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Precious metals play an extremely important role in modern industry, jewelry, financial investment, and other fields. As a key equipment for processing precious metal raw materials into standard particles, the selection of precious metal vacuum granulator directly affects production efficiency, product quality, and the economic benefits of enterprises. This article will explore in detail how to choose a suitable vacuum granulator for precious metals, providing comprehensive reference for relevant practitioners.

1、 Clarify production requirements

(1) Capacity requirements

Enterprises need to determine the required production capacity of granulators based on their own market order volume and production scale. For example, a large jewelry processing enterprise with a daily order volume of thousands of precious metal jewelry requires a granulator with high production capacity, such as equipment with an hourly output of tens of kilograms or even higher, to meet the demand for continuous production. Small workshops or laboratories may have a production capacity of several kilograms per hour, which is sufficient.

(2) Particle size

Different application fields have different requirements for the specifications of precious metal particles. In the electronics industry, precious metal particles used for chip manufacturing may need to be precise to micrometer sized and standardized; In the production of investment gold bars, the particle size is relatively large and allows for a certain size tolerance, such as the particle size corresponding to standard weights such as 1 gram, 5 grams, and 10 grams.

2、 Consideration of core technical parameters

(1) Vacuum degree

A higher vacuum degree can effectively reduce the oxidation and gas inclusions of precious metals during the granulation process. Generally speaking, for the production of high-quality precious metal particles, the vacuum degree should reach 10 ⁻³ to 10 ⁻⁵ pascals. For example, in the production of highly pure precious metal particles such as platinum and palladium, low vacuum may lead to the formation of oxide films on the surface of the particles, affecting their purity and subsequent processing performance.

(2) Temperature control accuracy

Accurate temperature control is crucial for ensuring the quality of particle molding. During gold granulation, the temperature deviation should be controlled within ± 5 ℃. If the temperature is too high, it may cause the metal droplets to become too thin and form irregularly; If the temperature is too low, it may cause poor fluidity of the metal liquid and hinder the smooth formation of particles.

(3) Pressure control system

Stable pressure control can ensure uniform extrusion and shaping of metal droplets. For example, by using high-precision pressure sensors and intelligent pressure regulating devices, pressure fluctuations can be controlled within a very small range, ensuring consistency in the quality and shape of each particle.

3、 Equipment material and structural design

（1）Contact component material

Due to the high value and unique chemical properties of precious metals, the components of the granulator in contact with precious metals should be made of high-purity and corrosion-resistant materials. High purity graphite or ceramic materials can be used as crucibles to avoid metal contamination; The nozzle can be made of special alloy material to ensure high temperature resistance, wear resistance, and no chemical reaction with precious metals.

（2）Structural rationality

The structure of the equipment should be easy to operate, maintain, and clean. For example, adopting a detachable nozzle design makes it easy to replace when producing particles of different specifications; The overall structure should be compact, reducing the footprint, but at the same time ensuring that each component has sufficient space for heat dissipation and mechanical movement, such as the layout of motors, transmission devices, etc. should be reasonable.

4、 Automation and Control Systems

(1) Degree of automation

A highly automated granulator can reduce manual intervention, improve production efficiency and product quality stability. For example, equipment with automatic feeding, automatic temperature and pressure regulation, automatic particle screening and collection functions can reduce quality problems caused by human operational errors while reducing labor costs. Advanced granulators can achieve 24-hour continuous unmanned production through preset programs.

(2) Control system functions

The control system should have an intuitive interface for operators to set parameters and monitor. At the same time, it has fault diagnosis and alarm functions. When the equipment encounters problems such as abnormal temperature, pressure loss, mechanical failure, etc., it can promptly issue an alarm and display the location and cause of the fault, making it convenient for maintenance personnel to quickly locate and solve the problem. For example, by using a PLC control system, precise control and real-time monitoring of various operating stages of the granulator can be achieved.

5、 Maintenance and after-sales service

(1) Maintainability

The ease of maintenance of equipment is reflected in the universality of components and the convenience of maintenance. For example, by using standardized components, equipment can be quickly replaced in the event of a malfunction; The structural design of the equipment should facilitate internal maintenance by maintenance personnel, such as reserving sufficient inspection ports and adopting modular design concepts.

(2) After sales service quality

Choosing a manufacturer with a good reputation for after-sales service is crucial. Manufacturers should be able to provide timely technical support, such as responding and providing solutions within 24 hours in case of equipment failure; Regular equipment maintenance services, such as comprehensive inspections and debugging of equipment every quarter or every six months; And provide sufficient spare parts to ensure that equipment can be replaced in a timely manner during long-term operation due to wear and tear of components, without affecting production progress.

6、 Cost benefit analysis

（1）Equipment procurement cost

There are significant price differences among precious metal vacuum granulators of different brands, models, and configurations. Generally speaking, equipment with advanced functions, high production capacity, and excellent materials is relatively expensive. Enterprises need to make choices based on their own budget, but cannot solely rely on price as the sole criterion. They should consider the performance and quality of equipment comprehensively. For example, an imported high-end precious metal vacuum granulator may cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of yuan, while domestically produced mid to low end equipment may range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan.

（2）running cost

Operating costs include energy consumption, equipment depreciation, maintenance expenses, etc. For example, high energy consuming granulators will increase a company’s electricity expenses during long-term operation; The depreciation cost of equipment is related to the initial purchase price and service life of the equipment; Regular maintenance and replacement of parts also constitute a part of operating costs. Enterprises need to comprehensively evaluate the total cost of equipment over its service life and choose products with high cost-effectiveness.

conclusion

Choosing a suitable precious metal vacuum granulator requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors such as production requirements, technical parameters, equipment materials and structures, automation level, maintenance and after-sales service, and cost-effectiveness. In the selection process, enterprises need to have a deep understanding of their own production status and needs, conduct detailed research, comparison, and evaluation of equipment from different manufacturers and models, and even conduct on-site inspections and trial production, in order to select the precious metal vacuum granulator that best meets their production requirements, has the highest cost-effectiveness, and guaranteed after-sales service, laying a solid foundation for efficient and stable production of the enterprise.