English
Choosing a Shaking Table can look simple at first. You check the feed size, pick a deck, and compare capacity. In practice, that shortcut often leads to unstable bands, poor recovery, or a table that never reaches its rated output.
A good choice starts with the ore. You need to know what is liberated, how fine the feed is, and how much clay or slime is present. Then you can match the deck, stroke, speed, slope, water demand, and number of tables to the real duty. This guide walks through that process in a clear order.
A shaking table separates liberated particles by density, size, and shape. Slurry enters near the feed side. Wash water moves across the inclined deck. At the same time, an asymmetric stroke moves particles along the riffles. Dense particles stay closer to the deck and travel toward the concentrate end. Lighter particles wash toward the tailings side.
The product bands are easy to see. That is one reason operators like tables. They can adjust slope, water, feed rate, and stroke while watching the separation. A table can produce concentrate, middlings, and tailings in one pass. It is often used after crushing, grinding, classification, jigs, spirals, or centrifugal concentration.
Do not start with a model number. Start with a representative sample. Check the valuable mineral, gangue minerals, density contrast, and liberation size. A table cannot separate a valuable grain that is still locked inside waste rock. More deck area will not fix poor liberation.
Next, measure the full size distribution. Do not report only the top size. A feed listed as “below 2 mm” may still contain too much material below 20 microns. Those slimes change water behavior and can hide the clean bands you want to see.
The deck is not a generic surface. Riffle height, spacing, taper, and deck geometry are designed for a feed range. TOMINE lists separate coarse, fine, slime, and ultrafine configurations for its High Efficient Shaking Table. Use those ranges as model guidance. Final selection should follow ore tests.
A coarse deck uses deeper riffles and a longer stroke. It holds larger dense particles while cross water removes lighter material. TOMINE publishes a 2 to 0.5 mm range for one coarse configuration. Coarse feed usually allows higher capacity, but it still needs narrow sizing and steady delivery.
A fine sand deck uses shallower riffles and a shorter, faster stroke. It is a common choice for fine liberated tin, tungsten, gold, and other dense minerals. The TOMINE product data gives 0.5 to 0.074 mm for one fine setup. Some models cover a wider tested range.
Slime decks have very low riffles and run with shorter strokes at higher frequency. Feed control becomes critical. Small changes in water or pulp density can move fine valuable particles into tailings. TOMINE lists slime and ultrafine configurations down to 0.010 mm, but actual recovery depends on mineral shape, density, and surface condition.
Capacity numbers need context. A table processing coarse rough concentrate can handle more dry solids than the same deck cleaning fine concentrate. Feed density, required grade, mass pull, and operator settings all matter. Ask whether the listed capacity is for roughing, cleaning, or final concentrate production.
A single-deck table is easy to see and adjust. Maintenance access is simple. It works well for small plants, pilot lines, separate size fractions, and duties that change often. The trade-off is floor space when many units are needed.
A multi-deck design places several surfaces in one frame. It raises capacity per square meter. The TOMINE Three-Deck Shaking Table is built for this type of plant layout. Check access around every deck. Operators still need room for sampling, splitter adjustment, inspection, and cleanup.
These controls work together. A longer stroke with lower frequency generally suits coarser feed. Fine material often needs a shorter stroke and higher frequency. Deck slope affects how quickly material crosses the surface. Wash water opens the bed and carries light particles away.
There is no universal setting. Start with the supplier’s test setting, then make one change at a time. Watch the product bands and sample each outlet. Too much water can wash fine heavy minerals away. Too little water can crowd the deck and contaminate concentrate. An uneven feed is just as damaging.
| Operating sign | Likely issue | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Bands are blurred | Wide size range, excess slimes, or unstable feed | Classification and feed density |
| Fine value appears in tailings | Water, slope, or stroke is too aggressive | Tailings sample and water rate |
| Concentrate grade falls | Deck is overloaded or cut is too wide | Feed rate and splitter position |
| One side behaves differently | Deck level or water distribution is uneven | Foundation, level, and launder flow |
A good table cannot rescue poor feed preparation. Install screening or hydraulic classification before the table. Keep coarse, fine, and slime fractions separate when possible. Add washing or scrubbing if clay coats the particles. Use a steady feed box or pump arrangement so the deck does not receive sudden surges.
Also decide where middlings will go. Some need another table pass. Others should return to grinding because they are still locked. Sending every middling stream back to the same point can build a large circulating load. That makes the line look busy without improving recovery.
Look beyond the deck size. Check the deck frame, surface material, chemical resistance, wear resistance, and how easily damaged sections can be repaired. Review the drive curve, bearing arrangement, lubrication points, belt guards, and spare-parts list. A smooth asymmetric motion matters more than a large motor nameplate.
The foundation must be level and stable. Leave space for the drive, launders, walkways, and product bins. Ask how long it takes to replace a deck or adjust the stroke. Simple access can save many hours over the life of the plant.
TOMINE can compare coarse, fine, slime, single-deck, and multi-deck options for your ore. Send us your mineralogy, size distribution, capacity target, water conditions, and representative sample through our contact page. We can arrange a beneficiation experiment before final equipment sizing.
The best feed size depends on the deck. TOMINE publishes configurations from coarse sand at 2 to 0.5 mm down to ultrafine material near 0.010 mm. Closely classified feed normally separates better than a wide size range.
It can accept a mixed feed, but performance often drops. Coarse and fine particles need different stroke, frequency, riffles, slope, and water. Separate classification usually gives cleaner bands and better recovery.
Divide the tested dry-feed rate by the proven capacity per deck, then add operating margin. Include separate roughing and cleaning duties. Multi-deck machines can reduce floor-space demand.
Common causes include poor liberation, excess slimes, too much wash water, steep deck slope, unstable feed, worn riffles, or the wrong stroke and frequency. Sample each product before changing several settings.
Yes. Testing shows the useful size range, achievable recovery, concentrate grade, mass pull, water demand, and capacity. It also tells you whether the ore needs more grinding, washing, or classification first.
