Crusher Duty Motors for Rock Crushers & Aggregate Equipment

Rock crushing, aggregate and quarry equipment can place demanding loads on electric motors. Motors used on crushers, screens, feeders and conveyors may be exposed to heavy starting loads, vibration, dust and continuous industrial service.

PTJ Industrial supplies crusher-duty and severe-duty electric motors for a wide range of aggregate, mining and material-handling applications.

Our online inventory includes crusher-duty motors in multiple horsepower, RPM and NEMA frame configurations, with current pricing and availability shown on many models.

What Is a Crusher Duty Electric Motor?

A crusher-duty electric motor is designed for demanding industrial applications where the driven equipment may experience heavy loads, frequent starting, vibration, dust and other harsh operating conditions.

Crusher-duty motors are commonly associated with aggregate, quarry, mining and material-processing equipment.

The exact motor requirements depend on the machine, starting method, electrical system and operating conditions, so the motor should always be selected based on the complete application rather than horsepower alone.

Common Crusher and Aggregate Applications

Electric motors are used throughout crushing and aggregate-processing systems.

Applications can include:

• Jaw crushers
• Cone crushers
• Impact crushers
• Hammermills
• Vibrating screens
• Grizzly feeders
• Belt conveyors
• Feed conveyors
• Stacking conveyors
• Aggregate plants
• Quarry equipment
• Mining equipment
• Material-handling systems

Each application can place different demands on the motor, so the equipment manufacturer and existing motor specifications should be reviewed when selecting a replacement.

Why Crusher Applications Can Be Hard on Motors

Crusher and aggregate equipment can operate under more demanding conditions than many general-purpose industrial applications.

Heavy Starting Loads

Some crushing and material-handling equipment can require significant torque during startup, particularly when the machine is loaded or restarting after a shutdown.

Shock Loading

Crushing equipment can experience changing mechanical loads as material moves through the machine. Motor and drivetrain selection should account for the actual load characteristics of the equipment.

Dust and Contamination

Aggregate plants and quarries can produce significant amounts of airborne dust. Motor enclosure and construction should be appropriate for the operating environment.

Vibration

Crushers, screens and feeders can create substantial vibration. Proper motor mounting, alignment and equipment maintenance are important for reliable operation.

Continuous Industrial Service

Many aggregate operations run equipment for long production periods. The motor should be selected for the required duty cycle and operating environment.

How to Select a Replacement Crusher Motor

When replacing a crusher-duty motor, start by gathering the information from the existing motor nameplate.

Important specifications typically include:

• Horsepower
• RPM
• Voltage
• Phase
• NEMA frame size
• Full-load amps
• Service factor
• Enclosure
• Mounting arrangement
• Shaft dimensions

You should also identify the type of equipment the motor operates and how the motor is started.

Match the Horsepower

The replacement motor must be capable of supplying the horsepower required by the crusher or driven equipment.

Do not select a replacement based only on physical size or shaft dimensions. The required horsepower and application load need to be considered first.

PTJ Industrial's crusher-duty inventory includes motors across a wide range of horsepower sizes. You can view our current selection of crusher-duty electric motors online.

Check the Motor RPM

Crusher and aggregate equipment may use motors operating at different speeds depending on the machine and drivetrain.

Common industrial motor speeds include approximately:

• 3600 RPM
• 1800 RPM
• 1200 RPM
• 900 RPM

The actual nameplate speed of an induction motor will usually be somewhat below its synchronous speed.

For example, a motor commonly described as an 1800 RPM motor may have an actual full-load speed in the 1750 to 1780 RPM range.

Changing motor speed can significantly change the operation of the driven equipment, so the replacement speed should be verified carefully.

Check the NEMA Frame Size

The NEMA frame number identifies important mechanical dimensions such as shaft height, mounting-hole locations and shaft dimensions.

Crusher-duty motors can use many different NEMA frame sizes depending on horsepower and speed.

Common industrial frame sizes can include:

• 213T
• 215T
• 254T
• 256T
• 284T
• 286T
• 324T
• 326T
• 364T
• 365T
• 404T
• 405T
• 444T
• 445T
• 447T
• 449T

Large crusher-duty motors may use additional or specialized frame configurations.

Always compare the complete motor dimensions before installation.

Voltage and Phase

Most large industrial crusher applications use three-phase power.

Common motor voltages include:

• 230V
• 460V
• 575V

Many industrial motors are designed for dual-voltage operation, such as 230/460V.

Large horsepower applications may use motors specifically designed for a single operating voltage.

TEFC Motors in Crusher Applications

TEFC stands for Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled.

TEFC motors are commonly used in industrial environments because the motor enclosure provides greater protection from external contaminants than an open motor.

The correct enclosure still depends on the installation environment and the equipment manufacturer's requirements.

Can I Replace a Crusher Motor With Another Brand?

Often, the replacement motor does not have to be the same manufacturer as the original motor.

A motor from another manufacturer may be suitable if the required:

• Horsepower
• RPM
• Voltage
• Phase
• Frame
• Shaft dimensions
• Enclosure
• Mounting
• Torque characteristics
• Application requirements

are compatible with the existing equipment.

PTJ Industrial can help cross-reference an existing crusher motor when the original model is obsolete, unavailable or has a long lead time.

Crusher Motors and Soft Starters

Starting a large crusher motor can place significant demand on the electrical system and mechanical equipment.

Depending on the application, a reduced-voltage soft starter may be used to manage motor starting.

PTJ Industrial also supplies industrial motor controls, including soft starters for demanding applications.

The correct starter should be selected according to motor horsepower, full-load amps, voltage, starting requirements and application duty.

Crusher Motors and Variable Frequency Drives

A variable frequency drive, or VFD, may be used in some aggregate applications when adjustable speed, controlled acceleration or other process-control features are required.

VFD use depends on the motor, equipment and operating requirements. Confirm that both the motor and driven equipment are suitable for variable-speed operation.

Jaw Crusher Motors

Jaw crushers can place substantial mechanical demand on the drivetrain, especially during startup and when processing heavy material.

When replacing a jaw crusher motor, verify the existing horsepower, RPM, frame, voltage, shaft and starting method.

Cone Crusher Motors

Cone crushers are commonly used for secondary and tertiary crushing in aggregate and mining operations.

Replacement motor selection should be based on the crusher manufacturer's requirements along with the specifications of the existing motor.

Impact Crusher and Hammermill Motors

Impact crushers and hammermills use rotating equipment to break material apart.

Motor speed, horsepower, starting characteristics and mechanical connection to the driven equipment should all be verified when selecting a replacement.

Motors for Screens and Feeders

Aggregate plants also use electric motors on screens, feeders and other material-handling equipment.

These motors may have different load and operating requirements than the crusher itself, so each motor should be selected for its specific application.

Motors for Aggregate Conveyors

Belt conveyors and material-handling conveyors are used throughout aggregate plants to move stone, sand, gravel and processed material.

Motor selection may depend on conveyor length, load, starting conditions, gearbox ratio, speed and duty cycle.

What Information Should I Send PTJ?

If you need help replacing an existing crusher or aggregate motor, send us as much information as possible.

The most useful information includes:

• A clear picture of the motor nameplate
• Motor horsepower
• RPM
• Voltage
• NEMA frame
• A picture of the complete motor
• A picture of the shaft and mounting arrangement
• The make and model of the crusher or equipment
• The type of equipment the motor operates
• Information about the motor starter or VFD, if applicable

With this information, PTJ Industrial can help identify possible replacement options from available inventory.

Shop Crusher Duty Electric Motors

PTJ Industrial carries a large selection of crusher-duty electric motors for aggregate, quarry, mining and material-processing applications.

Our current crusher-duty category contains motors in multiple horsepower, speed and frame configurations, with online pricing and availability shown for many models.

View PTJ Industrial Crusher Duty Electric Motors

Need help selecting a crusher motor? Call PTJ Industrial at 800-724-2961 or send us the existing motor nameplate and equipment information.