Retsch PM400 User manual

Operating Instructions for Planetary Ball Mill
Type PM400
Retsch GmbH, 42781 Haan, Retsch-Allee 1-5, Germany, 08.02.2012 0002

08.02.2012 Retsch GmbH 2 0002
NOTES ON THESE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS.......... 3
Warning instructions ................................................................ 3
Repairs........................................................................................ 3
SAFETY...................................................................................... 4
Safety instructions.................................................................... 4
Safety instructions –summarised, part 1 ............................ 5
Safety instructions –summarised, part 2 ............................ 6
Confirmation.............................................................................. 7
TECHNICAL DATA .................................................................. 8
Use according to the intended purpose ................................ 8
Number of milling positions .................................................... 8
Maximum charged quantity .................................................... 8
Maximum charged grain size.................................................. 8
Driving power: 1500 W............................................................ 8
Emissions ................................................................................... 8
Noise characteristic values PM400 :...................................... 8
Conditions for measurement:................................................. 8
Materials and analyses of milling tools ................................. 8
Systems of protection .............................................................. 8
Protective equipment ............................................................... 9
Mode of operation..................................................................... 9
Machine dimensions ................................................................. 9
Required floor space................................................................. 9
TRANSPORT AND INSTALLATION.................................. 10
Packing ..................................................................................... 10
Transport.................................................................................. 10
Temperature variations ......................................................... 11
Intermediate storage ............................................................. 11
Assembling............................................................................... 11
Parameters for the place of installation .............................. 11
Ambient temperature: ............................................................11
Installation height:..................................................................11
Serial interfaces ...................................................................... 12
OPERATION ........................................................................... 13
Connecting the power supply ............................................... 13
Opening / closing / emergency unlocking of milling
chamber ................................................................................... 13
Open ..........................................................................................13
Closing ...................................................................................... 13
Emergency unlocking ............................................................. 14
Insertion and clamping of the milling cups......................... 14
Unclamping the milling cup clamping device ..................... 16
in the PM400............................................................................ 16
Safety instructions when starting the PM400..................... 17
Power failure during milling................................................... 18
Suitable milling cups in the PM400 ...................................... 18
Milling cup filling level ............................................................ 18
Guide values for material quantity and balls...................... 18
Stacking of 50 ml milling cups of type “C” ......................... 19
Stacking procedure................................................................. 19
Stacking of milling cups less than 50 ml............................. 19
Stacking procedure................................................................. 19
Handling milling cups of type “C”......................................... 19
Carrying and gripping............................................................. 19
Protection against twisting .................................................... 19
Heating up of the milling cups.............................................. 19
Milling cup identification ........................................................ 20
Milling cup labelling by the customer .................................. 20
Cleaning the milling cups....................................................... 20
Drying the milling cups.......................................................... 20
Tips for ultra-fine milling ....................................................... 20
Use of the closing device for milling cups........................... 21
Operation via the display unit of the PM400 ...................... 22
Symbols in the display unit ................................................... 22
Setting possibilities via the display menu........................... 23
FAULT SIGNALS IN THE DISPLAY.................................. 28
F03 to F23 ................................................................................ 28
F24 to F26 ................................................................................ 28
GENERAL................................................................................. 29
Cleaning.................................................................................... 29
Maintenance (monthly).......................................................... 29
Wearing parts .......................................................................... 30
Copyright.................................................................................. 30
Alterations................................................................................ 30
APPENDIX ..................................FOLLOWING PAGES

08.02.2012 Retsch GmbH 3 Doc. Nr. D 98.535.9999
Notes on these operating instructions
These operating instructions for the ball mill, type PM400,
give all the necessary information with regard to the areas
mentioned in the contents.
Instructions are given for the definite target group(s) in
each area, in order to ensure safe operation of the PM400
for its intended purpose. Knowledge of the relevant section
is essential for safe, proper handling in each target
group(s).
This technical documentation is intended as a reference and
instruction manual. The individual sections are complete in
themselves.
These operating instructions do not include repair
instructions. If repairs are necessary please contact your
supplier or Retsch GmbH direct: http://www.retsch.com
Warning instructions
Warnings are given by the following symbols:
Injury to persons
Damage to equipment
Observe instructions for use
Repairs
These operating instructions do not include repair
instructions. For your own safety repairs must be carried out
only by Retsch GmbH, an authorised agent or by Retsch
service technicians.
In this case please contact:
The Retsch agency in your country
Your supplier
Retsch GmbH directly
Your service address:

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Safety
The PM400 is an ultra-modern, highly efficeint product of
Retsch GmbH, corresponding to state of the art. If the
machine is used according to the intended purpose with a
knowledge of this technical documentation it is completely
safe and reliable to operate.
Safety instructions
As operating authority it is your duty to ensure that all
persons charged with working on the PM400:
have read and understood all the instructions on safety,
from the beginning of work know all the instructions and
regulations for the target group relevant to their work,
Have access to the technical documentation for this machine
at all times without problems.
New personnel should be familiarized with safe, proper
handling of the machine before beginning work on the
PM400, either by verbal instruction from a competent
person or through this technical documentation.
Improper operation can cause injury to persons or damage
to the equipment. You are responsible for your own safety
and that of your employees.
Ensure that no unauthorised persons have access to the
PM400.
For your own protection have your employees confirm that
they have been instructed in operation of the PM400. The
draft of a suitable form is given at the end of the section on
safety.
We exclude any claims for damages of any kind for injury to
persons and damage to equipment arising from non-observance of
the following safety instructions.

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Safety instructions –summarised, part 1
Safety instructions
We exclude any claims for damages of any kind for injury to persons and damage to equipment arising from non-
observance of the following safety instructions.
Use according to the intended purpose
Do not make any alterations to the machine and use only spare parts and accessories approved by Retsch.
Otherwise the Declaration of Conformity to the European Directives will lose its validity.
Furthermore this will lead to loss of any kind of guarantee claims.
Packing
Please keep the packing material for the duration of the guarantee period, since if you have a complaint and the equipment
is returned in inadequate packing your guarantee claim is at risk.
Transport
Lifting above head height is not allowed.
The PM400 must not be knocked, shaken or thrown during transport. Otherwise the electronic and mechanical components
can be damaged.
Temperature variations
If the PM400 is subjected to high temperature variations (e.g. during air transport) it must be protected against condensed
water. Otherwise there may be damage to the electronic components.
Supplied items
If the supplied items are incomplete and/or there is transport damage you must inform the transporter and Retsch GmbH
immediately (within 24 hrs). Later complaints may possibly be no longer considered.
Ambient temperature
If the temperature drops below or exceeds ambient temperature the electrical and mechanical components can become
damaged and performance data can change to an unknown extent.
Atomospheric humidity
At high atmospheric humidity the elctrical and mechanical components can become damaged and performance data can
change to an unknown extent.
Important instructions
If the values on the type plate are not observed electrical and mechanical components can become damaged.
Serial interface
The serial interface cables must not be longer than 2.5 m.
If the cables are longer this can result in disturbances during transmission of data.
Connecting the power supply
If the values on the type plate are not observed electrical and mechanical components can become damaged.
Opening / closing / emergency unlocking the milling chamber
The emergency unlocking device must not be operated when the machine is running. Disconnect the machine
from the power supply before emergency unlocking. High danger of injury through long, unbraked after-running of
the drive can result. The after-running time of the drive is < 10 secs.
Insertion and clamping of the milling cups in the PM400
Always insert 2 opposite or 4 milling cups. All cups must have the same gross weight.
If loading of the PM400 is unbalanced the machine can generate undesirable vibrations and noises. In this
case switch the machine off immediately and check the arrangement and gross weight of the cups.
Before starting the machine make sure that the milling cup is clamped. Milling cups can be ejected –danger of
injuries and damage to equipment.
Always insert 2 opposite or 4 milling cups. All cups must have the same gross weight.
Use only milling cups of type „C“. This type, in combination with the milling cup holder, is a safety component. If other
types or old milling cups are used in the PM400 this may result in unforeseen danger.
Never leave the milling cup clamping device (3) loose, without clamped milling cups, in the milling cup holder. Danger of
ejection.

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Safety instructions –summarised, part 2
Check firm fitting of the milling cups, particularly with long-term milling operations, according to the following time
schedule: after 3 mins, after 2 hrs, after 5 hrs then every 10-12 hrs. A clamping force of 10 Nm for the milling cup
clamping device is optimum. Danger of ejection of milling cup.
Always ensure that the red sleeve is properly locked in place. Otherwise the milling
cup is not clamped adequately.
Danger of ejection.
Safety instructions when starting the PM400
Before starting the machine ensure that the milling cup is clamped.
Milling cups can be ejected –danger of injuries and damage to equipment.
We recommend that this safety instruction is not faded out.
Always insert 2 opposite or 4 milling cups. All cups must have the same gross weight.
Milling cup filling level
If the filling level of the milling cup is too high or too low this impairs the milling result and can cause damage (increased
wear) to the milling fittings.
Handling milling cup type „C“
Please take necessray measures to prevent danger to persons, according to the dangerous nature of your milling material.
When removing and opening hot milling cups it is essential to wear protective gloves.
Danger of burning the hands.
Identification of milling cups
Do not subject milling cups with ceramic inserts to sudden temperature differences when rinsing.
The ceramic inserts can crack through sudden temperature differences.
Tips for ultra-fine milling
When using easily flammable materials it is essential to observe the section „Wet milling of easily flammable materials”.
Danger of explosison.
Wet milling of easily flammable materials
Before using easily flammable materials as milling auxiliary agents it is absolutely essential to specifiy in writing explosion
protection documentation with supplementary organisational measures, and to make this available to operators. In the EU
this procedure is stipulated in directive 89/391/EEG, according to articles 118 and 118a.
For wet milling operations in milling cups with material inserts do not use old closing devices which clamp only the gripping
edges of the milling cups. If an internal pressure is developed the material inserts can be pressed out.
Cleaning
Do not clean the PM400 with running water.
Danger to life through current surge.
Use only a cloth moistened with water. Solvents are not permitted.
Maintenance (monthly)
Easy running of the threaded spindle and locking sleeve is essential for reliable clamping of the milling cups.
Locking sleeves which do not slide downwards automatically through spring tension cannot reliably prevent loosening of the
threaded spindle. The milling cups can then be ejected.
Easy running of roller 1 on the closing pin is the prequisite for reliable closing of the housing lid of the PM400.
If the values drop below D1 and H1 operating reliability is no longer guaranteed.
The milling cups can be ejected.
Wearing parts
These operating instructions do not include repair instructions. For your own safety repairs should be carried out only by
Retsch GmbH, an authorised agent or service technicians.

08.02.2012 Retsch GmbH 7 Doc. Nr. GB 98.535.9999
Confirmation
I have taken note of the section “Notes on
these operating instructions” and the section
on “Safety”.
__________________________________
Signature of operating authority
__________________________________
Signature of service technician

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Technical data
Machine type designation: PM400
Use according to the intended purpose
Retsch ball mills are used for milling and mixing soft, medium-hard
up to extremely hard, brittle and fibrous matierals. Both dry and
wet milling operations can be carried out. Minerals, ores, alloys,
chemicals, glass, ceramics, plant parts, soils, sewage sludge,
domestic and industrial waste and many other substances
can be milled, easily, quickly and without losses. These ball mills are
used successfully in practically all areas of industry and
research, particularly where stringent requirements are set on
purity, quickness, fineness and reproducibility.
Only milling cups of type “C” from the firm Retsch GmbH may be
used.
The mills are not designed as production machines, but as
laboratory equipment, intended for 8-hour single shift operation.
Do not make any alterations to the machine and use only spare
parts and accessories approved by Retsch.
Otherwise the Declaration of Conformity with the European
Directives by Retsch loses its validity.
Furthermore this will result in the loss of any kind of
guarantee claims.
Number of milling positions
2 or 4, depending on the type of machine. The milling positions
must be operated with identical milling cups and at the same weight
for every millling operation.
Maximum charged quantity
PM400 = up to 4 times 300 ml, depending on the machne volume.
Maximum charged grain size
PM400 up to < 10 mm, but depends on material.
Driving power: 1500 W
Emissions
Noise characteristic values PM400 :
Noise measurement according to DIN 45635-31-01-KL3
The noise characteristic values are influenced mainly by the
machine speed, milling cup size and diameter of the milling
balls used.
Emission value related to workplace LpAeq = up to 85 dB(A)
Conditions for measurement:
Milling set: 4x 500ml special steel each with 5 balls of dia.
30 mm, tungsten carbide
Milling material: quartz sand, 135 g each
Rotary speed: 380 min-1
Materials and analyses of milling tools
See : www.retsch.com/english/docs/grinding_tools.pdf
Systems of protection
IP40

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Protective equipment
The PM400 is fitted with an automatic lid shutting device which
prevents the machine being started in an unsafe condition. The
machine can be started only with the lid closed.
The lid can be opened only when the machine is at a standstill.
Mode of operation
S1
Operation with constant load, the duration of which is sufficient for the
thermal steady state condition to be reached. (DIN VDE 0530 T1)
Machine dimensions
Height: up to approx. 1220 mm / width: 836 mm / depth: up to
approx. 780 mm
Weight : PM400 net approx. 290 kg
Required floor space
Height (open hood): 1900 mm / width: 1400 mm /
depth: 900 mm;
A safety distance of 100 mm on the rear side is necessary so that
the ventilators can fulfil their function.

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Transport and installation
Packing
Packing is adapted to the transport route and conforms to
the generally applicable packaging guidelines.
Please keep the packing material for the duration of the
guarantee period since if there is a complaint and the
machine is returned with inadequate packing your
guarantee claim will be at risk.
Transport
The PM400 is to be lifted and transported only by the
transport screws TS supplied with the machine.
Fig. 1
Net weight of PM400 = approx. 290 kg
Lifting above head height is not permitted.
The PM400 must not be knocked, shaken or thrown
during transport. Otherwise the electronic and
mechanical components can become damaged.