Nicholas's Blog

Cement mixers are essential for construction work, where use is to be made of large volumes of concrete. The main task of these mixers is to make a homogeneous mixture from gravel, sand, water and of course cement so that it forms durable and strong concrete. Concrete is a material that is in a liquid state when first manufactured, but rapidly sets to conform to the shape of the shuttering or mold into which it is to be poured.

Because of this short time, when it remains pliable and workable, it is needed that mixing takes place close to the location of the final concrete structure. This is where a drum concrete mixer can be very useful. Most cement mixers have identical configurations, of which the revolving drum is a basic component. This drum is where the mixing takes place. In earlier times, concrete used to be mixed by hand, and the mixer is an invention said to have been created by an industrialist from Colombia, Gerphardt Jaeger.

Concrete mixers are of three broad types, and are twin shaft concrete mixer, vertical axis mixers, also called pan mixers or drum mixers which have drums that can tilt and reverse in direction. In these drum mixers there are internal blades, which lift the ingredients and let them fall by gravity, as the drum rotates. A tilting mechanism then allows the drum to be tilted, so that the mixed ingredients can be discharged. A concrete drum mixer can also have a mechanism that reverses the direction of the drum movement and a second set of blades that facilitate the discharge of the concrete after it has been mixed. These reversing types of drum mixers can handle dry concrete mixes and prevent any buildup of the concrete within the drum.

You can also have drum mixers that are mounted on trucks and allow concrete to be taken to long distances from central mix plant. In the manufacture of concrete the right proportions of its various constituents, water, sand, gravel and cement is very important. The batching plants ensure that this is done accurately and the dry materials fed into truck mounted mixers. The mixture is agitated at a very slow rate, while it is transported to the site where it is to be discharged. Water is then added and further mixed till concrete of the right consistency is formed. The concrete is then discharged into whatever system is in place to convey it to the spot where it is required.

The use of drum mixers for concrete productions has to be undertaken depending on the volume of concrete that has to be used. It is also very important to see that the drums are always cleaned and all traces of cement and other materials removed, before work is completed for the present batch of concrete. It is important to keep this aspect in mind while selecting the right drum mixer for any job to be undertaken. Most mixers have their own built in power sources which can be diesel engines or electric motors.