Sandvik DE130i and DE140i, the company’s latest compact core exploration drills, feature more automation, increased productivity and easier operation thanks to computer systems that control all drilling. Not only do DE130i and DE140i enable better productivity and safer operation through automation advancements, the two new developments of the established fully-hydraulic core drills DE130 and DE140 also offer the possibility of extensive data logging for better management of crucial information down the hole and reporting.

The control system, based on the proven Sandvik SICA platform, executes all operating commands in AUTO mode automatically from a built-in touchscreen featured on a height-adjustable control panel. The user-friendly graphical interface features a menu with 11 pre-programmed operating modes. Individual user profiles also enable the operator to save settings at a particular site for quick startup. Appropriate parameters can also be selected for less-experienced drill crews.

Two joysticks featured on the control panel enable the operator to take over and run semi-automatically or entirely manually, if needed.

“With Sandvik DE130i and DE140i, operators set safe machine limits, initiate the drilling operation, put the drill in AUTO mode and then watch it drill a complete ‘run,’” said George Tophinke, Global Exploration Equipment Manager at Sandvik Mining. “During the entire operation, the control system will automatically compensate for sudden changes in conditions to optimize drilling within the pre-set parameter range. This is an important advantage, since it allows the operator to focus on other tasks while waiting. If drilling in unattended mode, the control system is designed to shut down at the end of the three-meter cycle and if the pre-set parameters are exceeded.”

The use of CAN-bus technology provides major advantages with regard to communication between the different main parts of the system and handles all communication between the drill rig and the control panel. All operations carried out by the control system are registered and can be copied to a USB or directly transmitted to an external computer. Together with the presentation system, this provides the geologist or drilling engineer a good base for making multi-variable analyses of the drilling sequences and of the influence from varying rock conditions in the drill hole.

A great deal of importance has been placed on increasing the system’s reliability and facilitating fault tracing with built-in monitoring and safety features. Components with proven performance have been adapted for the new automated control system on the new drills.

DE130i key features: 

•Depth capacity of 815 m (2,674 ft) N size

•Feed force of 4.7 t (10,350 lbf)

•Pull force of 6.3 t (13,820 lbf)

•Maximum torque of 800 Nm (619 lbf ft)

•N-head rotation unit with hollow spindle ID 77 mm (3 in)

•1,700 mm (5 ft 7 in) feed stroke

•Up to 1,200 m (3,937 ft) wireline hoist capacity

 DE140i key features: 

•Depth capacity of 1,220 m (4,003 ft) N size

•Feed and pull force of 9.4 t (20,730 lbf)

•Maximum torque of 937 Nm (691 lbf ft)

•H-head rotation unit with hollow spindle ID 103 mm (4 in)

•1,710 mm (5 ft 7 in) feed stroke

•Up to 1,200 m (3,937 ft) wireline hoist capacity