DRILLING AND LOADING
Cat 988K wheel loader with remotely located
operator using Command for Loading
Beyond
conventional
Paul Moore looks at some new models, additions of
innovations and technology, and mine applications
for surface blasthole drills and loading tools
hile basic blasthole drilling methods
and techniques remain unchanged,
automation is really moving forward
from isolated trials to full production use; while
control systems on non-automated models are
more advanced, and there is a focus on
increasing drilling power and efficiency but at
the same time reducing maintenance
requirements. For excavators and loading tools,
elements of automation and more operator
assistance are being introduced, while engines
are being updated to bring ranges into line with
Tier 4 Final regulations.
W
Sandvik upgrades DPi range
Sandvik has engineered productivity upgrades
for its well-known DPi series of surface top
hammer drill rigs. The latest release of the
Pantera DPi series drill rigs has a redesigned
operating system combined with other
substantial upgrades and a completely new rock
drill.
The Pantera DPi series drill rigs include a
redesigned control system with an updated user
interface and touch screen. Featuring the latest
Sandvik user interface style, support for new
drill rig options and enhanced troubleshooting
functions, the new control system enables
easier and even more accurate drilling.
To optimise drilling performance, the Pantera
DP1500i is now available with a high frequency
RD1635CF rock drill with Circulating Shank
Lubrication (CSL) system that guarantees fast
and efficient penetration. In CSL, oil is circulated
through filters and reused, rather than just
collected. “The new CSL system reduces shank
lubrication oil consumption by up to 70%
compared to the old system, and significantly
increases coupling sleeve life,” says Jarno
Viitaniemi, Product Manager, Surface Boom
Drills, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology.
“The drill rig has really been redesigned with
economy in mind. It has also been enhanced
with a new compressor control system that
provides even better fuel efficiency.”
Further Pantera DPi improvements include
modifications to the exterior design, which
improves accessibility, thereby enabling easier
maintenance. In addition, the drill rig comes
with the latest high-tech options, such as
Driller’s Notes. The latter is a completely new
feature that allows the operator to add hole
information, such as voids and cavities, to hole
quality reports during drilling.
The Pantera DPi surface top hammer drill rigs
are intelligent, self-propelled, crawler-based
surface drill rigs designed to be used in
quarrying, production drilling and wall control
and development works. The Pantera DPi drill
Sandvik recently announced the release of a
trailer-mounted tele-remote station for
operation of a Sandvik DR461i rotary blasthole
drill
rig family consists of two models: the Pantera
DP1100i for hole sizes of 89 to 140 mm and
Pantera DP