Improving Gravimetric Feeder Performance

By Todd D. Messmer

How can I improve my screw feeder’s gravimetric performance?

As Applications Engineers we get asked this question quite often.

In answering, the first thing we need to understand is the material we are feeding. Gravimetric feeder performance is most always affected by how well the material feeds volumetrically.  The closer we can fill the flights of the feed screw volumetrically to 100%, the better the feeder will perform gravimetrically.  In order to get the material to feed better volumetrically, understanding the material characteristics of what we are trying to feed must be analyzed first.  

So let’s look at some of the most common material characteristics with respect to volumetric feeder performance.  Remember, we must first improve how the feeder feeds volumetrically before we can look at improving gravimetric performance.