Content
A milking machine for cows at home can be made by a specialist who understands how it works and what components it consists of. The handicraft unit can injure the udder. If the decision is made to stop at homemade products, the nodes for the milking machine must be purchased factory-made. At home, parts are assembled into one structure.
How the milking machine works
Before you understand the principle of operation and start manufacturing, you need to understand what are the main components of the milking machine:
- teat cups - 4 pieces;
- hoses for pumping milk and air injection;
- metal milk container;
- pump with an electric motor;
- collector.
Depending on the model, the device is equipped with a pulsator or a piston pump works instead. The second type of unit consists of a set of valves, which are equipped with a milk container (can) and a pump. Their alternate actuation is associated with the direction of movement of the piston.
Teat cups have a complex device. The base is a metal or plastic case. There are rubber inserts inside. The elastic element fits snugly around the teats of the cow's udder. There is a sealed chamber between the body and the inserts.
Two hoses are connected to each glass. The thick milk suction tube is connected to a rubber insert. A thin hose is connected to the body of the glass. Through it, air is injected into the sealed chamber.
The principle of operation of a push-pull installation is as follows:
- The glasses are put on the teats of the cow's udder, the pump is turned on;
- Initially, a low pressure is maintained inside the rubber insert of the cup (suction chamber). When the pump drives the pulsator or valve (depending on the design), the vacuum starts to pulsate. With the simultaneous formation of low pressure in the sealed interwall and suction chamber, milk flows out of the teat of the udder of the cow.
- The milk flows through thick hoses through the collector into the can.
The outflow of milk stops when the pressure inside the inter-wall sealed chamber equalizes to the atmospheric level.
Almost all units are vacuum, and work according to the same principle. Technical characteristics and details differ for different models.
There is such a thing as milking discontinuity. The principle of a two-stroke milking machine is based on the constant suction of milk from the udder of the cow. The unit has only two modes of operation: milk suction and teat compression. Three-stroke devices work on a similar principle, only there is a third rest mode. For a cow, this option is physiologically more convenient, as it resembles manual milking.
Basically, modern milking machines are two-stroke. They are lighter, easier to transport. Three-stroke models are powerful, usually stationary.
The machines differ in the way of milking the cow:
- Suction models vacuum the milk. The advantage of the technology is in respect of the teats and the udder of the cow. The process is closer to hand milking.
- Release models work due to vacuum and additional overpressure.
Suction devices are produced on an industrial scale, and squeeze units are made to order.
Milking units differ in the way milk is transported. At home and on small farms, mobile devices with a can is used. On large farms, milk is collected in a large stationary container and transported through long pipelines.
Pros and cons of a home milking machine before a purchased one
Having decided to make a milking machine at home, you need to compare the pros and cons of a home-made and factory unit. Make a final decision based on the results.
Homemade advantages:
- lower cost, subject to self-assembly of units at home;
- the possibility of adjusting the milking machine diagram with your own hands according to your requests;
- completing units taking into account personal requirements;
- self-service in the future of the milking unit and its repair at home.
Disadvantages of homemade products:
- there is no guarantee of reliable operation of the device, gentle milking of the udder of a cow;
- for the correct installation of units at home, knowledge and experience are needed;
- the savings are small, since all the nodes will have to be bought;
- the installation of complex parts will require technical solutions.
The advantages of a prefabricated milking unit:
- guarantee of reliable operation of the device, reducing the risk of injury to the udder of a cow;
- warranty service by the manufacturer;
- the purchased installation is immediately ready for operation without test procedures;
- aesthetic appearance, compactness of the device.
Disadvantages of a factory-made milking machine:
- a large price is not always affordable for a private owner of cows;
- some structural units may not meet customer requirements;
- for service, you sometimes have to invite a service center representative;
- post-warranty repairs are more expensive for the owner.
Having weighed all the pros and cons, it will be easier to decide which is better, make a manual milking machine or buy a ready-made milking machine.
How to make a milking machine with your own hands
To assemble homemade products at home, you initially need to buy all the components. You will need:
- vacuum pump;
- suspension mechanism;
- pulsator;
- can;
- a set of hoses for pumping milk and air injection.
After purchasing all the parts, they begin to develop the project. You can take a milking machine as a basis. The scheme is completely copied or corrected. First of all, they are determined with the frame design, and then all the nodes are placed on it.
The functionality of the cow milking machine depends on the choice of accessories. The assembly must meet the technical specifications. The quality will affect the longevity of the operation. It is advisable to pay attention to cost. Some parts of a domestic manufacturer are not inferior in characteristics to imported counterparts, but they are cheaper.
The vacuum pump is the main working unit of the homemade apparatus. The quality of milk suction from the teat of a cow's udder depends on its work. The choice of pumps is huge. First of all, preference is given to trusted manufacturers. In terms of pricing policy, they choose the golden mean. A quality pump cannot be cheap. Too expensive unit is difficult for post-warranty service.
In order for a home-assembled cow milking machine to work stably, they begin to select a pump according to technical parameters. The first step is determined with power. A 500 W pump is enough for milking two cows. If the farm consists of a large number of livestock, pumping equipment is selected with a capacity of 4 kW or more. It is important to adhere to a simple rule here: the more the number of cows, the more powerful the pump is needed. However, a large stock is also not needed. Unclaimed power will be reflected in unnecessary energy consumption.
The second important technical parameter is functionality.There are vacuum and oil pumps. For a home-made milking machine, the first option is suitable. The oil units generate a high noise disturbance to the cows. In addition, constant monitoring of the oil level is required. If the system is depressurized, the milk will be spoiled.
The hanging unit is an equally important part of the apparatus. It is he who will be in contact with the udder of the cow. You cannot save here. It is better to purchase a suspended unit from a well-known manufacturer. It is advisable to choose transparent glasses in order to see the process of milking the teats of the cow's udder. High-quality rubber inserts and soft silicone suction cups are important. The better these elements are, the less power is needed for the engine to suck milk. In addition, cows' teats and udders are less chafed.
The pulsator and the collector are chosen at your discretion. This will require personal experience and the recommendation of sellers. The units are sold in separate versions and combined - pulse collectors. The second option is more profitable for a home-made milking machine. The combined unit is less expensive, easy to install and maintain. The manufacturer does not play a special role. However, imported pulse collectors have a longer service life, but are more expensive. Domestic models wear out faster, but the price is lower. Let the owner of the cows decide what is more profitable for him.
The hose for transporting milk is selected transparent from food grade polymer. An opaque hose is suitable for air, but similarly made of non-toxic materials. The pipelines must be strong and durable.
Milk collection containers are available in plastic, aluminum and stainless steel. The aluminum can is lightweight, but deteriorates over time from dampness. Oxidation products get into milk. Stainless steel is the ideal material, only the container is heavy. The plastic product does not oxidize, it is light, but it bursts on impact. The choice of the type of can depends on the preferences of the owner.
When all the components are purchased, it will not be difficult to assemble a milking machine for cows with your own hands:
- according to the developed project, the frame is welded;
- a pump, a motor are bolted to the frame, the pulleys are connected with a belt to transmit torque;
- pumping equipment is covered with a metal casing;
- milk hoses are connected to the pump for pumping milk into the can;
- hoses are connected to the start-up collector, the suspension unit is connected;
- a hole is drilled in the can lid, a valve is installed, which is responsible for adjusting the pressure.
At the end of the assembly, they try to start the pump.
The do-it-yourself milking machine is shown in more detail in the video:
Do-it-yourself milking machine from a vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner can replace the vacuum pump, but the pressure in the homemade product must be made pulsating, otherwise the cow's udder will be injured. An electrovalve is placed on the assembled apparatus from a vacuum cleaner, powered by a pulse voltage. During operation, the valve will bleed air from the hose, creating a pulsating pressure.
In the video, an example of making a vacuum pump from a vacuum cleaner:
Homemade milking machine from a compressor
The compressor is converted into a vacuum pump. At the inlet to the receiver, a check valve is pulled from the tee. To remove the rubber nickle, you need to unscrew the plug.
The process of making a milking machine from a compressor with your own hands is shown in more detail in the video:
Difficulties and nuances of making a homemade milking machine for cows
The difficulty of assembling a cow milking machine at home arises in the absence of knowledge and experience. The mistakes made will be reflected primarily on the animal. If the cow is frightened or injured, problems will arise with normal milking in the future.
In a homemade milking machine, it is important to take into account all the nuances so that in terms of technical parameters it does not differ from the factory design. They even take into account the noise level of the motor, the way the unit moves around the barn.
Conclusion
It is optimal to assemble a milking machine for cows at home when there are several broken factory-made units. Working parts are removed from each installation, installed on a finished frame. Buying all new units is not economically viable, and sometimes it will even be more expensive than a new device.
