SURFACE DRILLING
manually operated drills by 8% in both hard rock
and broken ground with overall productivity gains
exceeding 20%. “FLANDERS drill recipes are
significant to the success of the system. The
drilling algorithm can be adapted for the ground
condition, mirroring the operator functions, and is
able to detect whether the hole is getting plugged
and when to back off and raise the bit,” the
company told IM.
With Western Australia leading the way in
mining automation, the FLANDERS Western
Australia Regional Service Centre has partnered
with key players to allow customers to remotely
control their machines from Perth, versus the
actual mine site. “This system architecture allows
the operator to be removed from the machine and
placed in a safe location,” Mike Lane, GM of
FLANDERS Western Australia told IM. “Current
clients work on a one to five machine operating
model, this is soon to be stretched to one to ten.
Our flexibility to adapt the system, niche in the
retrofit space, and ability to provide key
continuous improvement and mine planning data
makes us a leading choice in drill automation
solutions.” FLANDERS currently has 25 ARDVARC
systems deployed in Western Australia, with
additional systems slated for 2020. In addition to
Western Australia, FLANDERS has sold fully-
autonomous kits globally with 22 in Brasil, 12 in
South Africa, six in the US and two in Canada. “All
told, 67 fully autonomous kits applicable to the
major OEM models enables our clients to
standardise to the ARDVARC control system at
mines that operate mixed fleets.”
Cat ® launches the MD6380
Designed for large bore hole production drilling,
Caterpillar’s latest diesel-powered ultra-class drill,
the MD6380, provides the optimal mix of on-board
air, feed force, rotary torque and machine mobility.
With a hole diameter range of 251 to 381 mm
(9.875 to 15 in), single pass hole depth of 19.8 m
(65 ft) and multi-pass hole depth of 39.5 m (129
ft), the new drill is designed for large scale mining.
The MD6380 powertrain is designed to
efficiently manage loads generated by the
compressor and hydraulics, delivering superior
fuel economy. The MD6380 compressor is
configured with electronic regulation and variable
volume air control, allowing the driller to perfectly
match compressor output to drill tool and
application needs. It also lowers stand-by
pressures while the machine is in idle, further
improving fuel efficiency. The MD6380 is capable
of pulldown force of 49 895 kg (110,000 lb) and
rotation torque of as much as 20 880 Nm (15,400
lbf).
“The MD6380 is controlled through proven Cat
electronics. Integrated machine protective
features and interlocks help keep operators safe
and the machine up and running by preventing
potential failures or misuse. With Cat Electronic
Technician, troubleshooting is quick and easy.
MD6380 electronics also provide a common
platform for the integration of a number of future
automation solutions.”
The machine offers a number of automated
functions through Drill Assist, which includes auto
level, auto retract jacks, auto raise and lower
mast, and auto drill (single or multi pass). The drill
depth monitoring system helps to reduce over-
and under-drilling, which reduces the need for
rework.
The MD6380 incorporates Cat Terrain for
Drilling, which provides precise hole location,
production reporting, and strata reporting. Terrain
seamlessly connects to Cat Command, offering a
path to autonomous drilling.
The drill’s best-in-class working envelope gives
it superior maneuverability, allowing it to navigate
quickly and efficiently. A Cat 374 excavator-style
undercarriage offers durability as well as tractive
effort for higher travel speeds. The drill is currently
available in Africa and Middle East countries,
A graphic showing the new Cat MD6380 in a
potential mining application
Australia, the CIS plus Central and South
America.
In terms of autonomous drilling, Caterpillar is
thought to have moved beyond field trials with
fully autonomous drills, but no more information
is currently available. Cat did say that interest in
and deployment of semi-autonomous drills is
greater in many mining areas as the semi-
autonomous system allows remote
operation/management and removing the
operator from the rig provides safety and health
benefits without full autonomy. It also enables a
single operator to oversee several drills. IM
APRIL 2020 | International Mining 61