Vibrating machine for making blocks with your own hands: drawing of the unit

Cinder blocks are a popular building material from which buildings and structures for various purposes are erected. Since they are easy to make at home, cinder block making machines are in quite high demand. If you have free time and desire, then you can try to build this equipment yourself.

Photo of the machine for producing blocks

The popularity of cinder blocks (as well as foam blocks) is due to their unique composition, and machines for making cinder blocks not only make it possible to obtain high-quality building materials with limited funds, but also make it possible to produce them for sale. For many, the production of cinder blocks has become a profitable activity that brings significant income.

Next we will talk about equipment for the production of hollow cinder blocks. In this case, the following components are used as initial components:

Cement;
Granulated slag (which is foundry waste);
Special fillers.

The result is blocks that have high sound and heat insulation properties.

Cinder block options

Block production process

Vibrating machine for block production.

Composition of concrete mortar for such blocks (in parts):

slag (preferably blast furnace, without ash and coal) – 14 parts;
coarse sand (expanded clay) – 4 parts;
gravel with granule size 5-15 mm – 4 parts;
cement (M400-M500) – 3 parts;
water – 3-6 parts.

Slag, coal combustion waste, brick waste, expanded clay, perlite, crushed stone, sawdust, etc. can be used as filler.

It is important to monitor the water content in the mixture. The solution should crumble when falling to the ground, but when squeezed in a fist, it should come back together

First, the dry ingredients are mixed, and only then water is added to them.

The sequence of operations when making blocks on a vibrating machine:

a solution with a slide is placed in the mold;
the vibrator is turned on for 3-5 seconds, the solution settles;
if there is not enough solution, add it, insert the punch (clamp) and turn on the vibrator again;
molding is completed when the clamp sits on the stops;
turn on the vibrator for another 5-10 seconds and remove the form while the vibrator is still running.

The blocks should dry within 5-7 days, but it takes about a month to completely harden.

Equipment for the production of cinder block

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Producing cinder blocks using special equipment will not be difficult. The casting process on a machine for the production of cinder blocks occurs as follows:

A working mixture is prepared, consisting of cement, water and fillers. The latter must be passed through a sieve, removing large ingredients. Water should not completely fill the solution; the filler stays dry on the floor. The consistency is chosen independently, depending on the type of production.
The mixture is loaded into the mold, compacted with packing or a special cinder block press. During the process, it is necessary to monitor the amount of the mixture; when compacted, it contracts.
After which, the prepared block is removed from the mold.

Automatic production of cinder blocks

The drying process occurs under natural conditions, after 24 hours it is possible to move the finished material to the warehouse. Use in construction is available within a week after production, complete hardening occurs within a month. Special additives allow you to speed up the hardening process; maximum humidity and direct sunlight allow the cinder block to harden faster.

There are many designs, equipment, and machines for the production of cinder blocks. It is possible to make a machine yourself using the following elements:

prepared cinder block matrix for molding the solution;
necessary materials and tools;
ventilated room with a leveled floor.

There are many types of machine designs available for do-it-yourself manufacturing, the drawings of which are available on the Internet

It is important to calculate the required production volumes before manufacturing; for your own needs it is enough to produce simple equipment

A small volume is produced by a hand-made matrix. The material can be any available - from hardwood to sheet metal. This process requires manual compaction of the material. Cinder block machines have a modification with a vibration motor, which will significantly save labor costs during production and speed up the process. The included electric motor with a vibration design for a few seconds allows you to fill the volume into the molds, adding filler in time.

In order to make a product not only for your own needs, you will need a full-fledged cinder block machine. The design will require the following tools in your arsenal:

angle grinder;
welding machine;
marking tool.

According to the drawings, the structure is welded and processed with a grinder. The machine device for making cinder blocks may contain a vibration motor attached at the bottom. For convenience, the control panel and clamping mechanism are displayed.

Machine form

The prepared mixture is poured into the mold. A self-made cinder block machine requires a correctly marked form when pouring; the open cavity of the finished product consists of 30% of the area. Mold materials:

metal corner;
steel sheet 5 mm;
pipes with a diameter of 8 cm.

Shapes of cinder block machine

The mold frame is prepared from sheet metal, markings are made in accordance with the double size of the part. Pipes are installed on the hanging plates to fill the technological voids of the blocks, and the edges of the machine are closed. The role of the plates is in the form of a limiter, which acts during operation of the vibration device. The lid is made to fit a mold with holes, the diameter of which should be slightly larger than the pipes themselves. Handles installed on different sides serve to raise and lower the mechanism.

Feasibility of use for the production of cinder blocks

The need to have a brick making machine at your disposal is far from obvious. Especially when it comes to private construction. Therefore, we will provide justification for those cases when the presence of a vibrating machine (vibropressing unit) is really necessary:

if the construction of a house, cottage, country cottage is carried out independently, and the time factor is not subject to limitation, and the first place is the desire to reduce the cost of the process as much as possible, then in this case a vibrating machine will be the most optimal solution;

When producing cinder blocks at the plant, standard iron molds are used.

environmental issues are held in high esteem today, and if you want to be insured against the use of building materials in the manufacture of which components of unknown origin were used (this applies not only to cinder blocks, which are usually made from various industrial wastes), then using your own equipment will allow you to control this issue;
Our own vibrating machine makes it possible to form the required amount of building materials with an accuracy of one product. There is no need to buy building blocks in excess or rush to the store when a shortage becomes obvious.

The ability to sell the equipment after construction is completed is another reason not to give up using your own vibration machine. You can rest assured that there will be people who share the same views as you on the principles of construction work.

When construction is carried out in a remote area, the presence of a vibrating machine will save builders from additional costs associated with transporting building materials.

The following factors can force you to refuse to purchase a vibrating machine and produce block building materials on site:

serious time investment. To make cinder blocks, foam blocks or other block products, you will have to “sweat”, even if you use a concrete mixer. The time factor is equally important: keep in mind that about a month should pass from the moment the cinder block is made to the possibility of its use. This will not suit everyone;

The forms must be collapsible so that the finished cinder block can be easily removed

additional energy consumption. Vibrating machines for the production of building blocks, like concrete mixers, are powered by an electric motor, and electricity is now expensive. This point must also be taken into account in preliminary calculations.

The last question that will have to be resolved is whether to buy a brick press for making cinder block products or try to make the device yourself. If the scale of construction is small, it is obvious that it will be much cheaper to assemble the unit yourself, since the design of the simplest models of such devices will not pose any major tasks for you.

Forming methods

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Factory molds for preparing cinder blocks are made of reinforced concrete or steel. Such parts can easily withstand the weight of a large volume of solution. As for do-it-yourself molds, they are most often made of wood or steel sheets. Such elements largely play the role of special formwork.

To save on raw materials and free time, molds are mainly assembled without a bottom. You can put a simple film under them. Thanks to this method, the entire process of block formation can be significantly simplified. It must be remembered that the forms themselves must be made of perfectly smooth wood parts. The working surface will be a concrete base, a table with a flat and smooth tabletop, or a sheet of iron, which also does not have any defects.

Let's take a closer look at how to make a mold for slag blocks:

you need to choose sanded boards 14 cm long (the width should be a multiple of this parameter);
then, using a hacksaw, you need to separate the segments, which will then play the role of transverse partitions;
then you will need to connect the segments with longitudinal elements to form a rectangular frame;
Next, you need to cut a sheet of steel or any other material with a smooth surface into separate plates measuring 14x30 cm;
in the inner part of the resulting structure, cuts are made that will act as grooves, the width of which is equal to the dimensions of the dividing strips;
then the sections responsible for the separation are fixed in cuts, creating a mold for the production of 3 or more slag blocks.

In order for the resulting container for hardening the solution to serve as long as possible, at the final stage it is recommended to coat both metal and wood structures with oil-based paint. This form is suitable for preparing cinder blocks, the dimensions of which are 14x14x30 cm.

Machine form

How to make cinder blocks with your own hands

Machines for making cinder blocks vary in design complexity.

This can be a collapsible device made of wood or metal. It has different sizes depending on the number of blocks that will be produced at the same time. This design can be made with your own hands; bottles of the required diameter filled with water are used to produce voids. In this case, a vibropress is not used.

Another option is a vibrating machine, which consists of a mold located on a table or a special stand. This device is equipped with a motor and can be equipped with a lifting mechanism for removing finished products from the mold.

Wood or metal structures are used as a mold for making cinder blocks. The standard size is 390×190×190 mm, but you can choose the dimensions at your discretion.

Since slight shrinkage will occur during pressing, it is necessary that the height of the mold exceeds the height of the block being produced by 5 mm.

Do-it-yourself vibration machine for making blocks

All production operations are quite simple, but require certain metalworking skills. For most types of machines, you will need:

sheet steel with a thickness of at least 3 mm, for a vibroform, use at least 5 mm;
metal corners and pipes of various diameters;
bolts with nuts;
buttons for turning on the vibrator and wire;
primer and paint.

To assemble the mold, you need to use fresh metal, without traces of rust. Otherwise, when stripping the formwork, the cinder block in the mold will collapse. For the structure itself, new metal is not essential. You don't even have to paint it.

You will understand exactly how much of what you will need after analyzing the drawings. Here we will give the general manufacturing principle, the sequence of actions and pay attention to some nuances. Let's take as an example a machine for two blocks with molding blocks on the floor.

The first step is to make a mold, divided into two equal parts according to the size of the cinder block that you are going to produce. Take the standard block dimensions 390×190×188 mm (length×width×height) as a basis. Please note that the welds must be on the outside of the mold.

Next, from pipe sections equal to the height of the mold, you make inserts to form voids. Do not forget to weld circles of the appropriate diameter at the ends of the pipes. There are three of them in industrially produced stones, so you will need 6 pieces. Connect them together in three pieces at equal intervals with a steel strip 5 mm thick. Make slits at the ends of the form, insert a strip with inserts into them, and secure. The form is ready. Do not forget about the need to make a lid with which you will press down the mixture. If you do not want to make a through block, make the height of the void formers 1 cm less.

Make a rectangular frame from pipes. Weld two pipes to it vertically. They will act as guides for the movement of the form. Put runners on them (small sections of larger diameter pipes). Weld your finished shape to the runners. Attach a lever-handle in the form of a frame to the vertical posts through a bolted connection. Don't forget: the more leverage you have, the easier it will be for you to lift the form. Connect the handle with the sliders. The connection can be free bolted or cable, at your discretion.

You can use a factory vibrator for the mold, or assemble it yourself. You put an eccentric on the electric motor shaft, which can only be selected experimentally. The vibration must be of such strength as to ensure a sufficient level of compaction and not lead to the composition spilling out of the mold. As an eccentric, use a regular metal plate in which you drill holes to make it more unbalanced.

Don't be discouraged if you don't succeed the first time. Remember that this is not a proven or standard technology; each master brings something of his own. If you don’t get a decent result from the drawings, come up with your own solution. Designs can be changed and improved as you wish.

You have long dreamed of owning your own home, and when you have the opportunity to carry out construction, you begin to realize that the initial estimate will have to be constantly adjusted, and only in the direction of higher prices. If you are building a country house, cottage or garage yourself, a significant part of the costs will be the cost of building materials. In turn, approximately 30-40% of this part of the estimate will have to be spent on purchasing wall materials.

Prudent and thrifty owners solve the problem of saving money by producing some of the building materials themselves: making cinder blocks on your own allows you to achieve savings of about 20-50%, but this will require either assembling a vibrating machine for making blocks, or spending money on purchasing a factory installation. Purchasing a new unit, even from the budget category, with a relatively small scale of construction work is hardly justified. But this option is possible if, after completion of construction, you continue to operate the machine for the purpose of selling building blocks. At least until the equipment is fully paid for. Purchasing a used brick making machine will not require significant investments. But a homemade machine will cost you an order of magnitude cheaper (taking into account the materials and equipment required to manufacture the unit).

Careful calculations will help determine which of the available options is more economically feasible.

First of all, you need to decide what kind of machine you need.

Features of the material

Cinder block is a building material that has proven itself to be one of the most durable and unpretentious. It has considerable dimensions, especially if you place an ordinary brick next to it. You can make slag blocks not only in a factory setting. Some craftsmen undertake this work at home. If you strictly adhere to the technology, you get high-quality and strong blocks from which you can build a house or any outbuilding.

If a decision has been made to independently produce such products, then a number of its features should be taken into account.

Cinder block is a fireproof material. It does not ignite itself, and does not intensify an existing flame.
Really good quality blocks make long-lasting and sustainable homes/outbuildings. Such buildings will not be harmed by harsh climatic conditions, hurricanes, or constant gusty winds.
Repairing cinder block buildings does not require extra effort and free time - all work can be completed in a short time.
Cinder blocks are also distinguished by their large sizes, thanks to which buildings made from them can be erected very quickly, which pleases many builders.
This material is durable. Buildings built from it can stand for more than 100 years without losing their previous characteristics.
Another feature of cinder block is its soundproofing component. Thus, in dwellings made from this material there are no annoying street noises.

The production of cinder blocks is carried out using various raw materials, so it is possible to select the optimal products for any conditions.
What distinguishes cinder block is that it is not subject to attacks by various kinds of parasites or rodents. In addition, it does not rot, so it does not have to be coated with antiseptic solutions and other similar compounds designed to protect the base.
Despite their decent dimensions, such blocks are light in weight. This feature is noted by many masters. Due to their lightness, these materials can be easily moved from one place to another without calling a crane. However, it must be taken into account that some types of such products are still quite heavy.
Cinder block is not afraid of low temperatures.
These blocks are distinguished by their high heat capacity, thanks to which they make cozy and warm homes.
Temperature fluctuations do not harm the cinder block.

Cinder block buildings are usually decorated with decorative materials to give a more aesthetic appearance.

However, it is very important to remember that the cinder block cannot be covered with ordinary plaster (any “wet” work with this material should not be carried out). You can also use a special decorative block, which is often used instead of expensive cladding. When working with cinder block, it is important to take into account one important feature - this material is characterized by high water absorption, so it must be protected from contact with moisture and dampness

Otherwise, the blocks may collapse over time. Unfortunately, the geometry of the slag blocks leaves much to be desired. That is why, when laying floors from such material, you will have to constantly adjust individual elements - trim them and saw them. Cinder blocks have a relatively low cost.

Choosing which machine to use for making cinder blocks

When deciding on a device, it is worth considering the following design options:

a simplified device that makes it possible to produce block products at home;
an improved unit, the design of which includes a mechanism for compacting and extracting finished products.

The choice of the optimal option is carried out depending on the need and availability of funds.

Simplified cinder block machine with your own hands - drawings and recommendations

If the need for material is small, there is no need to manufacture a complex unit equipped with a vibration motor and special mechanisms. A simplified method allows products to be manufactured in special molding boxes.

The technology involves performing the following work:

Assembling molds and oiling the surface inside the box.
Pouring cinder block mortar into collapsible containers.
Leave for 5–6 hours until the composition sets.
Disassembling the box and carefully removing it.
Drying manufactured products under a canopy or indoors.

To build this kind of machine, you must have skills in working with a welding machine and metalworking tools.
The use of wooden or metal liners, as well as glass containers, allows you to produce hollow blocks. It is not difficult to make a simplified machine for cinder blocks with your own hands - it is a metal or wooden container, the size and shape of which correspond to the parameters of the product.

Making a machine yourself

To make a cinder block machine with your own hands, you will need the following tools and materials:

Bulgarian.
Welding machine.
Marking tools.
Locksmith tools.
Steel sheet 3-5 mm thick.
Pipes with a diameter of 7-9 cm.
Profile pipes with a diameter of 3-5 cm.
An electric motor that will act as a vibrator.

The procedure for making a concrete block press:

Mold making

The standard form is welded with your own hands from sheet metal according to the size of the cinder block. First you need to cut the metal with a grinder, and then try on the components. It is recommended to immediately make a double design to produce two blocks at the same time. On the plates, inside the mold, pipes are fixed, serving as void fillers. They are welded with plugs on both sides. There may be two or three pipes. Their number depends on the diameter used. For example, if the diameter of the pipes is 100 mm, then the dimensions of the cinder block will allow only 2 such pipes to be placed in it.

The height of the pipes corresponds to the height of the walls of the structure. The plates are about 6 cm high. They are located vertically, at the top of the mold. The plates not only connect the pipes to each other, but also serve as lid limiters during the vibration process. They will not interfere with the removal of the mold, since they are located in its upper part.

The finished structure must be closed with a metal lid. You need to cut holes in the lid with your own hands, the diameter of which is slightly larger than the diameter of the pipes. There are also handles welded on the lid for easy removal.

base for block shapes

top platform of the form

with a ready-made boundary area

void fillers (from top to bottom with a cone)

void fillers inserted into the mold

base for mounting the guide

lifting mechanism of the machine

manual tamping plate

assembled cinder block machine

Making the base

You can make a base with your own hands from a regular or profile pipe. First, a support frame is welded from profile pipes, which will stand on the ground. Vertical posts are welded to the frame and connected at the top by a cross member. This will be both a handle and a support for the lifting device. The form is able to move freely on vertical posts due to a special type of connection to the posts.

It is recommended to install wheels on the base. With their help, it will be possible to move the device after lifting the form. Thus, fresh cinder blocks will remain in the place where they were produced, and the machine will produce the next products in a different place.

Installation of the lifting mechanism

This mechanism ensures quick removal of finished blocks from the machine. The simplest solution is to weld conventional handles to the mold. In this case, it is enough to simply lift the structure with your own hands, freeing the blocks. A more convenient system is to use levers. A lever is attached to the top handle to lift the form. In this case, the form moves along the vertical racks. Having lifted the mold, the machine is moved to another place.

Vibrator installation

An electric motor is attached to the vibrating machine. It can be secured with a bolted connection, or a special platform can be made for its installation. Such a vibrator is not connected to anything, but vibrates the solution poured into the machine.

Vibropress in the production of cinder blocks

The brick press is a powerful tabletop, which is equipped with special springs

The brick press is a powerful tabletop, which is equipped with special springs. On an industrial scale, such equipment is always at hand, but at home it is not. In order to make a vibrating machine for the production of cinder blocks you will need:

high-speed electric motor with two shafts, with a power of at least 0.5 kW;
grinder and electric welding;
iron sheet (thickness 3 mm);
fittings (diameter 12 mm).

The vibration process will take no more than 15 seconds, then the vibration form is removed in a vertical position and within a day the finished blocks can be laid.

In essence, a brick press for cinder blocks is a regular tabletop equipped with springs. The vibration process occurs due to a shift of the center of gravity to the eccentric (see example of a brick making press in the photo)

How to make a matrix

Making a matrix for casting cinder blocks is not at all difficult, you just need certain materials and accurate measurements. It’s not for nothing that I mentioned accuracy, since it is extremely difficult to remove an even wall or partition from blocks with broken geometry.

Necessary materials

For a collapsible matrix you will need:

galvanized sheet 3 mm thick;
corner 30×30 mm;
blanks Ø 80-100 mm or a square with an identical cross-section;
reinforcement Ø 8-10 mm.

Advice: it is advisable to use smooth rather than corrugated fittings for handles, since any builder from time to time or even constantly works without gloves and a smooth surface will save him from calluses.

Matrix assembly

Source pobetony.expert

For such a unit, which I described above, when fully loaded, you will need three matrices according to the size of the cinder blocks. The table parameters are designed for products with dimensions of 390x180x180 mm, therefore, it will be necessary to prepare sheet metal plates with a similar area. The thickness of the steel must be at least 3 mm, otherwise the mold will simply inflate during vibration. But that's not all - there is one nuance. The fact is that concrete will shrink during vibration, which means that more of it will have to be poured, and the sides of the matrix will have to be made 50 mm higher. That is, you need to cut two rectangular plates 230x180 mm and two 230x390 mm - this is for the sidewalls. For the bottom, cut a rectangle 179x389 mm, that is, a millimeter less, so that it fits freely into the box.

Source m-strana.ru

At the top, around the perimeter of the box, weld a 30x30 mm corner to make a seat for the pattern for installing blanks. Connect such blanks or squares (you can use a pipe or a hollow profile) with reinforcement, but I recommend making it a little simpler. That is, you need to weld the round timber with the reinforcement so that it does not reach the top of the box and at the same time the rod rests against the sidewalls. This will allow you to easily remove the insert from the set mortar, and when pouring concrete it will not move from its place. In this case, all you have to do is weld the handles to the narrow sides of the box in order to remove the mold when the mixture sets.

Cinder concrete blocks - characteristics and purpose of the material

One of the reasons for the increased popularity of slag-filled concrete blocks is the low cost of the material. It is associated with the use of waste from metallurgical enterprises - slag - in the production process.

Along with traditional components, Portland cement and river sand, various aggregates are used:

brick break;
crushed stone screening;
granite chips;
various slags and ash;
expanded clay particles.

The use of cinder blocks in construction allows you to reduce the cost of constructing walls several times

The manufacturing process is carried out in various ways:

industrial method at specialized enterprises with processing of products in drying chambers;
at home from available raw materials, using a self-assembled machine for making blocks.

Using homemade equipment you can produce various types of slag concrete products:

full-bodied, with an increased margin of safety. They are used quite rarely, as they retain heat less well;
hollow, characterized by high thermal insulation properties. To ensure strength, the volume of cavities should not exceed 1/3 of the total volume of the product.

The dimensions of the products are determined by the dimensions of the mold. When making products yourself, the size of the molding box can be any. However, many people prefer the standard dimensions of 19x18.8x39 cm.

The increased volume of the slag concrete block can significantly reduce the duration of various types of construction work:

construction of capital walls;
construction of internal partitions.

It is perfect for the construction of utility buildings, sheds, and storage buildings.

If you need to make a cinder block yourself, the machine allows you to quickly solve the problem. The resulting material has many advantages:

high thermal insulation characteristics. Due to reduced thermal conductivity, the material prevents heat loss;
increased dimensions and low weight. This makes it easy to transport products and quickly build walls from them;
resistance to the development of microorganisms. This is achieved due to the properties of the slag included in the structure of the block;
low price. A cinder block machine with your own hands allows you to make products that are cheaper than purchased blocks.

The material also has weaknesses:

low durability. The period of operation of buildings made of slag concrete is up to three decades;
reduced safety margin. The characteristics of the material allow the construction of buildings no more than two floors high;
the appearance of cracks under the influence of shear forces. During shrinkage, cracking occurs along the cinder block mass.

To ensure an attractive appearance of buildings, the cinder block surface needs external cladding. These disadvantages do not stop developers who want to build a utility building or a small building in a limited time at low costs.

You can use homemade cinder blocks a month after they are made.

Classification of vibration machines

This subtype of construction equipment is practically unfamiliar to the mass consumer, but brick making machines are manufactured by many domestic companies. There is no single standard regarding the principles of structural calculations, but a classification of such units exists, even if only conditionally. Vibrating machines are divided according to the following characteristics:

by control method (from manual to fully automated);
by the number of blocks produced per one working cycle;
by type of product produced (hollow/monolithic);
according to the degree of convenience and practicality in operation.

From the point of view of the last factor, industrial brick making machines are divided into three subclasses. The simplest and most structurally primitive equipment involves mainly manual labor; with its help, one cinder block can be produced per working cycle. This productivity is relatively low, because you can only make 50 building blocks per work shift.

Devices that allow the production of several cinder blocks in one cycle are more productive, but require the use of physical labor and the involvement of several workers in the technological process.

The most important part of the machine is the shape

A professional block vibrating machine can produce more than three finished products per cycle. Being equipped with many additional devices and accessories, a high-performance vibrating machine significantly facilitates the work process, requiring the use of minimal amounts of manual labor.

The cost of such devices can vary greatly, because they are aimed at different categories of consumers. Budget category machines have such a simple design that some experts prefer to make such units themselves. At the same time, the technical characteristics of homemade vibrating machines are not inferior to factory ones in terms of important operational characteristics.

How to make a vibrating machine for cinder blocks with your own hands

Many people wonder whether a cinder block production machine should be vibrating. Here we can safely answer that, yes, the presence of a vibrating machine will allow us to make cinder blocks of the best quality, without voids inside. The drawing of a vibrating machine for cinder blocks in itself is not too difficult to master, and the main elements of a vibrating machine are:

Matrices for pouring the solution, which are mounted on top of the vibration installation. To make a matrix for a cinder block, you will need to take a steel sheet with a thickness of at least 0.2 mm. The metal sheet is cut into rectangles having the following dimensions: 390x190 mm. Their number is determined individually, depending on exactly how many cinder block matrices need to be made.

Typically, no more than three matrices are installed on one block vibrating machine. After welding the cut pieces of metal, it remains to provide voids inside the future matrices. For this purpose, you need to take a metal pipe 90 mm in diameter, and then cut it into 9 pieces, 190 mm long. To weld pipes to each other, a metal strip should be used.

At the next stage of manufacturing a vibrating machine for cinder blocks, you assemble the press yourself. There is no point in refusing to manufacture it, since using a press for a vibrating machine, it will be possible to exert the necessary pressure on the mixture poured into the matrix. To make a press for a vibrating machine, you will need to cut a rectangle out of metal exactly to the dimensions: 385x185 mm. Then, in the same way as the pipes are installed in the matrix, three even holes will need to be cut in a piece of metal.

Vibrating table assembly

The third stage in the manufacture of a vibrating machine for cinder blocks includes assembling the vibrating table. Here you can go in two ways: make a vibrating table, with eccentrics on the axes and a subframe, or significantly reduce the cost of the entire structure.

In this case, directly to the side of the tabletop, which would accommodate three matrices, you should screw fasteners for an electric motor with a power of at least 0.5 kW. Then a nut with an eccentric is attached to the motor shaft, which will create the necessary vibration while the motor is running.

It is very important to use a closed-type electric motor when manufacturing a vibration machine. If nothing else is at hand, then you should provide a special apron from a piece of metal that would completely cover the engine and prevent water and solution from getting inside it

The final stage in the manufacture of a vibrating machine is the installation of the table top with the motor on the supports. To do this, you will need to weld a frame from a metal corner; at the bottom of it, if desired, you can easily attach wheels if you need to have a mobile vibrating machine for cinder blocks on hand.

Manufacturing method of a vibrating machine

Making a vibrating machine with your own hands is not a difficult task for an enterprising performer. Using a drawing, use a grinder to cut a steel sheet and, using welding, form a shape consisting only of side walls (if you plan to produce two, three or four blocks per cycle, take care of constructing partitions, which can be made from thin-walled material, 1.5-2 mm). If you adhere to current industrial standards, the size of a cinder block will be 190x188x390 mm, but no one forbids making blocks according to your own dimensions. From below, strips are welded to the shape of the vibrating machine, making the device stable (in case of strong vibrations, this is a mandatory requirement).

Manufacturing hollow products allows you to significantly save on cement and other components of the solution.

For this purpose, the matrix design provides for the presence of removable or rigidly fixed conical void formers. Since it is highly desirable to produce cinder blocks with exactly repeatable geometric dimensions, to ensure a standard height of the finished product, make a limiter below which the press will not fall.

Vibrocompression - compaction of a semi-dry concrete mixture when the latter, while in a mold, is subjected to pressure from above

The press is a plate with cutouts for void formers, to which handles are welded. It is with the help of a mold (and a vibrator, of course) that the mortar is compacted.

The motor is installed on the side face of the concrete block mold; the motor is turned into a vibration unit by an eccentric - this is an additional weight rigidly mounted on the motor shaft.

Minor design improvements will make it easier to form building blocks with your own hands. By providing the device with a simple lever system, you will reduce the physical effort expended when lowering the press. Equipping the brick making press with small wheels will make it possible to produce cinder blocks directly on the construction site, without the need for stacking.

Types and advantages of cinder blocks

Cinder blocks are a popular type of building materials that are created by hardening a concrete mixture in a special form or using vibration pressing technology. The name itself comes from the name of the filler, which can be used as ordinary furnace or blast furnace slag.

As construction technologies developed, the range of fillers used expanded greatly, although the previous name remained unchanged. The choice of filler determines the performance properties and cost of the product. Currently, monolithic or hollow cinder blocks are offered for sale. Representatives of the first group are characterized by increased strength, but are much cheaper than monolithic models. Most often they are used when arranging foundations.

The concrete mixture used to create blocks may include ash, slag and a number of other waste products from coal combustion. To make high-quality material at home, you can take fillers such as waste bricks, sawdust, expanded clay, perlite, gravel and others.

By the way, cinder blocks do not necessarily contain slag. Fillers can be very different, but the name remains the same.

The key advantages of slag concrete blocks include the following:

Excellent heat and sound insulation of walls.
Low cost - cinder blocks are much cheaper than traditional bricks, foam blocks or any other building material.
Simplicity of installation and ease of further use.
No difficulty in making it yourself. You can create a set of good building material with your own hands. This opens up wide opportunities for private developers to erect a wide variety of buildings without using the services of masons. (by the way, one block can replace 3-5 bricks).

Mixture composition

The production of slag blocks at home obliges the craftsman to adhere to a specific composition, as well as certain proportions of all components. Thus, the binding ingredient in this material is usually cement of a grade not lower than M400. As for the filling component, it can consist entirely of slag or be mixed. The last option is obtained by adding a small amount of crushed stone, sand (simple or expanded clay), crushed brick and fine expanded clay.

When making cinder blocks, the following proportions must be observed:

8-9 parts of the filling component;
1.5-2 parts of astringent ingredient.

For example, out of 9 parts, at least 6 are accounted for by this component, and the rest is made up of crushed stone and sand. In theory, when making it yourself, it is permissible to use concrete or brick scraps, screenings.

The standard proportions of cinder block are:

2 parts sand;
2 parts crushed stone;
7 parts slag;
2 parts of Portland cement marked M400.

As for water, it is customary to add it in an approximate ratio of 0.5 parts. The result is a semi-dry solution. To ensure its high quality, you need to take a small handful and throw it on a hard surface. If the thrown lump crumbled, but under compression conditions regained its previous shape, then the composition can be considered suitable for further use.

If you plan to obtain colored cinder blocks, then the recipe is supplemented with colored chalk or brick chips. To increase the strength characteristics of this material, special plasticizers are used. In some cases, they resort to adding gypsum, ash or sawdust.

DIY expanded clay blocks

If there are no problems with expanded clay in your region, you can consider yourself lucky: expanded clay concrete, despite its cheapness, is rarely found on sale, but this building material is characterized by a whole range of positive properties. To make expanded clay blocks you will need:

The main material for creating the mixture will be fine expanded clay

When mixing the solution, it is important to adhere to a certain sequence: expanded clay is added to the water, then cement, and finally sand. The proportions of the solution are as follows: for nine liters of water, use 54 kg of expanded clay, 9 kg of cement and 27 kg of sand. The result will be a mixture weighing about 100 kilograms, with the yield of finished blocks in the amount of 9-10 pieces.

Drying

Drying is another important step in the production of slag blocks. The production process itself usually takes about 2-4 days. Sufficient strength characteristics that allow you to proceed to the use of blocks are usually achieved after 28 days. This is exactly the amount of time needed to obtain high-quality building material suitable for carrying out certain works. Cinder blocks can also dry naturally. Typically, this process takes place using a simple method of producing materials (in conventional forms).

To dry cinder blocks, special chambers are often used to prevent cracking during the hardening process. To prevent the blocks from becoming cracked, they must be moistened from time to time. This process is especially relevant if the production process is carried out in hot weather.

Basic requirements for cinder block production

Standard product dimensions are 180*90*390 mm, each block usually has 3 holes

The standard dimensions of the product are 180*90*390 mm, each block usually has 3 holes. The production technology involves the use of M400 type cement mortar, as well as the addition of the required proportion of blast furnace slag and sand. Cinder block production involves hand-making and the use of a cinder block machine. It is worth noting that one bag of cement mixture allows you to make about 36 blocks. The product must be in perfect shape, otherwise small irregularities or deviations can lead to poor wall laying. To obtain the correct geometry, the cinder block mold is filled to the end with a small slide; during vibration, the solution will shrink and lie flat. The solution is prepared in the following proportion:

7 parts slag;
2 parts sand;
1, cement parts;
no more than 3 parts water.

Additional components you can add are ash, broken brick, sawdust or gypsum. But to increase the moisture resistance and strength of the product, you can add a plasticizer (see example in the photo), only 5 grams is enough.

If you are planning to make building material yourself, it is important to know that it is better to carry out the production process in a room where the resulting material can be properly dried. It is advisable to choose a location for the production of cinder blocks close to sand quarries or cement plants.

It is advisable to choose a location for the production of cinder blocks close to sand quarries or cement plants.