I think you need to establish exactly what you want to do with the PC boards to decide what you need to use to grind them up. Are you going to "grind" the boards and all the electronic "stuff" on the boards into a powder so you can separate the metals by washing, with the heavies settling out? Kinda like panning gold?
Or are you just breaking the stuff down so you can get a chemical process going on all the metals in the mix? Which might mean quite a bit coarser grind? (and less costly grinder)
There will be a tradeoff here, as the finer the material is ground, the quicker the chemical reactions will take place. But the cost of finer grinding may start to interfere with the economics of the process.
Also, you probably are looking for the higher value metals from the mix, such as gold, silver, etc, that is found in small amounts in
e-scrap. It can outweigh the copper in value.
I am doing a bit of blue sky talking here, as I have not done either type of process but understand some of the physics behind them.
If you are looking to do the chemical recovery work, you need to pop over to the "gold refining forum" to ask some questions. But be warned: they are a crusty bunch over there and don't take the sillier newbie questions very well!! I'm sure there are lots of people over there who have done or are doing exactly what you describe.
We have a few people who refine e-scrap who visit this site from time to time...maybe they will chime in.
Good luck,
Jon.
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