What Are the 5 Key Extrusion Steps in the Small Fish Feed Making Machine?

 

The five core steps of extrusion using a small fish feed maker machine are: raw material pretreatment → formula mixing → extruder preheating and adjustment → precise extrusion molding → cooling and screening. Each step requires strict attention to detail to produce high-quality fish feed.

The first step, raw material pretreatment, is fundamental to ensuring effective extrusion. First, raw materials such as fishmeal, soybean meal, corn flour, and wheat bran are screened. Impurities and spoiled particles are removed using a vibrating screen, and then a magnetic separator is used to remove metallic foreign objects to prevent damage to the screw and die of the small extruder. The raw materials are then fed into a small grinder to 80-100 mesh; uniform particle size ensures more complete extrusion. Simultaneously, a moisture meter is used to test the moisture content of the raw materials, controlling it between 12% and 14%. Excessive moisture can cause the raw materials to stick and clog the extruder, while insufficient moisture will prevent the generation of sufficient frictional heat, affecting the cooking effect.

 

The second step, formula mixing, involves precisely proportioning the raw materials according to the species and growth stage of the aquaculture fish. For example, the fishmeal ratio in juvenile fish feed needs to be increased to 30%-40% to increase protein content; the fishmeal ratio in adult fish feed can be appropriately reduced to 20%-30%. Pour the crushed raw materials, vitamins, minerals, oils, and other auxiliary materials into a small vertical mixer and stir for 5-8 minutes, ensuring a mixing uniformity of over 95%. Uneven mixing will lead to nutrient deficiencies in some feeds, affecting fish growth, and will also cause uneven heating of the raw materials during extrusion, resulting in some pellets being under-expanded.

 

The third step is the preheating and debugging of the extruder, a crucial preparatory step for the small fish feed pellet making machine. Turn on the core equipment of the small fish feed making machine-the single-screw extruder-and preheat for 10-15 minutes, raising the extrusion chamber temperature to 120-140℃. After the temperature stabilizes, adjust the screw speed to 300-400 rpm. Simultaneously, select the appropriate die orifice diameter according to the fish's body size: 1-2mm for juvenile fish and 2-4mm for adult fish, ensuring the feed pellet size meets the fish's feeding needs. If preheating is insufficient, the raw materials will not be quickly cooked after entering the extruder, resulting in loose pellets. Excessive speed may cause over-expansion, leading to insufficient density and easy disintegration upon contact with water.

 

The fourth step, precise extrusion and shaping, involves feeding the evenly mixed raw materials at a uniform speed into the extruder's inlet. Under the pushing action of the screw and the friction of the extrusion chamber, the raw materials undergo a high-temperature, high-pressure environment (120-140℃, 3-5MPa), achieving starch gelatinization and protein denaturation, while simultaneously killing harmful bacteria such as Salmonella. Under pressure, the raw materials are ejected from the die orifice, releasing pressure instantaneously to form porous, crisp fish feed pellets. During operation, a stable feeding speed must be maintained to avoid fluctuations in extrusion results. If the pellets appear scorched or loose, the extruder temperature and speed must be adjusted promptly.

 

The fifth step is cooling and screening. Freshly extruded fish feed pellets, at approximately 60-80℃ with a moisture content of 18%-22%, must be immediately sent to a small cooler. Forced air circulation cools them to room temperature to prevent residual heat from causing the pellets to become damp and moldy. After cooling, the pellets are screened to remove broken particles and excessively large or small pellets, ultimately yielding uniform, high-quality fish feed. Completing these five steps allows for the production of palatable, highly digestible, and stable aquatic feed through the extrusion process of a small pet food extrusion machine.

 

 

 

 

 

MIKIM's fish feed pellet production lines and supporting machinery offer excellent value for money. Not only are they affordable, eliminating middlemen markups and allowing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and fish farmers to purchase complete sets of equipment at reasonable costs, but they also boast exceptional efficiency. The fully automated process, from raw material crushing and precise ingredient mixing to extrusion pelleting and maturation, is completed in one continuous flow. This results in high starch gelatinization rates and uniform pellet formation, significantly improving production efficiency and feed quality, truly achieving "low cost, high output." Choosing a MIKIM fish feed pellet production line means enjoying comprehensive pre-sales and after-sales service, including 24-hour online customer support, a one-year warranty on the entire machine, professional on-site installation, commissioning, and maintenance, and a stable supply of spare parts. Customers can buy with confidence and use with peace of mind, with both excellent value and service quality!!!

 

 

 

1. What is the price of the floating fish feed pellet making machine?

The price ranges from approximately $1,500-$55,000

2. Do you provide maintenance services for your customers?
Yes, we offer comprehensive after-sales maintenance services to our customers.

 

If you would like to learn more about MIKIM machinery, please contact us. We offer one-stop service and welcome your inquiries!!!