What Are the Differences Between Impact Crushers and Jaw Crushers?

Both impact crushers and jaw crushers are widely used types of crushing equipment. While each can be operated as a standalone unit, they also serve as *partners and are frequently paired together for the processing of ores and aggregates. So, what exactly do impact crushers and jaw crushers look like? And what distinguishes one from the other? Below, Shibo Machinery—a professional manufacturer of crushing equipment—provides the answers to these questions.

Differences in Appearance

The impact crusher features an irregular exterior shape with a side-entry feed mechanism; the flywheel connected to its motor is relatively small.

The jaw crusher, conversely, presents a cubical or rectangular exterior shape with a *-entry feed mechanism; its flywheel is significantly larger.

Differences in Structure

The internal structure of an impact crusher primarily consists of a main shaft, blow bars (hammers), a rotor, an impact rack, and impact liners. In contrast, the jaw crusher is composed of a movable jaw plate, a fixed jaw plate, support rods, springs, and flywheels.

Differences in Crushing Principle

The impact crusher operates based on a principle of counter-impact, collision, and striking. Consequently, the crushed aggregates produced by this method tend to be polygonal in shape, exhibiting *ior particle morphology.

The jaw crusher achieves crushing through the compressive force exerted between the movable jaw plate and the fixed jaw plate; the resulting output material tends to contain a higher proportion of needle-like or flaky particles.

Differences in Feed and Output Sizes

The impact crusher functions as a medium-to-fine crushing machine; its permissible feed size is relatively smaller compared to that of a jaw crusher, and the resulting output material is finer.

The jaw crusher serves as a primary (coarse) crushing machine; it features a large feed opening capable of accepting large-sized feed material, and correspondingly, produces a larger-sized output.

Differences in Power Consumption

Since the impact crusher performs fine crushing and requires repeated impact cycles, it demands high motor power—motors rated at several hundred kilowatts are quite common—resulting in higher electricity consumption.

The jaw crusher performs coarse crushing of ores with shorter crushing cycles; its motor power typically ranges from a few tens of kilowatts to one or two hundred kilowatts, resulting in lower electricity consumption.

The above points outline the key differences between impact crushers and jaw crushers as presented by Jiaozuo Zhongxin Heavy Industry. We encourage you to compare these distinctions carefully to make an informed and appropriate purchasing decision.