Wilfley shaking table

Types of wilfley shaking tables

The shaking table is an essential gravity separation device in the rocks and mineral processing industries. The Wilfley shaking table has numerous varieties and uses in the market.

The most popular types include:

• Concentrate Shaking Tables: These types of tables are found in expanding metal and timber industries. They are specifically designed to separate valuable metals from ore by products. Concentrate shaking tables use a combination of gravity, water flow, and tilt to separate heavier mineral particles, which are then further refined.
• Wilfley Tables: The Wilfley table is named after its inventor, L. H. Wilfley, who patented the design in the early twentieth century. Wilfley shaking tables work on the same principle as other shaking tables. However, they are specifically manufactured to separate lighter and heavier particles in the mineral processing industry. Wilfley tables are widely used by professional miners and mineral processors. Their distinct feature is the separation between the lighter, low-value materials and the heavier, high-value materials. Besides, the Wilfley table's mechanical motion differentiates high-value areas from low ones.
• Laboratory Shaking Tables: Laboratory shaking tables are the smaller versions of the industrial or factory shaking tables. They are typically used for testing and research purposes in mineral laboratories to study the behavior of different materials during separation. Laboratory shaking tables are also used for educational purposes in schools and colleges to teach students about the principles of gravity separation and the shaking table techniques. The smaller tables are usually found in a laboratory and are used to determine the feasibility of full-scale shaking table separation processes before investing in large-scale industrial facilities.
• Recliner Shaking Tables: The recliner shaking table is mostly used to study the effect of an earthquake on a given structure. A shaking table is an artificial device that can produce seismological events similar to real earthquakes. The recliner shaking table can be made adaptively to the seismic behavior of a particular building or a specific infrastructural facility. The recliner shaking table is very large and rubberized, with a movable seat that can accommodate a full-scale building or an important infrastructural component. The table is further utilized to investigate the response of various types of soil and rock layers.
• Other Shaking Tables: Other shaking tables include the small or mini shaking tables. They are commonly used in the educational and biological field sciences. For instance, educational institutions employ the use of a small shaking table in the chemistry and science field to mix and combine different chemicals and substances in precise quantities. The small table is also used to grow cells and tissues. In the science field, small shaking tables are used to study the effects of gravity on various types of land forms and geological structures.

The Wilfley shaking table is an essential separation device in the mineral processing industry. It is used to separate light minerals, such as gold, zircon, cassiterite, ruby, ilmenite, diamonds, and sapphires, from heavy ones. Buyers looking for Wilfley tables should browse through our products to find what they need!

Specifications and maintenance Wilfley shaking table

Specifications

• Sizes: Usually, the length is between 4 and 10 ft, and the width is between 2 and 5 ft. Larger or smaller ones can be customized according to requirements.
• Weight Capacity: It means how much the shaking table can hold. This depends on the size of the table. Smaller tables may handle up to 50 lbs per ft2, while bigger ones could deal with over 100 lbs per ft2.
• Materials: Most shaking tables are made of tough steel with an anti-corrosion coating. The surface is often made of wood or synthetic materials with good friction properties.
• Power Source: Some shaking tables use electric motors, which are 0.5 to 5 kW, while others may use gas engines or diesel engines.
• Design Features: This may include wave forms, friction grooves, or other designs on the surface of the shaking table that affect separation efficiency.

Maintenance

• Inspection: Regularly check if the Wilfley shaking table has visible damages such as cracks, loose parts, etc.
• Ensure the connection parts, like the bolts and nuts, are fastened properly to avoid shaking or loosening during operations.
• Lubrication: Apply lubricating oil on the transmission system periodically to reduce friction and wear.
• Cleaning: Clean the working surface of the shaking table to prevent material residue from clogging up the grooves and affecting the separation effect.
• Adjustment: Adjust the slope angle and cross slope according to the processed materials and requirements to achieve the best separation results.

Applications of Wilfley shaking tables

The Wilfley shaking table provides a wide range of applications in the mining industry. Below is an overview of some of the common applications of the shaking table.

It is primarily used to separate valuable minerals from gangue, which is the worthless part of the ore. The shaking table can effectively separate high-density minerals, such as gold, silver, platinum, lead, zinc, copper, and tungsten, from lower-density materials.

In addition to ore separation, the Wilfley shaking table is also used to concentrate minerals. When employed as a concentration table, it boosts the grades of extracted minerals while reducing the quantity of tailings that must be processed further.

The Wilfley shaking table can also be used to recycle materials from the mining industry. It is estimated that up to 60% of the total energy consumption in mining lies within the mineral processing area. Therefore, shaking tables can reduce energy usage by concentrating only those minerals that are economically recoverable.

Shaking tables are also used for the separation of other materials in different industries. These include coal purification, where shaking tables help remove sulfur and ash from coal to improve its quality; separation of metals and plastics from electronic waste, which are further recycled to reduce environmental pollution; oil recovery from interstitial rock in oil fields, where shaking tables can help extract oil economically; purification of contaminated water through the removal of suspended solids by sedimentation on a shaking table; and food processing such as separation of grain, salt, sugar, spices, and other food constituents.

Besides the above-mentioned applications, the Wilfley shaking table is a valuable tool for scientific research and education. It is widely used in universities, laboratories, and geological surveys to study the behavior of mineral separation, ore characteristics, and gravity concentration techniques.

How to choose Wilfley shaking tables

When choosing a shaking table, it is better to focus on the features and functions of the table that fulfil specific needs. Knowing what materials mining and mineral processing industries work with can help determine the table's desired characteristics. For instance, an industry working with copper ore will want to get a copper shaking table with the proper dimension, weight capacity, frequency, amplitude, and feeding method.

Consider the table's dimension and weight capacity. A table with larger dimensions and higher weight capacity can process more significant ore quantities. However, such a tables may require more power and ways to operate. Hence, they are suitable for high-production industries. For smaller ore quantities, tables with smaller dimensions and lower weight capacities are adequate.

Frequency and amplitude are critical parameters that separate different tables. They define how often and how much the table's surface oscillates to separate valuable materials from the waste ones. Consider what type of material the business needs to extract and see what the required shaking frequency and amplitude is. Some tables will allow adjustment of that particular setting.

The way ore is fed into the shaking table also matters. Certain industries prefer to directly feed the ore from a slurry pipeline or mixed feeding method. In contrast, others may have a feeding system that works better with the table's adjustable feeder. Hence, it is essential to see what other systems there are to work with the shaking table and determine which one suits the industry needs.

Lastly, the table's construction material and design will also affect its working capacity and system compatibility. The preferred shaking table will have materials and a design that can withstand the ore's processing demands.

Wilfley shaking table Q&A

Q1: What is the difference between a shaking table and a glide table?

A1: The primary difference between shaking and glide tables lies in their operational mechanics. While the shaking table utilizes oscillatory water movement to separate materials, the glide table offers a gentler, horizontally-directed flow ideal for finer separations. Power consumption also distinguishes them. The shaking tables often demand greater energy due to their oscillatory machinery. Conversely, glide tables typically have lower power requirements, making them energetically efficient choices for certain processing needs. Furthermore, the end-product characteristics reveal the divergence of these tables. The shaking ones frequently handle coarser fractions, yielding concentrate, middling, and tailing outputs. On the other hand, glide tables are adept at tackling finer particles, often capturing valuable materials that evade the grasp of coarser separators.

Q2: How are materials fed onto shaking tables for separation?

A2: Materials are typically slurried in water and then fed onto the table's deck in the form of small quantities or streams. The distribution system on the shaking table is designed to spread the material evenly across the table's width, ensuring uniform separation.

Q3: What are some factors affecting the separation efficiency of a shaking table?

A3: Several factors influence the shaking table's separation efficiency, including the table's deck angle, water flow rate, feed characteristics (slurry density, particle size distribution), air rifflers' strength and frequency (if used), table tilting longitudinally and transversely, table deck material and texture, table shaking frequency, water viscosity, temperature, presence of any other separating agents or chemicals, and the table's overall set-up and calibration for the specific material being processed.

Q4: Why are Wilfley shaking tables still relevant in today's mining industry?

A4: Despite advances in technology, the Wilfley shaking table is still widely used in the mining industry for precious metal recovery due to its simple operation, high separation efficiency, and ability to concentrate valuable metals amidst less profitable materials.