Planetary ball mill for high throughput grinding

For precise material engineering, achieve efficient size reduction, homogenization, and nano-scale grinding with our advanced planetary ball mill, perfect for reducing high-density materials in research and development.

Grinds, Mixes, and Homogenizes Various Materials

The Planetary Ball Mill PM 400 from Retsch is a robust solution for precision grinding and mixing of small to large sample volumes. This floor model accommodates up to 8 samples simultaneously, ideal for research and development in industries such as materials science and pharmaceuticals. Its high-speed centrifugal mechanism efficiently reduces particles to achieve nanometer-scale fineness, crucial for applications like mechanical alloying and mechanosynthesis.

Equipped with four grinding stations, the PM 400 allows for batch-wise processing with digital controls that ensure reproducibility and safety. The integration of GrindControl offers precise temperature and pressure measurement within the jar, adapting to specific material requirements. Its adjustable speed ranges from 30 to 400 rpm, facilitating optimal particle size reduction while minimizing energy consumption.

Constructed with durability in mind, the mill comes with multiple material options for grinding tools, including stainless steel and tungsten carbide, suited for demanding environments. The Safety Slider feature prevents operation unless jars are securely clamped, ensuring both safety and ease of use. Maintenance is streamlined with easily interchangeable grinding jars and CIP compatibility, enhancing operational efficiency.

Benefits

  • Enhances research capabilities with precision particle size reduction down to the nanometer scale.
  • Increases sample processing efficiency, handling up to 8 samples simultaneously.
  • Reduces process variability with programmable settings and real-time monitoring.
  • Ensures operational safety through secure jar clamping and imbalance detection.
  • Minimizes maintenance efforts with easy jar exchange and cleaning.

General


Applications
Waste samples,Sewage sludge,Minerals,Pigments,Seeds,Catalysts,Semi-precious stones,Slag,Polymers,Coke,Soils,Glass,Coal,Kaolin,Hydroxyapatite,Clay minerals,Ceramics,Limestone,Paints and lacquers,Bentonite,Electronic scrap,Wood,Fibres,Charcoal,Ores,Cellulose,Iron ore,Quartz,Gypsum,Alloys,Metal oxides,Concrete
End products
Coke breeze,Fiber-reinforced composites,Polyethylene plastic,Drilling muds,Paper,Drywall,Bone graft materials,Refined ores,Automotive paints,Metal oxide semiconductors,Plant seed coatings,Ceramic tiles,Steel production,Portland cement,Safety glass,Composted sewage sludge for fertilizer,Gemstone jewelry,Mineral concentrates,Precast concrete slabs,Precious metal recovery from e-waste,Superalloys,Activated carbon filters,Recycled wood fiberboard,Automotive catalytic converters,Natural quartz countertops,Sanitary ware,Soil amendment products,Artist pigments,Porcelain,Cement additives
Steps before
Sample preparation,Drying,Crushing,Sieving
Steps after
Fineness analysis,Sample collection,Storage,Quality control
Input ingredients
alloys,bentonite,bones,carbon fibres,catalysts,cellulose,cement clinker,ceramics,charcoal,chemical products,clay minerals,coal,coke,compost,concrete,electronic scrap,fibres,glass,gypsum,hair,hydroxyapatite,iron ore,kaolin,limestone,metal oxides,minerals,ores,paints and lacquers,paper,pigments,plant materials,polymers,quartz,seeds,semi-precious stones,sewage sludge,slag,soils,tissue,tobacco,waste samples,wood
Output ingredients
pulverized materials,homogenized mixtures,nano-sized particles,colloidal suspensions
Market info
RETSCH is known for its high-quality laboratory equipment for sample preparation and particle size analysis, including mills, crushers, and sieve shakers, praised for their precision, durability, and reliability in research and industrial applications.

Technical Specifications


Speed
30 - 400 rpm
Capacity
4 x 220 ml,8 x 20 ml
Feed size
Up to 10 mm
Final fineness
< 1 µm,for colloidal grinding < 0.1 µm
Sun wheel speed
30 - 400 min-1
No. of grinding stations
4 / 2
Speed ratio
1
Material of grinding tools
Hardened steel,stainless steel,tungsten carbide,agate,sintered aluminum oxide,zirconium oxide
Grinding jar sizes
12 ml / 25 ml / 50 ml / 80 ml / 125 ml / 250 ml / 500 ml
Drive power
1.5 kW
Power consumption
~ 2100 W (VA)
Protection code
IP 30
Net weight
~ 290 kg
Dimensions (W x H x D)
836 x 1220 (1900) x 780 mm
Batch size
max. 4 x 220 ml,max. 8 x 20ml with stacked grinding jars
Interval operation
Yes,with direction reversal
Drive
3-phase asynchronous motor with frequency converter
Effective sun wheel diameter
300 mm

Operating Characteristics


Batch vs. continuous operation
Batch
Automation level
Digital,with programmable SOPs
Cleaning method
Manual
Control panel type
Display with ergonomic 1-button operation
Coolant integration
N/A
Energy efficiency
Variable speed operation with programmable settings
Temperature control
GrindControl system
Imbalance sensor
Innovative counterweight and imbalance sensor for unsupervised operation
SOP storage
10 SOPs can be stored
Automatic ventilation
Automatic grinding chamber ventilation

Material Compatibility


Abrasion resistance
Suitable for hard,brittle materials
Biological compatibility
0
Cleanability
Easy to clean
Corrosive resistance (e.g. acids)
Compatible with diverse materials like alloys,ceramics
Density/particle size
0.5–2.5 g/cm³ / 50–1000 µm


Standards
CE

Physical Characteristics


Machine footprint
836 x 1220 (1900) x 780 mm
Number of grinding stations
4 / 2
Grinding jar sizes
12 ml / 25 ml / 50 ml / 80 ml / 125 ml / 250 ml / 500 ml
Stackable grinding jars
12 ml / 25 ml / 50 ml / 80 ml
Sun wheel speed
30 - 400 min-1
Effective sun wheel diameter
300 mm
Protective jacket materials
Stainless steel,aluminum oxide,zirconium oxide,tungsten carbide

Custom Options


Control panel type
Ergonomic 1-button operation
Jar material options
5 different materials for contamination-free grinding
Grinding jar volume
12 ml to 500 ml
Grinding jar filling level
60% ideal filling for wet grinding
Storage options
Power failure backup for processing time