鉱山設備ガイド：What Equipment Should You Use for Ore Washing, Desliming and Medium-Fine Material Screening? A Complete Guide to Shaftless Trommels

The shaftless drum screen is a screening device widely used in gravity concentration plants for washing and dewatering ore, as well as for classifying medium and fine-grained materials. Its core structural feature is that there is no central shaft inside the drum. Materials inside the drum are lifted, thrown, and moved forward as the drum rotates, thereby achieving grading by particle size, usually resulting in two or more products. This equipment is commonly used in gravity concentration plants for washing and dewatering ore or for classifying medium and fine-grained materials, yielding two or more products. Why choose a shaftless drum screen? First, with no central shaft, materials inside the drum are less likely to get entangled or blocked, making it especially suitable for processing materials with high mud content and easy-to-stick characteristics. Second, it has excellent ore washing and dewatering performance. Through drum rotation and water spraying, it effectively removes mud and impurities from the surface of the ore. Third, it can produce two or more products. By setting different screen mesh sections, multi-stage screening can be achieved, yielding coarse, medium, and fine products. Fourth, its structure is simple and operation is stable, with a tilt angle of only 2-2.5° and a rotation speed of 11.5-22 r/min, resulting in low operational energy consumption. Fifth, it has high processing capacity. Depending on the model, production capacity can reach 20-380 t/h, meeting the production needs of mineral processing plants of different scales. The shaftless drum screen is mainly used for ore washing and dewatering in gravity concentration plants, classification screening of medium and fine-grained materials, ore grading in mining operations, aggregate screening in sand and gravel plants, and industrial scenarios requiring multi-stage separation of materials by particle size. The target users for shaftless drum screens include mineral processing plants, mining companies, sand and gravel plants and aggregate producers, gravity concentration plants, chemical and building materials equipment procurement departments, mineral processing equipment EPC contractors, equipment distributors and inventory suppliers, and overseas mining project buyers. When should a shaftless drum screen be chosen or replaced? - When a gravity concentration plant needs to wash and dewater ore; - When multi-stage classification of medium and fine-grained materials is required to obtain two or more products; - When materials contain high amounts of mud and are prone to sticking, and traditional vibrating screens are easily blocked; - When old screening equipment has poor washing and dewatering performance, serious screen blockage, or high failure rates; - When a new mineral processing plant or sand and gravel production line requires an efficient drum screen; - When an export project requires adaptation to overseas voltage and high-efficiency screening conditions, a shaftless drum screen should be prioritized. How to choose a shaftless drum screen? Step 1: Confirm the material properties, determine suitability based on material particle size, clay content, and viscosity. Step 2: Confirm cylinder diameter and length, choose a diameter of 1000-1800mm and length of 3000-6500mm based on processing capacity and screening requirements. Step 3: Confirm rotation speed and inclination angle, select a speed of 11.5-22 r/min and an inclination of 2-2.5° according to material characteristics. Step 4: Confirm motor power, choose 1.5-11 kW based on processing capacity and cylinder specifications. Step 5: Confirm production capacity, select the corresponding model within the range of 20-380 t/h according to production line output requirements. Step 6: Confirm screen configuration, choose screen segments with different aperture sizes according to finished product particle size requirements. Step 7: Confirm installation foundation, needs to be installed on a solid concrete foundation and fixed with anchor bolts. Step 8: Confirm environmental protection and automation configuration, can be equipped with dust removal system, water spray system, and central control system.

Specifications and performance parameters of shaftless trommel screen

Model	Cylinder diameter (mm)	Cylinder length (mm)	Rotation speed (r/min)	Inclination (°)	Power (kW)	Production capacity (t/h)	Overall dimensions (L×W×H mm)	Weight (t)
GS1.0×3.0	1000	3000	22	2-2.5	1.5	20-60	3500×1400×2200	1.5
GS1.2×4.5	1200	4500	17	2-2.5	2.5	30-80	5700×1600×2400	2.5
GS1.5×5.0	1500	5000	14	2-2.5	7.5	80-160	6800×1900×2810	3.8
GS1.6×6.0	1600	6000	12	2-2.5	11	110-280	7300×2000×3000	4.7
GS1.8×6.5	1800	6500	11.5	2-2.5	11	220-380	9000×2200×3200	6.0

General technical parameters table

Parameter	Specification
Type	Shaftless trommel screen
Cylinder diameter	1000–1800 mm
Cylinder length	3000–6500 mm
Rotation speed	11.5–22 r/min
Inclination	2–2.5 °
Motor power	1.5–11 kW
Production capacity	20–380 t/h
Weight	1.5–6.0 t
Core advantages	No central shaft, not easy to entangle or block, good washing and de-sliming effect, can obtain two or more products, simple structure, smooth operation, large processing capacity
Application scenarios	Re-election plant washing and de-sliming, medium and fine particle material classification, mining ore grading, aggregate screening in sand and gravel plants

Dimension diagram and key dimensions

`[Image: /images/shaftless-trommel-dimension-drawing.webp]`

Material Table

Component	Standard Material	Optional Material	Description
Drum/Screen	High Manganese Steel, Carbon Steel	Stainless Steel, Wear-Resistant Steel Plate, Polyurethane	Core screening component, requires wear and corrosion resistance
Frame	High-Strength Carbon Steel	Stainless Steel	Bears the equipment’s own weight and operational load
Drive Shaft/Support Wheel	40Cr/45# Steel	Alloy Steel	Quenched and tempered, smooth transmission
Bearing	Self-Aligning Roller Bearing	Double-Row Cylindrical Roller Bearing	Withstands heavy load and impact
Motor	Full Copper Coil Motor	Explosion-Proof Motor	Standard Three-Phase Asynchronous Motor
Control Box	Carbon Steel/Stainless Steel	Rainproof and Dustproof Type	Optional Variable Frequency Speed Regulation

Installation Method

The shaftless drum screen must be installed on a solid concrete foundation, which should bear the equipment's own weight and the dynamic load during operation; during installation, ensure that the foundation level meets requirements, and tighten anchor bolts to the specified torque; after the equipment is in place, adjust the level to ensure the drum inclination is within 2-2.5°, the support wheels make even contact with the drum, and the drive unit is coaxial with the drum; the screen mesh should be installed according to design requirements, ensuring proper tension, and all mesh sections are well-sealed; the feed inlet and discharge outlet should be well connected and sealed with upstream and downstream equipment to prevent material leakage; after installation, conduct a no-load trial run to check that the drum rotation is smooth, and there are no abnormal vibrations or noises; the load trial run should gradually increase the feed amount while observing screening performance and motor current, ensuring it does not exceed the rated current; mining washing and desliming operations should be equipped with a water spray system to ensure washing effectiveness; a dust removal system should be provided to reduce dust pollution; a central control system may be installed for online monitoring and automatic control.

Application Scenario Table

Industry	Application	Recommended Configuration	Key Requirements
Re-selection Plant	Mining Washing and Desliming	GS1.0×3.0–GS1.8×6.5	Good washing and desliming effect, not easily clogged
Concentration Plant	Medium and fine particle classification	GS1.2×4.5–GS1.6×6.0	High screening efficiency, can obtain more than two products
Mining Industry	Ore grading	GS1.5×5.0–GS1.8×6.5	Large capacity, wear-resistant, stable operation
Sand and Gravel Plant	Aggregate screening	GS1.0×3.0–GS1.5×5.0	High screening efficiency, large capacity
Chemical and Building Materials	Material screening and classification	GS1.2×4.5–GS1.6×6.0	Pollution prevention, corrosion resistance, good sealing

Note

Shaftless trommel screens are commonly used in heavy separation plants for washing and dehuring or for classifying medium and fine materials, producing two or more types of products. Cylinder diameter 1000-1800mm, cylinder length 3000-6500mm, rotation speed 11.5-22 r/min, tilt angle 2-2.5°, power 1.5-11 kW, production capacity 20-380 t/h. Explosion-proof motors are required for explosive environments. For highly abrasive materials, it is recommended to use high-manganese steel, wear-resistant steel plates, or polyurethane screens.

## Technical FAQ

1. What is a shaftless drum screen?

The shaftless drum screen is a widely used screening device for washing and deslurring in heavy concentrator plants and for sorting medium and fine materials. Its core structural feature is that there is no central shaft inside the drum, and the material inside the drum is lifted, thrown, and moved forward as the drum rotates, thereby achieving grading by particle size.

2. What is the working principle of the shaftless drum screen?

Material enters the drum through the feed inlet. As the cylinder rotates, the material is lifted, thrown down, and moved forward inside the drum. Particles smaller than the screen holes pass through the screen mesh as under-screen, while those larger than the screen holes are discharged from the end of the drum, thus achieving screening and classification of the material.

3. What are the models of shaftless trommel screens?

Shaftless trommel screen models include GS1.0×3.0, GS1.2×4.5, GS1.5×5.0, GS1.6×6.0, GS1.8×6.5.

4. What are the diameter and length of the shaftless drum screen?

Cylinder diameter 1000-1800mm, cylinder length 3000-6500mm, varying by model.

5. What is the rotational speed and tilt angle of the shaftless drum screen?

Rotation speed 11.5-22 r/min, tilt angle 2-2.5°, varies by model.

6. What is the motor power and processing capacity of a shaftless trommel screen?

Motor power ranges from 1.5 to 11 kW, production capacity ranges from 20 to 380 t/h, varying by model.

7. What are the consumable parts of shaftless drum screens?

Screen mesh, support wheels, drive shafts, bearings, etc. Among these, the screen mesh is the core wear component; it is recommended to choose high-manganese steel, wear-resistant steel plate, or polyurethane material.

8. What are the common faults of shaftless trommel screens?

Screen mesh damage (due to highly abrasive materials or insufficient tension), drum misalignment (improper adjustment of support wheels or foundation sinking), abnormal vibration (drum imbalance or loose anchor bolts), decreased screening efficiency (clogged screen holes or uneven feeding), overheating of the transmission device (poor lubrication or overload).

9. Does a shaftless trommel screen need a foundation?

Yes. It needs to be installed on a solid concrete foundation, which must support the weight of the equipment and dynamic loads during operation, and be fixed with anchor bolts.

10. What materials are suitable for a shaftless trommel screen?

Suitable for materials with high clay content and prone to adhesion, such as ore, sand and gravel, coal, etc.; especially suitable for desliming operations in gravity separation plants.

11. Can a shaftless trommel screen be customized?

Yes, the drum diameter, drum length, rotational speed, inclination angle, motor power, screen mesh material (high manganese steel/wear-resistant steel plate/polyurethane/stainless steel), motor configuration (explosion-proof motor), water spray system, dust removal system, central control system, and more can be customized.

12. What is the difference between a shaftless trommel screen and a screened trommel with a shaft?

The shaftless trommel screen has no central shaft inside, making it less likely for materials to get tangled or blocked inside the drum, suitable for handling materials with high clay content and prone to adhesion; the screened trommel with a shaft has a central shaft inside, has a relatively complex structure but higher transmission efficiency, suitable for processing materials that are less prone to adhesion.

13. What is the difference between a shaftless trommel screen and a vibrating screen?

The shaftless trommel screen achieves screening through drum rotation, has a small inclination (2-2.5°), operates smoothly, and is suitable for desliming ore and classifying fine and medium-sized materials; a vibrating screen achieves screening through vibrations generated by exciters, has high screening efficiency but is prone to clogging, and is suitable for grading and screening medium to coarse materials.

14. How does a shaftless trommel screen wash ore and remove slime?

By installing a water spray device inside the drum, materials are washed by the combined action of drum rotation and water spraying, allowing mud and impurities to be flushed out through the screen holes, achieving ore washing and slime removal.

15. How does a shaftless trommel screen produce two or more products?

By setting screen segments with different aperture sizes on the drum, the material passes through screens of different apertures sequentially as it moves forward inside the drum, thereby achieving multi-stage screening and obtaining various products such as coarse, medium, and fine.

16. How to maintain and care for a shaftless drum screen?

Regularly check the wear of the screen and replace it in time; regularly check the lubrication of the support wheels and bearings, and add or replace grease; regularly check the drum tilt angle and the contact of the support wheels; regularly check whether the foundation bolts and connection bolts are loose; regularly clean accumulated material and foreign objects inside the drum; regularly check the operating status of the motor and the reducer.

17. Does the shaftless drum screen comply with RoHS and REACH?

The standard equipment complies with RoHS and REACH regulations and does not contain SVHC high-concern substances. Please refer to the product test report for details.

18. How to select the model of a shaftless drum screen?

Determine the suitability based on the characteristics of the material (particle size, mud content, viscosity); select the corresponding model within the range of 20-380 t/h according to the production line capacity requirements; choose a drum diameter of 1000-1800 mm and length of 3000-6500 mm based on processing volume and screening requirements; select a rotation speed of 11.5-22 r/min and a tilt angle of 2-2.5° according to the material characteristics; select a motor power of 1.5-11 kW based on processing capacity and drum specifications.

19. How does a shaftless drum screen work in conjunction with a chain plate feeder?

The chain plate feeder is responsible for continuously and evenly conveying large pieces of material to the shaftless drum screen. The shaftless drum screen is responsible for washing the ore to remove mud and for grading the medium and fine particles. Together, they form a complete feed-screening production line, achieving full-process operations from coarse feed to ore washing and screening.

20. What special applications does the shaftless drum screen have in a gravity separation plant?

In a gravity separation plant, the shaftless drum screen is mainly used for washing ore to remove mud. Through drum rotation and water spraying, it removes mud and impurities from the surface of the ore, providing clean material for subsequent gravity separation operations, thus improving separation efficiency and recovery rate.

Technical FAQ

What determines screen capacity?

Feed rate, bulk density, moisture, particle-size distribution, deck area and required separation cut all affect capacity.

Do I need washing or only dry screening?

Choose washing when clay or adhered fines affect product quality. Confirm water source, recycling and discharge treatment.

Authoritative references

For standards and safety context, see ISO standards and the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. Confirm the exact local requirements for your project.

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