Learn about milling drum in 3 minutes

Pavement milling machine is one of the main equipment for asphalt concrete pavement maintenance and construction. It is mainly used for excavation and renovation of asphalt concrete surface layers in highways, urban roads, airports, freight yards, etc. It can also be used to remove road bulges, oil waves, reticulation, rutting and other defects. It can also be used to excavate road potholes and grooves, as well as roughen cement pavement and mill out surface misalignment.

The milling drum of a milling machine is the core working part of the milling machine, which is directly responsible for milling, crushing and removing the road surface (such as asphalt, concrete, etc.). Its design, structure and tool configuration directly affect the milling efficiency, construction quality and equipment life.
The following is a detailed analysis of the milling drum:
1. Structure and composition of milling drum/Structure et composition du tambour de broyage
(1) Drum body/ Corps du tambour
o Usually made of high-strength alloy steel, with surface welded or embedded in the tool holder to fix the tool.
o The diameter and width of the drum vary according to the construction requirements (for example, the width of the milling drum of a small machine is about 1 meter, while that of a large machine can reach more than 2.2 meters).
(2) Tool holder and tool/Porte-outil et outil
o Knife holder: A base fixed on the drum body for mounting knives.
o Tool (milling cutter head): Made of carbide or tungsten steel, it is in direct contact with the road surface for cutting and needs to be replaced regularly.
o The cutters are arranged in a “spiral” or “chessboard” pattern, which affects milling uniformity and efficiency.
(3) Drive system/Système d'entraînement
o The milling drum is driven by a hydraulic motor or mechanical transmission to rotate at high speed (usually 100-200 rpm).
(4) Bearing and sealing system/Système de roulement et d'étanchéité
o Support the milling drum in operation, with high load capacity and dust-proof design to prevent debris from entering and causing wear.
2. The core purpose of the milling drum/L'objectif principal du tambour de fraisage
(1) Road Milling/Fraisage routier
a) Removal of damaged layers: Stripping away aged, cracked or rutted asphalt/concrete layers in preparation for resurfacing.
b) Roughening treatment: shallow milling (depth 1-3cm) of the old road surface to enhance the adhesion between the new and old materials.
(2) Precise thickness control/Contrôle précis de l'épaisseur
By adjusting the descending depth of the milling drum (such as hydraulic control accuracy ±1mm), the milling thickness requirements of different projects can be achieved.
(3) Material recycling/Recyclage des matériaux
The milled materials can be directly loaded onto trucks through the conveyor belt and used in the production of recycled asphalt mixture (RAP), thus reducing costs.
3. Classification and application scenarios of milling drum

  Classification et scénarios d'application du tambour de fraisage
(1) Standard milling drum, which is characterized by large cutter spacing and strong cutting force, suitable for deep milling (such as removing asphalt layers above 10 cm)
(2) Fine milling drum, which is characterized by densely arranged cutters and a smooth milling surface, is suitable for shallow fine milling (such as bridge deck treatment and airport runways).
(3) Wear-resistant milling drum, which is characterized by reinforced cutter seat and drum body materials, high wear resistance, and is suitable for high-hardness road surfaces (such as concrete and gravel base).
(4) Quick-change milling drum, which is characterized by modular design and can quickly replace the tool or drum body, is suitable for projects with frequent switching of multiple working conditions.
4. Precautions for use and maintenance/Précautions d'emploi et d'entretien
(1) Tool management/Gestion des outils
a) Check tool wear regularly to avoid "excessive wear" that may cause damage to the tool holder (generally, tools should be replaced if they are worn more than 1/3).
b) Adopt the "symmetrical replacement" principle to keep the milling drum balanced and reduce vibration.
(2) Milling depth control/Contrôle de la profondeur de fraisage
Avoid overload milling (for example, when the concrete layer is too thick, it needs to be done in layers) to prevent the drum from deforming or the drive system from overheating.
(3) Cleaning and lubrication/Nettoyage et lubrification
a) Clean up the adhering asphalt residue promptly after construction to prevent it from hardening and increasing the rotation resistance after cooling.
b) Lubricate the bearings regularly and check for seal failure.
(4) Matching working conditions/Conditions de travail adaptées
Select the type of cutter according to the hardness of the road material (e.g. standard cutter head for asphalt, reinforced cutter head for concrete).
5. Purchase suggestions
(1) Engineering needs first
For long-term high-intensity operations, choose an integral cast drum, and for short-term light projects, choose a welded drum body to reduce costs.
(2) Check for signs of wear
When purchasing second-hand equipment, pay attention to whether the drum body has cracks, whether the knife seat is loose, and test whether the idling is stable.
(3) Brand and accessories supply
Choose mainstream brands (such as CAT, XCMG) to ensure adequate supply of tools and accessories.

Summarize
The milling drum is the "heart" of the milling machine, and its performance directly affects construction efficiency and cost. Whether it is a new machine or second-hand equipment, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition and maintenance cost of the milling drum. Reasonable selection, regular maintenance and standardized operation can significantly extend its service life and reduce construction risks.

Le tambour de fraisage est le « cœur » de la fraiseuse et ses performances affectent directement l'efficacité et le coût de la construction. Qu'il s'agisse d'une machine neuve ou d'une machine d'occasion, il est important de prêter attention à l'état du tambour de fraisage et aux coûts d'entretien. Une sélection raisonnable, un entretien régulier et un fonctionnement standardisé peuvent prolonger considérablement sa durée de vie et réduire les risques de construction.

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