A different way to separate what remains
If size screening removes large and small debris but leaves light unwanted pieces with your grain, airflow is worth trying when those pieces are close to the grain’s size. Airflow can separate lighter impurities from heavier grain, adding a useful cleaning step without giving up the size separation that already works.
Similar size does not mean similar behavior in air
Screens separate by dimensions. An unwanted piece close to a kernel’s size can travel with the grain through size cleaning. That does not mean screening has failed—it means the remaining material needs a different separating property.
Metra’s ARC air recycling aspirator uses airflow to remove light material that can pass VDSC size separation. Its useful role is to carry those lighter impurities away from the grain you want to keep. ARC also removes dust.
Airflow separation is not simply a matter of weighing kernels. In ADS and ADS-CDC cleaners, mass, shape, dimensions and density affect how material responds to controlled air. A weight difference matters, but weight alone does not predict the separation.
Match the setup to the remaining job
Keep size screening and add complementary airflow when you need both jobs. For example, if VDSC is removing larger and smaller impurities while light pieces close to grain size remain, VDSC with ARC fits that combination of needs. In the Metra VDSC–ARC set, VDSC handles size grading and impurity removal, while ARC removes light impurities and dust.
Choose a standalone airflow cleaner when the job is independent cleaning rather than complementing VDSC. Metra normally recommends ADS for that role. ARC can operate alone, but VDSC is its pairing in Metra’s integrated systems.
For the standalone choice, dust handling also matters: ADS without CDC is specified for outdoor use because dust exits with the air. ADS-CDC includes a cyclone dust collector.
An ARC is not an automatic addition to every VDSC. VDSC already removes dust and small impurities and can work alone. Add another separating method to address material that remains, not simply because another machine is available.
Start with the pieces still mixed with your grain
Pick out some of the unwanted material remaining after screening and compare its dimensions with the grain. Light pieces of similar size point toward the complementary airflow job described here. Also identify whether you need to keep VDSC’s size-grading role or want an independent cleaner; that distinction guides the equipment choice.
For help removing that material while keeping useful grain, contact Metra at info@graincleaner.com to discuss a grain sample test. You do not need to choose a machine first. Metra can demonstrate the separation using your grain and help select equipment and settings for the job.
