Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology says it has expanded its high-pressure DTH drill rig offering with a new model, the Leopard DI650i, designed for larger hole sizes. Balancing proven engineering solutions and innovative new components, the new DTH rig offers excellent fuel efficiency, improved safety and higher productivity in challenging rock conditions.
The Leopard DI650i down-the-hole (DTH) drill rig is designed for demanding high-capacity production drilling applications in surface mining, as well as large-scale quarry applications. In addition to a powerful engine and compressor, the Leopard DI1650i incorporates a highly ergonomic iCAB cabin, excellent serviceability, mobility and fuel economy, along with scalable automation packages to offer excellent overall productivity.
In addition to the solid, long-term track record of engine and compressor design, the Leopard DI650i comes with a range of new or re-designed components to boost its productivity. The standard rotary head option, HTRH6, has performed successfully on existing Sandvik DTH rigs, whereas the new heavy-duty option, MRH6, is a good fit with Sandvik’s powerful new RH560-series DTH hammers and well-matched to the demands of the upper range of the capacity area.
Pipe sizes range from 89 to 140 mm, depending on the size of the hammer. The maximum hole depth is 53.6 m when utilising the carousel option with pipe sizes from 89 to 114 mm. The capacity range of 403 kW Tier 3 CAT C15 diesel engine and reliable compressor is adequate for high-pressure drilling with 4-6.5 in DTH hammer sizes.
“Thanks to excellent visibility of drilling area and a single integrated touch screen for all monitoring, diagnostics and mining automation displays, Leopard DI650i’s silent, ergonomic iCAB cabin provides the rig operator with a safer, productive working environment for the rig operator. The maintenance crew can carry out all daily servicing tasks at ground level on both sides of the machine. The advanced serviceability and reliability features can increase Leopard DI650i’s availability by up to 20% compared with conventional DTH rigs at a similar technology level.”
Sandvik states that intelligent control technology applied in both the compressor and the hydraulic system’s cooler fan can reduce fuel consumption by up to 15% compared with conventional DTH rigs. The Leopard DI650i’s fuel efficiency is further boosted by the flow-controlled drilling control system that eliminates fluctuations in airflow, instead allowing the pressure level to fluctuate in response to more difficult ground conditions and increased back pressure (for example, due to groundwater or collapsing holes). This makes maximum flushing pressure and penetration rates available in the most challenging of rock conditions, while still retaining the low fuel consumption of the traditional pressure control approach in easy ground conditions.
The Leopard DI650i joins Sandvik’s other i-series drilling rigs in its compatibility with the newest scalable automation solutions. “The latest onboard options include TIM3D drill navigation with wireless data transfer, My Sandvik fleet monitoring system and full-cycle drilling automatics, which merge functionalities such uncoupling, feed auto-aligning and feed auto positioning into a single efficient sequence. These capabilities can be further upgraded with more advanced modules such as single-rig or fleet remote control systems by Automine® Surface Drilling.”