Farmers and private owners are thinking about creating milking equipment with their own hands, on their own. And this idea can be realized. The choice of design is up to the future owner. Ready-made solutions are offered below; you just need to give preference to the most successful ones. If necessary, they can be easily modified and adapted to your own needs. Therefore, we prepare the tools, equipment and begin designing the unit.
Design is the most important building process
Creating a milking machine for 3-4 cows is not a luxury or a fixed idea, but a conscious necessity. Before you start designing a milking machine yourself, it makes sense to pay attention to ready-made amateur developments or industrial designs. For example, like in this video:
Every little detail and design nuance should be taken into account. Otherwise, instead of a working device, you will end up with an unfinished, unfinished device. It is best to buy the main parts ready-made without trying to make them yourself.
This will save time on assembly, and will also increase the chances of getting a completely ready-to-use, truly useful unit. Which will help make work on the farm easier and increase productivity.
Tips for selecting components
Before proceeding with the direct implementation of the plan, it is imperative to study any available information and data regarding factory products. You should understand the principle of operation of the device, so you can most fully realize the idea in metal. It is better to take transparent milk hoses, so you can clearly see whether the milking machine is working or not.
It won't hurt to visit the manufacturers' websites. Sometimes detailed technical specifications, even device diagrams, are posted there. Particular attention should be paid to the pump and motor.
For ease of movement of the device, it can be mounted on a trolley. This is how industrial samples of milking machines “Doyarushka”, “Dairy Farm” and others are organized. It is best to choose wide wheels, this will ensure the required mobility.
One example of a successful implementation is shown in the video:
The milking machine consists of several main components and parts:
- Engine.
- Pump.
- Hoses.
- Balloon.
- Exhaust pipe.
- Pressure (vacuum) indicator.
- Hanging part.
Every element is important and you can’t do without it. It is necessary to provide an insulator insert to prevent electric shock. The indicator must be designed for a pressure of 50 Kilopascals. Next, we will consider each part, its design and principle of operation.
Pump and motor selection
These are 2 main units that form the backbone of the device. The engine drives all components of the milking unit. And the pump is the part that is responsible for pumping milk. The motor is only electric. This choice is justified by efficiency, reliability, and low noise level.
The second component, the pump, must create sufficient vacuum, a vacuum. It can be dry or oil piston in design. The dry model seems to be more durable: it does not require careful maintenance and is unpretentious. But it has a high noise level, which can frighten animals.
The “wet” oil pump is good, but it needs constant attention. The oil is changed once a year. Its level is periodically measured. Make sure that the rubbing parts (piston, chamber, connecting rod) are covered with an oil film.
Neither the motor nor the pump should be made independently. There is a high probability of error, and besides, these components are too important in the operation of the unit. It's better to take ready-made ones. The engine power must provide sufficient performance of the unit, and the pump must provide sufficient vacuum for pumping milk.
Hanging knot
The design of the suspended unit of the apparatus consists of a pulsator, glasses and a collector. The device is assembled and disassembled every month. The glass is a metal cylinder with a rubber cuff inside.To prevent the metal from coming into contact with the delicate skin of the udder, a special silicone rim is placed on top of the glass.
Selection of pulsators and collectors
The pulsator is designed to create dosed portions of vacuum to pump milk. A rhythm of 64 beats per minute is considered suitable: this is close to the natural process for a cow to feed a calf.
A collector is a special unit that collects milk from glasses and then transfers it to a bucket or tank. It is also purchased ready-made. An attempt to reduce costs and assemble these components with your own hands is fraught with serious miscalculations.
In addition, an independent design is not without shortcomings and miscalculations. It can also lead to injury to animals and serious illnesses.
What tools and materials are needed?
In addition to the fundamental components (engine, pump, collector, pulsator and milking cups), some other components will be needed. This:
- Milk can or bucket.
- Main air hose. Needed for air supply.
- Vacuum regulator. Required to create dosed pressure. Too much will lead to discomfort, too little will not allow you to achieve normal performance.
- A belt for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump.
- Tap for air access into the milk container.
- Silicone hoses for pumping.
An example of the design of a homemade device is shown in the video:
Tools you will need are a screwdriver, a set of keys, and a sharp knife. If the cart is assembled on your own, you will need metal-cutting equipment (grinder, hand hacksaw). It wouldn’t hurt to prepare a drill and hardware.When assembling the device, it is better to limit yourself to a minimum of operations and quickly obtain a ready-made, functional unit in the shortest possible time.
Assembling the device
If desired, it is not difficult to assemble a vacuum pump from a household vacuum cleaner. It creates enough pressure to pump milk. An example of how to do this is shown in the video:
If the option with a mobile design is chosen, first the motor and pump are mounted on the trolley. For this, ready-made brackets and hardware are used. It is advisable to think through the assembly scheme in advance to avoid possible mistakes. There are a number of nuances in installation. Firstly, it is the reliability of the fastening. Secondly, the electric motor and vacuum pump are connected by a belt drive.
That is, these 2 units must be positioned in such a way that the belt is tensioned, remains dry, free of oil and dirt. It doesn’t hurt to equip the engine with protection that protects it from debris and liquids.
Carrying handles with a hook for hanging hoses are a useful accessory. The main thing is that the device is comfortable to use. Vacuum tubes are connected to the pump, then a vacuum gauge and a vacuum regulator are installed. All that remains is to attach the hose, pulsator and connect these components to the lid of a pre-selected can.
The length of the tubes should not be minimal; it is recommended to choose about 2 meters for the main line. The device is tested before launch. The pulsator must provide a set number of cycles, the pump must create a vacuum, and the complete installation must pump milk.
Rules for working with a homemade device
Preparation for work, the process itself regarding a homemade installation is similar to the rules for handling a factory milking machine.First, the motor is connected to a 220 V network. While the milking machine is being checked without a cow: in the event of a malfunction or breakdown, the animal may be injured or receive an electric shock.
If the design of the milking machine has a button or switch, then they are activated. Listen carefully to the sound of the engine: no noise or clanging is allowed. Low background noise and vibration indicate that the equipment is poorly secured. Tighten all connections again.
A knocking sound in the pump indicates a lack of lubrication. A hissing sound occurs when the lid on the can does not fit tightly. When the functionality of the milking machine has been checked, before attaching the cups to the udder, you should wait a period of 5 minutes: this will create the required vacuum in the system. The pressure is regulated by a control device (vacuum regulator).
It is useful to lightly massage the udder to calm the cow and tune her into the process. Then they put on the glasses and start pumping. At the first sign of a malfunction, the milking machine is turned off, checked, and searched for causes.
Milking machine care
The installation requires periodic maintenance. It includes lubrication, cleaning, checking the condition (if necessary, replacing damaged) hoses. You should also monitor the drive belt, keep it tight and clean. If any extraneous sounds appear during operation, the device should be turned off immediately.
Electrical wires and connections must be insulated. Periodically, the milking equipment is completely disassembled, the pump is inspected and the oil level is checked (complete replacement - once a year).
Rubber inserts and cuffs are checked for integrity.Disassembly is carried out carefully so as not to damage parts of the device. With regular, careful care, a homemade installation will last no less than a factory one.
