What Is a Crusher and Which Type Should You Choose?
A crusher reduces rock, ore and recycled material to the required size by compression, impact or shear. In a plant, a primary crusher usually reduces large blocks, while secondary and tertiary crushers bring the product down to chippings and sand size.
The right crusher depends on rock hardness and abrasiveness, feed size, the required product and capacity. For an introduction to crusher types see our what is a crusher guide.
Applications
- Jaw crushers: Primary crushing of hard, abrasive rock
- Cone crushers: Secondary and tertiary crushing of hard rock, cubical chippings
- Impact crushers: High reduction ratio in limestone and medium-hard material
- Tertiary impact crushers: Fine chippings and sand production
- Vertical shaft impact crushers (VSI): Manufactured sand and shaping
- Hammer, glass and coal crushers: Fine crushing of soft and friable materials
Selection Checklist
- Hardness and abrasiveness of the rock (silica content)
- Maximum feed size and required product fractions
- Hourly capacity and number of crushing stages
- Spare part and wear costs
Frequently Asked Questions
Which crusher suits hard rock?
For hard, abrasive rock such as basalt and granite, a jaw crusher is economical for primary and a cone crusher for secondary and tertiary crushing; impact crushers wear quickly in this material.
Which crusher should be chosen for limestone?
In medium-hard, low-abrasion material such as limestone, impact crushers offer a high reduction ratio and cubical product.
Detailed guides: what is a crusher, crusher prices, crusher spare parts, crushing plant setup.