Differences Between Ball Mill and Raymond Mill in Grinding Calcium Powder

In the processing of calcium powder (mainly ground calcium carbonate, CaCO₃), the choice of grinding equipment directly determines the fineness, quality, and application fields of the product. Common grinding equipment includes ball mill and Raymond mill, which differ significantly in structure, working principle, product fineness, and application scope.

Equipment Structure and Working Principle

Ball Mill
A ball mill uses steel balls or ceramic balls as the grinding media. Material is crushed by impact and grinding forces generated through the rotation of the cylinder. Its grinding process combines impact and friction, enabling the preparation of ultrafine powders.

Raymond Mill
Raymond mill grinds materials by rolling the grinding roller against the grinding ring. The material is lifted by the shovel blade into the grinding zone between the roller and the ring. It is crushed under pressure and then classified. Qualified particles are carried away by airflow, while oversized particles are returned for further grinding.

Grinding Fineness and Particle Size Distribution

Ball Mill: Suitable for ultrafine powder processing. It can grind calcium powder down to D97 10 μm or even finer (as fine as 2–3 μm with a classifier). The particle size distribution is narrow, making it ideal for industries with strict fineness requirements such as PVC plastic fillers, paper coating, paints, rubber products, functional fillers, and chemical raw materials.

Raymond Mill: The finished product fineness usually ranges from 80–325 mesh (about 180 μm to 44 μm). Some upgraded Raymond mills can reach up to 600 mesh. However, they are less effective for ultrafine powder. The particle size distribution is wider, suitable for industries with lower fineness requirements such as cement, lime, glass, ceramics, and other building materials, mainly for coarse and medium powder production.

Performance Parameters Comparison

Indicator	Ball Mill	Raymond Mill
Applicable Hardness	Mohs ≤ 9.3 (mainly metallic ores)	Mohs ≤ 7 (mainly non-metallic)
Discharge Fineness	20–200 mesh (mainly coarse powder)	80–800 mesh (adjustable fine)
Capacity Range	0.65–615 t/h (large-scale)	8–176 t/h (small/medium)
Energy Consumption	Higher (wet grinding +30%)	30–40% lower

Capacity and Energy Consumption

Ball Mill: Lower unit output and higher energy consumption. However, it is suitable for large-scale ultrafine powder production lines when combined with classifiers.

Raymond Mill: Higher output, lower energy consumption, and more economical operation. Suitable for mass production of medium- to low-fineness powders.

Suitability for Calcium Powder Processing

Raw Material Characteristics

• Raymond mill is better suited for processing softer calcium raw materials like calcite and limestone. Its compression grinding reduces over-grinding and produces a more uniform particle size distribution.
• Ball mill can handle harder calcium ores or materials with impurities. However, wet grinding may introduce moisture that affects powder purity.

Economic Considerations

• Raymond mill has a lower investment cost and simpler maintenance, making it suitable for small- to medium-scale production.
• Ball mill requires higher initial investment, but large-scale production reduces average costs.
• Raymond mill rollers (made of high-chromium alloy) last longer, whereas ball mill grinding balls need frequent replacement, leading to higher long-term maintenance costs.

Environmental and Automation Aspects

• Raymond mills are usually equipped with pulse dust collectors, keeping dust emissions below 20 mg/m³, with lower noise levels.
• Ball mills in wet processes suppress dust but create wastewater that requires treatment.
• Vertical roller mills (an upgraded version of Raymond mills) support intelligent control. Ball mills, however, are more challenging to automate.

Investment and Maintenance Costs

Ball Mill: Higher equipment investment, larger footprint, and frequent replacement of grinding balls and liners. Higher maintenance costs overall.

Raymond Mill: Simpler structure, lower investment, easier maintenance, but rollers and rings also require periodic replacement.

Epic Powder

Ball mills and Raymond mills differ mainly in fineness range, energy consumption, investment, and application fields. For high fineness and high value-added calcium powder, a ball mill + classifier production line is the optimal choice. For medium- to low-end markets focusing on cost efficiency and mass production, Raymond mill is more economical.

Epic Powder, with over 20 years of expertise in ultrafine grinding, provides customized calcium carbonate solutions. Our advanced ball mill classification systems ensure stable ultrafine powder production with precise particle control. Combined with energy-efficient design and intelligent operation, Epic Powder helps customers achieve higher quality, lower cost, and stronger competitiveness in calcium powder applications.