What is a machine for producing cinder blocks, can you make it yourself?

It is believed that cinder block is excellent for the construction of residential buildings and other buildings, due to its availability and compliance with the required characteristics.
To further reduce the cost of the material, many begin to produce it themselves.

This can be done either using improvised means or using a special machine. The device is not cheap, but you can also build it yourself.

Description of the device

A vibrating cinder block machine is equipment that helps compact the mortar poured into molds . This is done so that there are no voids or air bubbles in the mass for making the block. The finished cinder block must fully comply with GOST, otherwise it cannot be used for building a house.

Important! Blocks that were made using a brick press always have better frost resistance, resistance to deformation, and strength than those that were made using other technologies.

The vibrating machine consists of several parts. In its lower part there is a frame where the vibrating table is located. It rests on rubber cushions. The vibrating table has several vibrators with adjustable strength.

The design has a backfill device for pouring concrete mixture . This is a tin container that allows you to pour concrete into the mold evenly and quickly. There is also a punch and a die.

The design includes a device for pressing the matrix with the pallet to the vibrating table. Vibrators for cinder blocks are equipped with electric motors and a drive.

Some vibrating machines use void formers. They are inserted into forms with concrete mixture and make holes in them. The output is a hollow cinder block.

What are they?

Machines for the production of cinder blocks are:

• automated stations;
• semi-automatic machines;
• manual equipment.

A fully automated machine is more suitable for enterprises that constantly sell cinder blocks. The productivity of such equipment is up to 1000 blocks per hour.

All you need to do is simply pour the cinder block ingredients into the container and press the start button. The mini-station will independently mix, pour, and compact stones ; the operator only needs to monitor the work. The advantage of such a vibrating machine is the lack of human intervention, the disadvantage is the high cost. Similar devices are produced by Bess.

Semi-automatic machines already require human intervention. Some operations here are automatic, but others will have to be performed manually. For example, in different configurations, the machine itself mixes the mixture for the stone, and the operator needs to lower the vibropress.

In other machines, the operator only participates in pouring the finished solution, and the rest is done by the vibrating table. The production of such machines is carried out by the Sibir company.

Manual equipment is considered the least productive, but it fully satisfies the needs for cinder blocks in private construction. The average cost of such a device will cost 200,000 rubles. A good representative is a device from VibropressStroy .

Reference! Depending on the type of block formation, machines can be mobile or stationary. The first ones are small in size and stones can be produced immediately on the construction site. Stationary equipment requires a lot of space, but its productivity is higher.

Principle of operation

All of the listed machines operate on a similar principle:

1. The prepared solution is poured into a special container.
2. The mixture is transported into the matrix.
3. With the help of vibration, the mixture is leveled and compacted.
4. If there are devices for voids, they are inserted into blocks with mortar and are strongly compacted under pressure and vibration.
5. The matrix rises above the blocks and the finished mixture, already formed into blocks of the required size, is sent for drying.

The only difference between the devices is that in a fully automated machine all operations are performed independently. Even the mixing and transportation of the solution occurs automatically .

If the machine is manual, then the person must first prepare the slag mass in a concrete mixer, then pour it into molds, and then compact it well using a vibrating table. Again, you will have to carry the blocks to dry yourself.

Types of machines

At the initial stage of production, you will need to spend a lot of effort searching for affordable raw materials and equipment. Equipment for home production will consist of a machine and a concrete mixer. You can buy a concrete mixer at a hardware store, rent it, or purchase a used product. Without it, it is very difficult to make a homogeneous consistency from cement, which will affect the quality of the finished products.

A machine for making blocks can be purchased at a store or made with your own hands. Parts for its manufacture, by and large, can be found in every home. Vibrating machines for the production of cinder blocks can be divided into several categories:

• Manual vibropress.
• Semi-mechanical vibropress.
• Vibrating machine with increased power.
• Auto.

At the initial stage of production and for subsequent small private production, an automatic model will not be needed.

Among manual vibrating presses you can find a variety of models. The simplest and most affordable models are designed for the production of one block. The small dimensions of the machine allow you to work with it in a minimal area. The engine power does not exceed 200 W, but in one hour it allows you to make about 25 units of products.

Light weight - no more than 20 kg - allows you to easily move the device around the territory.

You can purchase a new machine for a minimum price of about 5500-8000 rubles. A model with matrices for the production of three different blocks will cost a little more and will cost about 10,000 rubles. If you need to save money, you can purchase a used machine, but please note that in this case there will be no warranty on it.

Making a vibrating machine with your own hands and saving significantly on the purchase of equipment will not be difficult. But as a rule, such models are characterized by low productivity. Such equipment is more suitable for entertainment than for work.

Semi-mechanical machines

Semi-mechanical block making machines are also used in home block production. Their installation and use will require a larger area than in the first case, which is explained by the principle of their operation:

• The machine is equipped with a lever mechanism and a matrix.
• The matrix allows you to remove finished products from the machine, leaving them on the floor.
• The machine must be moved to the side, leaving the block blanks on the floor to dry.

You can purchase such devices for 13,000–25,000 rubles. Their cost varies depending on the number of matrices. Accordingly, productivity will vary from 30 to 60 hollow cinder blocks per hour.

Vibrating machines with increased power can be purchased to increase productivity. The operating principle is similar to a semi-mechanical device, but equipping it with a more powerful electric drive allows you to increase product output.

Such machines have a pressure cover, which frees the worker to perform this function manually during the production process. This machine weighs about 220 kg, which will require a special room with a flat floor for its installation. One production cycle is designed to produce four blocks.

Such machines operate on a 380 V network and cost from 40 to 60 thousand rubles, depending on the configuration. Such machines allow us to produce higher quality products compared to simple devices.

How to make a vibrating machine at home?

If the machine is needed for individual production of blocks when building your own house, then there is no point in purchasing expensive equipment. You can try making it yourself .

Before you begin preparing tools and materials, you need to find the drawings. Such schemes can be found on the Internet on construction forums. There people share their experiences and talk in detail about the collection of equipment and its operation.

Necessary materials

To create a machine for the production of cinder blocks with your own hands, you need the following materials :

• galvanized metal sheet 3 mm thick;
• 1 meter of steel pipe with a diameter of 7-9 cm;
• steel strip 3 mm thick, 30 cm long;
• electric motor with power up to 1 kW.

A sheet of galvanized metal is necessary to create a matrix into which concrete and slag mixtures will be poured. The thickness of 3 mm is just right for these purposes.

The steel tube must be prepared for void formers . It is unlikely that self-production will produce only solid blocks. You can choose the diameter of the pipe yourself, depending on what diameter of the void you want to get at the outlet.

Note! Solid blocks are used to construct load-bearing walls, and cinder blocks with voids are used for internal walls and partitions.

The electric motor will be useful for arranging the drive, due to which the solution will be compacted in the molds.

Necessary tools and consumables

Consumables for assembling a vibrating machine will require a large amount of fasteners: screws, nuts, bolts, anchors. You also need to prepare tools :

• angle grinder or grinder;
• welding machine;
• vice;
• a set of keys.

It is also better to prepare screwdrivers and a screwdriver (if available) in advance - with the help of these tools you can assemble the machine much faster. For an angle grinder you need to choose a disc that can work on metal. You can’t do without a welding machine - the vibrating machine must be made with high quality and last throughout the entire construction phase.

If you have no experience with welding, then you shouldn’t risk it - this procedure requires special skills. In this case, it is better to hire an experienced welder and explain the task to him. You will need hex keys and others, so it is better to have a good set.

Step by step procedure

After all the materials, tools and consumables are ready, you can begin manufacturing the machine:

1. At the first stage, you need to decide on the size of future blocks. This indicator must be written down in the drawing. The most common option is 200x200x400 mm.
2. When making a matrix for blocks, you need to take into account the following point: the height of the matrix will be 50 mm higher than the height of the finished block. For manufacturing, a sheet of steel is cut using a grinder. You need to cut this sheet in advance, and also take care of the presence of partitions between the forms.
3. Using a welding machine, the cut strips are welded together on the outside.
4. Production of void former. The metal pipe is cut into lengths less than the height of the matrix by 5 mm. The device must have a cone-shaped shape; this can be achieved by clamping the pipe in a vice and welding it. The tubes must be blind on all sides; at the end they are connected to each other by welding.
5. The void former is welded to the matrix or a removable structure is made.
6. Bolts are attached to the outer long wall of the mold, onto which the electric motor is installed.

Do not forget that there must be a metal apron on the top of the matrix. At the final stage, the finished machine is placed in a frame, cleaned and painted.

Advantages of making a machine yourself

Advantages of a homemade device:

• A do-it-yourself cinder block making machine costs less than a purchased one.
• Cheaper delivery. If during construction you need to replenish the supply of blocks, you can make the missing building materials directly on the construction site. This is especially convenient if construction is taking place outside the city. You don't have to go to the store to load and unload materials.
• There is no need to buy cinder blocks with a reserve. You can make them with precision down to one piece.
• When producing slag concrete products yourself, it is easy to control the components included in the solution. This is insurance against low-quality building materials. You can be sure that the cinder concrete solution does not contain toxic or other harmful components.
• After completion of construction work, the vibrating machine can be sold.

Possible difficulties in the process

During the assembly process of the cinder block machine, errors and difficulties may arise :

• the vibrator is attached too loosely to the machine;
• there are no lids on metal forms;
• the finished product has not been painted;
• the tubes for the void formers are not welded on one side - then the solution will get there.

If you follow the instructions and select high-quality materials for the manufacture of the machine, then there will be no problems. During assembly, you can also use the services of professionals who can help with certain procedures.

Pros and cons of making your own

There are several advantages to making your own cinder block machine:

• reducing the cost of the construction process from homemade blocks;
• the ability to make a machine to suit your needs;
• the ability to equip the equipment with the necessary containers at your request;
• the ability to make a new matrix if it becomes unusable.

There are also disadvantages, including the length of time it takes to manufacture the machine and possible mistakes made due to inexperience.