CRCMining’s Oscillating Disc Cutter (ODC) has been successfully trialled by Joy Global with, the organisation says, “outstanding results. A step-change technology for cutting very hard rock with lightweight equipment, ODC could potentially replace batch drill and blast processes with dynamic continuous rock cutting.” The ODC technology employs a new method for cutting hard rock using lower forces than those associated with conventional disc cutting.
ODC (branded Dynacut by Joy Global) combines a number of innovative rock breakage concepts into a single technology – enabling the excavation of hard rock using comparatively small and lightweight equipment as a continuous mining process, in both surface and underground mining applications.
CRCMining research has been active in this field for over 20 years, with the ODC technology being licensed to Joy Global in 2006.
Brad Neilson, Vice President of Hard Rock Mining at Joy Global, explains how Dynacut will revolutionise hard rock cutting for mining, “The gains for mining are significant, a continuous mining process in hard rock tunnelling can yield a 20% improvement in advance rates, and up to 20% reduction in costs. Another benefit is less disturbance of the surrounding rock mass when compared with drill and blast methods.
“The ODC technology provides an opportunity to reduce risk to personnel, with the removal of people from the process,” said Neilson. “Dynamic rock cutting provides a very smooth opening, so there is no requirement for tertiary work such as scaling and refinishing roadways. This also reduces hazards as there is less equipment in the operating environment, and a smooth rock profile improves ventilation and vehicle operations.”
The mode of cutting employed by the ODC has the added advantage of being clean, in that it produces large chips and little dust. Potential applications for this technology include the development of comparatively small, highly manoeuvrable, continuous excavation machines for both mining and civil engineering projects.
Two trials are currently underway with Joy Global; one in an Anglo Platinum mine in Bathopele South Africa, and a second in Wollongong Australia on a Joy Global test site.
“The trials have exceeded every benchmark,” said Neilson. “Cutting rates in hard material (monzonite) are in excess of 12.5 m3/h. We have cut more than 500 t of rock successfully, and there is a lot more testing we want to continue with. Underground testing will commence in May/June 2014.”
Neilson describes the importance of Joy Global’s membership with CRCMining, “We have confidence in CRCMining. The benefit of the Centre is that it connects end users with people in the Centre that have knowledge about mining processes. OEMs like ourselves have knowledge of systems and products for mining. We invest a significant amount in the Centre as we see value in a commercial outcome for us. Our relationship is based on a high level of trust and delivering outcomes.”