Sizing a vibrating feeder starts with your process parameters, not a model number. Getting this step wrong is costly: an undersized feeder runs at the edge of its resource, an oversized one jams or damages the tray on coarse material. Here is what to answer before opening the catalog.
1. Material lump size and behaviour
Electromagnetic PEV feeders are designed for non-sticky bulk, lump and granular materials. The first thing that determines the model size is the maximum lump size — it must not exceed the "max. lump size" figure in the datasheet. Also consider abrasiveness (quartz sand, ore — higher tray-lining wear) and caking tendency: if the material tends to bridge in the hopper, the feeder needs a hopper agitator or vibrator working alongside it, not instead of it.
2. Required capacity
Datasheets list capacity measured on dry sand at a given tray incline (usually 4° or 8°). For your material — different bulk density, moisture, particle shape — actual capacity can differ from the datasheet figure by 15–30% in either direction. Rule of thumb: allow a 15–25% margin over the calculated line requirement, so the amplitude control runs in its mid-range rather than at maximum — this extends drive life and leaves headroom if material properties shift.
| Parameter | How it affects the choice |
|---|---|
| Lump size | sets the minimum tray size |
| Bulk density | rescales capacity from the sand datasheet value |
| Moisture / caking | bridging risk — hopper agitator needed |
| Abrasiveness | reinforced tray lining, larger service margin |
| Tray incline | 4° — higher capacity, 8° — better tray self-cleaning |
3. Open or covered tray
A covered tray (the PEVU variant) is used where dust containment or weather protection matters, or where the process requires a sealed enclosure — see our separate note on choosing between an open and covered tray.
4. Bottom- or top-mounted drive
For heavy feeders, a top-mounted drive (PEVVF) is used where space below the tray is limited, e.g. when mounting above a conveyor or retrofitting into a tight existing layout. Bottom mounting (the standard scheme) is easier to service since the drive does not need to be removed from above for tray work.
5. Control
Any electromagnetic feeder must be connected through a control unit — direct mains connection is not allowed. Automatic mode with a vibration sensor on the tray (amplitude feedback) protects the feeder from overload during a hopper rush and is recommended for most applications.
6. Sizing under a hopper
When the feeder sits directly under a hopper outlet, sizing also involves the outlet gap width and the material column pressure — a separate calculation covered in our article on sizing a feeder under a hopper.
If you are unsure which model to pick, send us your material data and required capacity and we will size a model or propose a custom solution.