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DRILL CONSUMABLES
grease is also better retained on the thread pitches resulting from the new XT geometry, further increasing thread life in all XT components.”
Another key advantage of this rod system over traditional threaded components is providing straighter holes and minimising deviation, so inherently critical in modern drill and blast techniques. The guided XT thread feature increases the rigidity and stability of the connections between the shank adapters, rods, and bits so significantly that overall rod bending is minimised and hole straightness improved.“ In fact, this improvement allows for larger and deeper blast holes to be achieved using existing rod diameters, but only by converting to XT threaded components. In underground mining long-hole and production applications where up to thirty rod connections are common, hole deviation can be reduced substantially by using Vector Rods.”
Eghdami comments that:“ As a major breakthrough for extension drilling systems, we have significantly improved drilling productivity and increased drill string lifetime by introducing new design features in the XT thread configuration. And just as important, the new XT design is fully reverse compatible with industry standard“ T” style threads, enabling the Vector Rod System to be truly remarkable, yet a practical choice for premium drilling tools.”
The Vector Rod System is offered in multiple configurations of button bits, MF rods, and shank adapters. These drill string components are available in XT38, XT45, XT51, and XT60 thread types, designed to improve drilling productivity and reduce extension drilling operating costs in surface and underground percussive drilling.
Eghdami told IM on the market development:“ The Vector Rods have been developed in many test markets in Europe, the USA and Asia with very positive feedback from drillers. Longer thread and component life has been recorded as well as improvements in hole deviation. Most drilling companies that conducted comprehensive tests have ultimately switched their Male Female rod systems to the new Vector
Rod System. This new rod system will also be targeted for long hole drilling applications in underground mining where hole deviation is a constant and serious concern. The XT38 Vector Rod will be the best selection in such underground production applications. The XT60 Vector Rod model is currently being used in mining applications in Africa and central America for blast hole operations in Tier 1 mining companies with great acceptance and satisfaction.”
Innovation with refinement
Brunner & Lay has also been making high quality rock drilling tools for nearly 135 years of continuous production; and offers a full range of top-hammer rock drilling tools and systems ranging from handheld applications, to Intrasets( integral drill rods) and tapered rock bit / steel, to the B60 drilling system used on the largest top hammer rock drills in the world.
Shane Jimison, Marketing Director, states:“ Innovation and refinement is an ongoing endeavour at Brunner & Lay. This is evident in our wide and ever increasing range of rock bit designs. The formula for producing rock tools at B & L begins with design intent and the application of the newest CAD / CAM software. Through utilisation of FEA software, evaluation of every design aspect from flushing characteristics to stress / strain analysis can be conducted prior to manufacturing. This process continues with utilisation of the best materials, machining, and heat treatment techniques coupled with some of the highest inspection standards in the industry. Combining these aspects produces rock drilling tools of the highest quality.”
Jimison argues that even with all of today’ s technology and the computer programs used to conduct design evaluation prior to manufacture
Brunner & Lay argues that even with technology and software, there is no replacement for field testing in real world environments
“ there is no replacement for field testing in real world environments. Any driller can tell you that no two rock formations are alike, and at any given moment B & L products are at some stage of evaluation. From the most northern points of Canada to the farthest reaches in Patagonia, Brunner & Lay’ s rock drilling products consistently outperform the competition worldwide. Our newest developments lie in our next generation family of long-hole production drilling and above ground extension drilling bits, in addition to a new grade of carbide which is being utilised with extreme success in underground drifting applications.”
The next generation bit family was launched in early 2011 and has gone through a strenuous array of testing and refinement, says B & L.“ Development focused on improved chip flushing features at the bit face, as well as evaluation of the effect of bit body features on flush capacity. The new family of bits also employ a retrac skirt design that has shown significant improvements in not only bit life, but life of the entire drill string. It achieves this through minimising the chaffing / binding effect encountered as bit wear increases by decreasing the surface area of regions capable of binding in the borehole.”
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50 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2016