from always such a scheme shows good results. Mistakes, most often, lie in the neglect of seemingly small nuances:

• A flat vibrator simply will not work. A shape is needed that will propagate vibrations in a dense medium from a central point almost spherically to the periphery. It should be something spindle-shaped, like two plates connected together with the bottoms out. In principle, this is one of the solutions - two metal plates mounted on an axis.
• The vibrator diameter depends on the drive power. In calculations, one can proceed from their approximate proportions: 150 ÷ ​​200 mm per 1 kW of puncher power. So, if we take a 1.5 kW puncher, then we prepare "plates" from 225 to 300 mm in diameter.
• The diameter of the cylinder itself should be such that from the outer edge of the vibrator, placed exactly in the center, to the container wall there is a distance approximately equal to the radius of the plate.
• To create vibration waves that can handle agitation cement-sand mixture, the level of the solution above and below the vibrator must necessarily be approximately equal to the diameter of the "plates".

Vibratory kneading of concrete mixes gives excellent quality of a solution. The process is very easily monitored visually - from active stirring, movement, bubbling - to a flat, rippling surface (ready-made solution). But, you must admit that for this you need to observe a lot of specific “whims”. And yet - "heavy" solutions with gravel or gravel in this way are also problematic to prepare. So this method does not find wide application among private traders - it is easier to make a concrete mixer according to the "classical" scheme.

Independent production of a "classic" concrete mixer

It is necessary to immediately warn "hot heads" - not everyone can take on the manufacture of such a concrete mixer. Although in many articles there is a “bravura motive” that it is both easier and cheaper than buying a ready-made one, you should not believe it.

- Firstly, you should not start such work if the owner knows about the art of welding only by hearsay or does it in this field.

- Secondly, the work will be profitable if most of the components for the manufacture of concrete mixers can be found among unnecessary things in their own household, from neighbors or even in a landfill.

- Thirdly, the existing experience in design, production of plumbing, welding, electrical work and the available inexpensive or generally free materials should be multiplied by the expressed desire to make a concrete mixer on their own. There is a fairly large category of people who are eager to try to do everything with their own hands - this is a task just for them. If you start work without fulfilling such conditions, simply cherishing the ephemeral hope of saving something, then it’s better not to start. Time and materials will be wasted, and it will be much cheaper and easier to purchase a small and inexpensive concrete mixer - fortunately, the choice is quite large.

The general scheme of concrete mixers is approximately the same

If we consider almost any of these concrete mixers, then three main structural units are always clearly distinguished:

• The container itself (badya), in which the solution is mixed, with all the additional mixing devices in it.
• Frame (frame, frame), which serves to place on it a mixing tub, an electric or manual drive, controls and, if necessary, means of movement. The frame must provide a movable hinged fastening of the container, the degree of its freedom both around its own axis and relative to the horizon with different angles of inclination. The structure itself may be stationary, or it may be wheeled for movement around the construction site.
• The drive is a mechanism that ensures the rotation of the mixer tank around its axis. In most cases, an electric drive is used. For small concrete mixers, a manual drive may be sufficient. It is possible (infrequently) to meet options for installing internal combustion engines (gasoline or diesel) - then the concrete mixer will not be dependent on the power supply. Any drive transmits torque with the number of revolutions necessary for the kneading technology through the gearbox (there are no restrictions - the craftsmen use any type of gear - gear, belt, worm, etc.).

Now consider the manufacture of all these nodes separately.

mixing tub

In the manufacture of a mixing tank, it is assumed that during operation it is usually filled to a maximum of 30 - 40% of its total volume. Usually these tubs are made with a volume of 100 to 200 liters. If these limits are exceeded, it will be difficult to independently create a reliable stable frame and supply a home-made concrete mixer with such a powerful drive. With small tank volumes, both assembly and operation of the concrete mixer often become simply unprofitable.

Prices for concrete mixers Enkor

concrete mixer Enkor

The easiest way, of course, is to find a ready-made container that is suitable in terms of volume and dimensions as the main mixer. Immediately asks for se the same metal barrel.

The easiest approach is again a metal barrel

This option is quite possible, however, for a good concrete mixer cylindrical shape tub is not optimal. A lot of unmixed solution may remain in the corners around the bottom, and splashing out of the solution from above during stirring is not ruled out.

Making a smooth transition to the walls is a very difficult task, but probably any master can give the barrel a pear-shaped shape. Triangular cutouts are made on top, and then the remaining "petals" are welded so that a uniform narrowing is obtained.

Improved barrel - made narrower in the upper part

An interesting solution was found by a craftsman who decided to adapt plastic barrel. And why not? Smooth curves of the form - what is required for the capacity of the concrete mixer. It is quite possible to attach the blades to its inner surface, and from the outside below - an axis with a rotation transmission mechanism not by welding, but by screw connections. But what a huge gain in terms of the mass of the device itself!

The original approach - a plastic barrel

As a result, the designer of this model even managed not with a steel frame, but with a mobile wooden base - a cart on wheels.

The height of a standard barrel for use as a concrete mixer tank is still too big, complicating the alignment of the entire unit. Please note that in such cases, support rollers are usually used for stabilization - a high tub, as it were, rolls along them, resting on its upper part.

If there is no suitable container, but sheet metal with a thickness of 2 ÷ 3 mm is available, then you can try your hand at making the container yourself, giving it all the necessary shapes.

In order not to be unfounded, for those owners who consider themselves a master in welding work, you can offer an interesting drawing for the manufacture of a "classic" concrete mixer with a drop-shaped bucket.

The general dimensions of the container, without the connection unit with the reducer - 400 ÷ 500 mm. It would seem - a little, compactly, but even only in the cylindrical part about 30 liters of mortar are placed - a completely acceptable indicator for a household concrete mixer.

1 - automotive wheel hub. You can make this part yourself, but it’s still easier to use the finished one.

2 - the bottom of the tub. It is cut from a steel sheet, preferably 5 mm thick. In the figure below, this position is shown separately in an enlarged view. Holes (8 PCS, with a diameter of 6.5 mm) must exactly match the holes on the hub (pos. 1 ).

3 - the cylindrical part of the tub (shell) is welded from a steel strip bent into a ring, 2 mm thick, 150 × 1580 mm in size. All welds during the assembly of the tub are made solid, sealed. It is advisable to reinforce the shell from above with a metal bandage ( ribbon).

4 - the conical part of the tub is welded from four identical parts. Their dimensions, including the radii of curvature in the upper and lower parts, are shown in the figure.

5 - along the upper edge, the edge of the tub flares outward, and on circle, a steel bar with a diameter of 10 mm is welded (well shown in the diagram - node BUT ).

6 - “blades” are welded inside the tub - solution dividers. In this case, the structure shown in the diagram, made of a reinforcing bar with a diameter of 16 mm, will be quite enough. Such dividers are made in 3 pairs and welded evenly around the circumference, through 120 °. By the way, they should give the tub additional strength. Each pair has one straight divider coming from the bottom in the neck, and one curved at a right angle.

bottom knot ( B), which includes, among other things, the already mentioned hub and bottom, is better shown in a separate, enlarged drawing.

7 - bolts connecting the hub to the bottom. The nuts are on the outside. Between the parts there is a rubber gasket at least 2 ÷ 3 mm (pos. 11).

8 – a screw with a washer that secures the hub to the gearbox output shaft (pos. 9 ). A key prevents the hub from turning on the shaft (pos. 10 ).

Lower connection block ( B) is prepared, tried on, but mounted only after the frame is assembled and the drive and gearbox are installed on it. In principle, this will be one of the final operations - on the node already mounted to the gearbox B will "sit down" on the screws concrete mixing tank.

All welds must be free of scale and carefully checked to ensure that full impermeability tubs.

Video: homemade concrete mixer with a bucketwelded from a steel sheet

concrete mixer frame

In the manufacture of frames or carts for concrete mixers, the ingenuity of craftsmen is also quite welcome, who can adapt metal parts and wheels that are unnecessary in the household for this design.

Frames can be wheeled - that is, it will not be difficult to transport them to the right place. You can also make a stationary, fixed frame - it is easier to manufacture, and in a suburban area, usually any large movements of the concrete mixer are not planned.

The frames may also differ in the degree of freedom provided by the mixing tub. So, the container can be installed pivotally, with a change in the angle of inclination of its axis to the horizon as necessary - for solutions of varying degrees of "severity", for pouring out ready-made concrete, for washing the container, etc.

A simpler option is when the bucket on the frame always occupies one position, and the entire concrete mixer leans forward to unload the solution - like a wheelbarrow (as shown in one of the figures above) or children's rocking chairs on arched skids.

Video: homemade concrete mixer with a swing frame

However, we will continue to consider the drawing of a concrete mixer, the manufacture of the mixing tub of which was described above. It is possible to go this route as well. Drawing, for ease of perception and for greater clarity in the dimensions and layout of parts, is presented in two projections.

Concrete mixer - front view

To assemble such a frame from ordinary and shaped pipes and sheet metal scraps - for an experienced locksmith - welder will not be something extremely difficult at all. Meanwhile, this design is well tested - it is not heavy, but it ensures reliable stability of the concrete mixer in the transport and working position, ensures maximum ease of operation.

She is a side view.

1 - this is the same tub that was described in the last section of the article.

2 - handle-lever for installing the tub in desired position and for its capsizing during unloading. You can use ½ inch (½ʺ) steel pipe for the lever.

3 – a gusset cut out of 3 mm steel (s 3) ensures that the lever is securely fastened to the swivel subframe (pos. 18 ).

4 – metal wheels Ø 350 mm. Usually they are taken from decommissioned agricultural machinery.

5 – persistent legs with thrust bearings, for stable installation of the concrete mixer in the working position. They are made of ½ʺ pipe (pillars themselves) and s3 steel (thrust bearings).

6 - the cross beam of the frame of the concrete mixer. A profile pipe with a cross section of 60 × 20 mm is used.

8 - an inclined beam (pipe 60 × 20 mm), and for its rigidity - a brace (pos. 7 ) connected to the cross beam. For strut - pipe ½ ʺ.

9 – a panel to which the electric drive control elements will be attached. The panel is cut from s3 steel.

11 - wheel axle. It is made from a metal circle Ø16 mm - according to the size of the mounting hole available wheels.

12 - longitudinal beam of the bed of the concrete mixer. Profile pipe 60 × 20 mm.

13 - vertical stand. Profile pipe 60 × 20 mm.

14 – an eye of hinged fastening of a rotary subframe. Two parts are made, from s5 steel.

15 - transmission gearbox. In this version - a ready-made assembly, worm type, with a gear ratio i = 17.

16 – safety clutch on the drive shaft.

17 – . Specifically, in this concrete mixer model, the developer used a three-phase drive (380 V), with a rated power of 1 kW, and a rotation speed of 950 rpm.

18 - a swinging subframe, on which both the electric drive with the gearbox and the mixing tub itself are mounted. It is made from the following parts: two spars from a ¾ʺ pipe, four crossbars from a corner 35 × 35 mm.

19 , 20 and 21 – electric drive controls: start button, capacitor box and power cord with a three-phase socket, respectively.

Now - a slightly larger node BUT, which ensures the installation and fixation of the mixing tub in the desired position.

On the stretcher (pos. 18 ) welded eyelet (pos. 22 ), and on an inclined rack (pos. 8 ) – sector (pos. 10 ). Both the eyelet and the sector can be made of s3 steel. The selected position is fixed with a pin (pos. 23 ), and so that it does not get lost, it is recommended to hang it on a chain.

The number of fixed positions in the sector may be different. However, it is usually sufficient t rex:

- at an angle of 50 ° to the horizon - for mixing heavy concrete mortars;

- at an angle of 30 ° - for the preparation of light mortars (for example, masonry);

- horizontally - for washing the tub.

After the frame is assembled, all welds are beaten off from slag, the parts must be cleaned of corrosion pockets. Then it is recommended to cover the structure with high-quality paint for metal. The rubbing components of the frame (subframe suspension in the frame lugs, wheel axles) are generously lubricated with ordinary hinged grease.

In the considered version, the drive and the gearbox unit are attached to the subframe (so that exact alignment is observed). After checking the performance (trial run), you can finally assemble the concrete mixer by putting it in place and fixing the mixing tub with bolts.

A few words about the drive

In the example under consideration, the electric motor and gearbox already recommended by the model developer were used. However, in the practice of self-manufacturing concrete mixers very widespread there is a situation when the master “on the go” selects a drive from what is available and comes up with a way to transfer torque to the mixing tank.

It is customary to calculate the required power of the electric drive, based on the ratio of 20 W per liter of solution for a scheme with an inclined bucket. (In a horizontal arrangement, for example, in models with a barrel on a horizontal axis, 15 W / l will be sufficient). You should not forget about this ratio so as not to overload the drive. For example, if the engine in our case has a power of 1 kW, then more than 50 liters of solution should not be mixed, regardless of the size of the tub itself.

Thus, often they begin to manufacture the tub itself, starting from the parameters of the drive, which is planned to be put on a concrete mixer.

The rotation speed of the mixer tub must also be within certain framework . So, it is considered optimal from 30 to 50 rpm. To make the speed less - to deliberately delay the process of making the solution. And if the speed is too high, then spraying of the solution will begin.

Finding a ready-made gearbox that would meet the requirements both in terms of dimensions and gear ratio is not always possible. Therefore, many masters find their own, sometimes very original ways transmission of torque with the provision of the desired angular velocity. In the variant that was considered, the mixer is planted directly on the driven axle of the gearbox. However, often the bucket is mounted on a free axle, and the torque laneeaten on it with a gear, belt, chain drive. For example, here are some original solutions:

Instead of pulleys - bicycle wheels

Homemade gearbox - drive from an old washing machine transmits the rotation of belt drives through the pulleys of their gears and old bicycle wheels.

The simplest frame with a homemade gearbox

Fixed frame for a concrete mixer with a homemade gearbox.

Homemade gearbox, which combines a belt and two chain drives. Again, not without bicycle parts.

A small-sized concrete mixer, the rotation of which is transmitted to the bucket directly through a belt drive. The pulley is structurally placed on the mixing tank itself.

Very often, car parts that are unnecessary in the garage are used. A popular solution is to use a flywheel with a ring gear. By the way, it is very easy to find a drive gear in a pair for it - from the bendix of a car starter, since they are " made for each other».

The flywheel can be fully assembled welded to the bottom of the tub.

Another option is when only the ring gear is used. Probably, it is not necessary to say that in this case, its very careful centering will be an extremely important point.

In a word, a thrifty owner can very often find parts for his own original solution to the issue of manufacturing the desired gearbox. Perhaps the options shown will be a good hint for someone.

Video: another version of the design of the concrete mixer

Prices for concrete mixers Stroymash

concrete mixer Stroymash

If everything worked out, then the owner can be congratulated on the successful acquisition of a good “assistant”. But in order for the concrete mixer to last longer and not cause any emergencies, you need to follow certain rules:

• Like any equipment associated with the consumption of electricity, a concrete mixer requires compliance with electrical safety rules. And in this case, this issue is even more acute, since operation is always carried out in conditions high humidity and high risk of splashing water. That is, all cables and contact connections must have the most reliable insulation, which completely excludes electric shock or short circuit.
• The operation of a concrete mixer is always associated with high levels of vibration. This leads to loosening of threaded connections, which means that they need to be checked and tightened regularly. At the same time, one should not forget to control the safety of other components and parts, welds etc .
• Before starting work, you need to make sure that the installation of the concrete mixer is reliable. It should rest firmly on all of its standard stands. If the structure is mobile, then wheel chocks (wedges) are placed under the wheels.
• Never, under no circumstances not Do not leave a working concrete mixer unattended. Curious people should not be allowed near it, and even more so - children.
• When working, it is better to use protective equipment for the skin and eyes - since the cement acts quite aggressively on tissues and mucous membranes.
• Checking the quality of the resulting solution with a shovel or stick while the concrete mixer is running is the height of imprudence! Very often, such actions end in a serious injury to the hands or face.

And in conclusion of the article - proof that there are no limits to creativity when creating home-made equipment.

Video: homemade concrete mixer based on an old T-16 tractor