Parallel sample preparation
Two grinding stations support comparative testing and repeat preparations with jars from 12 to 125 ml. Useful sample quantity is up to 50 ml per station.
TWO STATIONS. PARALLEL PREPARATION.
PM 200.
Two stations. Comparable conditions.
Prepare two smaller samples in parallel with a benchtop planetary mill for dry grinding, wet colloidal grinding, mixing and advanced materials research. Two stations accept grinding jars from 12 to 125 ml.
Configuration examples. Jars, lids, adapters and monitoring accessories may be optional.
FEED SIZE*< 4 mm
SUN-WHEEL SPEED100–650 rpm
NOMINAL JAR VOLUME12–125 ml
FINAL FINENESS*< 1 µm
THE MODEL IN FOCUS
Two grinding stations for efficient comparative testing.
Fine and ultrafine processing
Dry methods target analytical fineness, while suitable wet methods extend toward the nanometer range. Use the detailed feed limit of below 4 mm when preparing the sample.
Record a repeatable method
Speed control, ten stored SOPs, programmable intervals and direction reversal support recurring laboratory methods.
HOW PLANETARY BALL MILLS WORK
One orbit.
Counter-rotating jars.
Grinding jars sit eccentrically on a rotating support disc, or sun wheel. Each jar turns around its own axis in the opposite direction. The combined motion accelerates the balls and creates repeated ball-to-ball and ball-to-wall interactions.
Impact and friction reduce particles, mix components and can supply mechanical energy for solid-state reactions. The balance changes with speed, ball size, loading, jar geometry and whether the method is dry or wet.
The PM 200 sun-wheel range is 100–650 rpm. Its sun-wheel-to-jar speed ratio is 1:−2.
Feed limits, useful sample quantity and achievable fineness depend on the material, jar, ball charge and operating conditions. Nominal jar volume is not the sample filling volume. Sub-100 nm results require a suitable wet-grinding method; maximum batch size and finest result are not simultaneous guarantees.
HANDLING & REPRODUCIBILITY
Two samples.
A documented operating point.
The Safety Slider supports secure jar clamping before starting. Specify the two jar assemblies and loading arrangement together, then record speed, duration, pauses and direction reversal for the method.
- Automatic grinding-chamber ventilation
- Parameter setting through the instrument display
- Programmable starting time and remaining-time backup after power interruption
WET & NANO-SCALE GRINDING
Control dispersion.
Develop the fineness.
Dry grinding can reach analytical fineness below 1 µm for suitable samples. Wet colloidal methods can extend below 0.1 µm when the material, ball charge and dispersion support it.
Barium titanate:
a wet-grinding example.
A reported PM 200 trial milled barium titanate at 500 rpm using 0.5 mm grinding balls in a heptane and oleic-acid mixture. After five hours, the reported D90 decreased from 15 µm to 95 nm. D90 describes the size below which 90% of the measured distribution falls; it is not the same statistic as a mean particle size.
Small particles can agglomerate as their surface interactions become more important. A suitable liquid or dispersant helps keep particles separated, while many small balls increase frictional contacts.
Review process temperature and cooling pauses alongside the size distribution. The example result is specific to its material and method.
MECHANOCHEMISTRY & SOLID-STATE RESEARCH
Mechanical alloying.
Mechanosynthesis. Co-crystal screening.
Planetary milling supplies impact and friction for research that goes beyond particle-size reduction. Choose the energy input, jar and atmosphere around the chemistry.
PM 200: develop the reaction method
A 1:−2 speed ratio supports many mechanical-alloying and mechanosynthesis investigations. Document loading, jar and ball material, speed, milling time and cooling pauses to compare experiments meaningfully.
Explore solid-state synthesis, catalyst or composite preparation, and reactions with reduced bulk solvent during the milling stage. Pharmaceutical research applications include investigating active pharmaceutical ingredient synthesis and solid-form development. The appropriate method depends on the chemistry; evaluate the reaction product and the full process rather than inferring success from a milling program alone.
Compare impact-driven MM 400 research methodsCo-crystal and co-former screening
Small-vial adapters allow parallel screening with limited research quantities. The outer ring of a compatible adapter accepts up to 16 vials. The actual sample count depends on the compatible adapter, ring position, station count and loading configuration.
The eight inner-ring positions provide a different energy input for comparative research. Keep vessel format, ball charge, liquid addition and position in the method record, and confirm solid-phase formation analytically.
Explore a co-crystallization application exampleJARS, BALLS & PROCESS OPTIONS
Build the method
around the grinding tools.
The jar, ball charge and closure determine what the sample experiences. Confirm each accessory against the model, jar size and application.
EasyFit grinding jars
The PM 200 accepts 12, 25, 50, 80 and 125 ml nominal jar sizes. Advanced Anti-Twist geometry on applicable 50–500 ml jars helps resist twisting and simplifies positioning.
Tool materials
Options include hardened stainless steel, tungsten carbide, agate, sintered aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide. Additional steel or silicon-nitride formats depend on model and availability. Select for sample hardness, chemistry and acceptable wear contribution.
Lids, seals & wet-grinding closures
O-ring seals support pressure-tight, dust-resistant jar closure. Protective jackets are used on selected brittle-material jars. Compatible special closure devices are recommended for wet or colloidal grinding.
Aeration lids
Compatible aeration lids allow a specified gas atmosphere inside the jar, such as nitrogen or argon. Interchangeable material inlays can match the contact surface to suitable jar materials.
GrindControl
The optional measurement system records temperature and pressure inside a compatible jar. Use these data to study warming, gas evolution and reaction behavior. Monitoring does not actively cool the sample.
Vial adapters for research
A compatible adapter offers an outer ring with 16 positions and an inner ring with eight positions for different energy conditions. Disposable 1.5 ml GC vials support small-sample screening; compatible 20 ml formats are also listed in selected models’ technical data.
Jar volume, useful sample and stacking are different.
PM 200: nominal jars 12–125 ml; useful sample quantity up to 2 × 50 ml. Compatible stacking: 12 and 25 ml jars; two compatible jars per station.
LOAD THE JAR WITH PURPOSE
Sample. Balls. Free movement.
Jar size and ball charge should be selected together. Dry impact grinding and wet ultrafine grinding use different filling strategies.
Start with the sample quantity.
For conventional dry preparation, a useful starting rule is that grinding balls should be at least three times the largest feed dimension. The jar-filling chart relates nominal jar volume, sample amount, feed size and ball count.
A dry-grinding example uses a 125 ml jar with 50 ml of sample containing pieces up to 3 mm, with 30 balls of 10 mm diameter. This is a starting example to evaluate, not a fixed charge for every material.
Wet ultrafine methods commonly use many smaller balls to increase frictional contacts. A wet-grinding starting point is approximately 60% jar filling with small balls; liquid volume, viscosity, dispersion and sample loading must be matched to the method.
Open the jar-filling chartMATERIALS & APPLICATIONS
From analytical samples
to advanced materials.
- Battery materials
- Ceramics & metal oxides
- Minerals & geological analysis
- Mechanical alloying
- Pharmaceutical research
- Pigments & coatings
- Polymers & composites
- Environmental samples
TECHNICAL DATA
PM 200 at a glance.
| Maximum feed size* | < 4 mm |
|---|---|
| Standard final fineness* | < 1 µm |
| Wet colloidal fineness* | < 0.1 µm with a suitable method |
| Grinding stations | 2 |
| Useful sample quantity* | 2 × 50 ml |
| Nominal jar volume | 12–125 ml |
| Sun-wheel speed | 100–650 rpm |
| Speed ratio | 1 : −2 |
| Acceleration rating | 37.1 g |
| Method storage | 10 SOPs; interval operation and direction reversal |
View complete technical specifications
| Applications | pulverizing, mixing, homogenizing, colloidal milling, mechanical alloying, mechanosynthesis, nano grinding |
|---|---|
| Feed material | soft, hard, brittle, fibrous – dry or wet |
| Size reduction principle | impact, friction |
| Material feed size* | < 4 mm |
| Final fineness* | < 1 µm, for colloidal grinding < 0.1 µm |
| Batch size / feed quantity* | max. 2 x 50 ml |
| No. of grinding stations | 2 |
| Speed ratio | 1 : -2 |
| Sun wheel speed | 100 – 650 min-1 |
| Effective sun wheel diameter | 157 mm |
| G-force | 37.1 g |
| Type of grinding jars | EasyFit, optional aeration covers, safety closure devices |
| Material of grinding tools | hardened steel, stainless steel, tungsten carbide, agate, sintered aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, zirconium oxide |
| Grinding jar sizes | 12 ml / 25 ml / 50 ml / 80 ml / 125 ml |
| Stackable grinding jars | 12 ml / 25 ml |
| Setting of grinding time | digital, 00:00:01 to 99:59:59 |
| Interval operation | yes, with direction reversal |
| Interval time | 00:00:01 to 99:59:59 |
| Pause time | 00:00:01 to 99:59:59 |
| Storable SOPs | 10 |
| Measurement of input energy possible | yes |
| Interface | RS 232 / RS 485 |
| Drive | 3-phase asynchronous motor with frequency converter |
| Drive power | 750 W |
| Electrical supply data | different voltages |
| Power connection | 1-phase |
| Protection code | IP 30 |
| Power consumption | ~ 1250 W (VA) |
| W x H x D closed | 640 x 480 (780) x 420 mm |
| Net weight | ~ 76 kg |
*Feed limits, useful sample quantity and achievable fineness depend on the material, jar, ball charge and operating conditions. Nominal jar volume is not the sample filling volume. Sub-100 nm results require a suitable wet-grinding method; maximum batch size and finest result are not simultaneous guarantees.
YOUR MATERIAL. YOUR NEXT STEP.
Put the process
to the material test.
Tell us what you’re processing and what needs to change. We’ll help define the equipment, accessories and a useful trial.
- Material and starting particle size
- Target fineness and required quantity
- Temperature, purity and cleaning requirements