Vibrating Screen: Deck Count, Aperture and Capacity

A vibrating screen sizes crushed rock by passing it over a vibrating mesh or polyurethane deck so oversize returns to the crusher and undersize goes forward. Almost every crushing circuit needs one: without it the cone or jaw is either making too much oversize or crushing material that is already fine enough. Single, double and triple-deck machines of 1.2–2.4 m width cover Tanzanian gold and quarry plants. Screening efficiency, not crusher CSS alone, is what actually sets product size.

Gold Processing & Recovery·8 min read·Updated 2026-09-14
Multi-deck circular vibrating screen in a fabrication workshop

Vibrating Screen Specifications

The figures below describe typical industry specifications for this class of equipment rather than a single fixed model. Use them to scope a requirement, then confirm exact figures against the supplied unit before purchase.

Typical specification range for the Vibrating Screen
SpecificationTypical value
Deck count1, 2 or 3 decks
Width × length1.2×2.4 m to 2.4×6.0 m common
MotionCircular, linear or elliptical
Stroke6–12 mm
Frequency800–1,000 rpm circular; 800–1,200 rpm linear
Aperture2–80 mm wire, polyurethane or rubber
CapacitySet by width, aperture, open area and feed moisture
Inclination15–25° circular; 0–10° linear
DriveTwin out-of-balance motors or shaft-driven exciter
Motor power2 × 1.5 kW up to 2 × 15 kW

What a Vibrating Screen Is Used For

  • Closed-circuit crushing with jaw or cone
  • Sizing mill feed
  • Washing and sizing alluvial gravel
  • Aggregate classification
  • Scalping fines ahead of a crusher

Maintenance Schedule

Most premature failures in this equipment class trace back to a missed routine check rather than a design fault. The intervals below are a practical starting schedule; adjust them to your duty cycle and the manufacturer manual.

Recommended maintenance intervals
IntervalTask
Every shiftCheck for torn or blinded panels; confirm springs are seated and the screen is not hitting the structure.
WeeklyInspect side plates for cracking at the feed end; check motor bolts and flexible couplings.
MonthlyMeasure spring free height; inspect screen-panel tension or modular-panel pins.
QuarterlyBearing lubrication or replacement on exciters; structural crack survey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Circular or linear motion?

Circular (inclined) screens are cheaper and handle coarser, drier feed well — they are the default after a jaw. Linear (horizontal) screens give more accurate fine sizing and better washing, at higher cost. For a small Tanzanian crushing plant, a circular double-deck is usually the right first screen.

Why is my screen blinding?

Near-size particles, wet clay, or worn/incorrect panels. Moisture above about 5–6% on fine apertures is the usual cause. Options: increase aperture, switch to polyurethane slotted panels, add spray water (making it a wash screen), or dry the feed. Beating the mesh with a hammer is not a solution.

How do I size a vibrating screen?

From the t/h of each fraction, the aperture, the open area of the media, and a screening-efficiency target (typically 90–95%). Width sets capacity; length sets efficiency. Undersizing the screen is how crusher circuits get recirc loads that never settle down.

Supply and Delivery Across Tanzania

Bart Mining supplies vibrating screen and related equipment to mining operations throughout Tanzania, with primary coverage of the Lake Victoria Goldfields (Mwanza, Kahama, Geita, Shinyanga and Bukombe), alongside the Lupa Goldfields around Chunya and Mbeya, and delivery nationwide from Dar es Salaam.

MwanzaKahamaGeitaShinyangaBukombeNyangʼhwaleTaboraDodomaArushaMbeyaChunyaSongweDar es SalaamMorogoroMtwaraKigoma
Specification note. The values on this page are industry-standard ranges for the equipment category, published so buyers can scope requirements before enquiring. They are not a quotation and do not describe a specific stocked model. Contact us with your duty, site conditions and power supply for a specification and quotation against your actual requirement.

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Tell us your duty, depth or throughput and available power supply. We will come back with a specification and price, and flag anything on site that needs to change to make it work.