UNDERGROUND DRILLING
Holistic holing
As with underground load & haul , automation & electrification are the main focus in underground drilling but with different levels of focus between production & development drills , reports Paul Moore
Resemin ' s new Troidon 55-EV is a battery equipped electric powered face drilling rig designed for face drilling up to 39 m 2
chassis as Mine Master ’ s new BEV drilling rig Face Master 1.7LE and Roof Master 1.8KE . Both machines are currently being tested in KGHM copper mines .
Drilling , bolting and long hole production rigs are constantly being evolved to comply with the increasing demand for machines being operated with as little intervention as possible . But as Mine Master , a member of GHH Group , points out , this needs to be done while maintaining high productivity , low cost and availability of equipment . However , especially in the time of COVID-19 , mines are facing problems with a shortage of manpower due to health problems or quarantine , which is driving the automation trend in underground drilling further . The industry is also moving fast in this direction to address the rising issues related to the limited number of experienced drilling operators on the market .
Autonomous production drill in the works from Mine Master
Mine Master is currently in co-operation with mining contractor CMAC-Thyssen Mining Group for development of an automatic production rig , the Production Master 2.3A . The standard production drill rig Production Master 2.3 , offered by Mine Master , is a self-propelled long hole drill rig designed for drilling parallel upholes and downholes as well as fans and rings in vertical or inclined planes . A tophammer system gives the possibility of drilling in a range of 64-165 mm holes depending on the configuration .
A remote control panel is included for easy operation and drilling accuracy . The user friendly positioning system offers drilling in required directions . The rig has very good stability for fast tramming even in tough road conditions . The PM 2.3 machines are successfully operating at sites in India .
The automatic mode in the new Production Master 2.3A will allow the preset drilling plan to be executed after the machine has been positioned for full fan drilling . In this mode the drilling operation can be carried out between shift changes , lunch breaks etc . This feature will also enable one man to operate multiple machines , thus increasing the utilisation of the equipment . The automated navigation between the holes will require the operator to be present only at times of repositioning of the working unit and movement between rows .
With the increasing interest in green mining , the PM 2.3A will be also available in a battery electric version as it is built on exactly the same
GHH Group ' s Mine Master in co-operation with CMAC – Thyssen Mining Group Inc ., is developing an automatic production rig , the Production Master 2.3A
Enter the Face Master 2.320
While the product development for the production of the automatic long hole rig is ongoing , another new machine is also being produced by the company . The new , lighter version of the twin boom drilling rig Face Master 2.3 will be launched in the third quarter of the year . With coverage of 67 m 2 the FM 2.320 machine “ is an optimal choice for face drilling and bolts installation in hard rock medium cross section or in cross cuts in larger tunnels . Its compact dimensions make it well manoeuvrable . The kinematics of FM 2.320 allow for accurate movements of both booms , thus the operator can control the working unit without wasting time for adjusting the booms relatively to the face . Proportional valves enable precise feeder maneuvering from hole to hole . This function is especially important for bolt / mesh installation .”
Equipped as a standard with an operator ’ s canopy , it is also available with a closed , airconditioned cabin improving the operator ’ s comfort levels and well-being there also improving performance and ultimate productivity . Alternatively , a heating function can be installed . FM 2.320 drive system configuration provides one of the best traction parameters among underground drills available on the market . Minimum driving speed in 2nd gear at 8 degrees slope inclination is 6 km / h . On a flat surface it is 20 km / h . The Face Master 2.320 can be equipped with a Proximity Detection Interface ( PDI ) to allow for Level 9 compliance with machine control and display the activities to the operator . Also for operator safety an
36 International Mining | JUNE 2021