Many dairy producers ask why we use Hammer Mills for Roasting Soybeans instead of roller mills. At A.N. Martin Systems, we’ve found that a properly configured hammer mill provides a reliable, versatile, and cost-effective solution while still producing an excellent feed product.
The key to making hammer mills work for roasted soybeans is slowing them down. Our SoyRoaster system uses an 18″ hammer mill, which has a smaller diameter than many traditional hammer mills. We also equip the hammer mill with a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), allowing us to reduce the operating RPM. By lowering both the RPM and the hammer tip speed, we significantly reduce the amount of dust and fines created during grinding. The result is a more consistent particle size and a roasted soybean product that handles well in dairy rations.
Another advantage of a hammer mill is flexibility. Feed rations often change over time, and a nutritionist may recommend a finer or coarser grind size. With a hammer mill, adjusting the particle size is as simple as changing the screen or adjusting the operating speed. With a roller mill, achieving a significantly different particle size may require a different set of rolls, adding expense and downtime.
Roller mills can also be more costly to maintain. Over time, the rolls wear and must be refinished or replaced. If a stone or other foreign material from dirty soybeans enters the mill, the rolls can be damaged and require repair. Hammer mills are generally more forgiving and less expensive to service.
That said, there is definitely a place for roller mills. If your application requires an extremely consistent particle size every time, a roller mill may be the better choice. Roller mills provide a very tight particle-size range, allowing operators to dial in a precise grind with minimal variation. For farms or feed operations where exact particle uniformity is critical, a roller mill can be an excellent solution.
At A.N. Martin Systems, we understand that every farm has different goals and feeding programs. While our standard SoyRoaster system utilizes a VFD-controlled hammer mill, we can also install a roller mill in place of the hammer mill if it better fits your operation and nutritional requirements. Our goal is to provide the equipment that works best for your farm, whether that means a hammer mill, roller mill, or whole bean grinding feed solution.
