Rockmore International has a new drill bit designed for hard rock drilling and blasting operations in drifting intended to increase drilling efficiency and to reduce operating costs. It says “the new B6 design promises to prolong bit life and increase drilling penetration rates. Designed to reduce operating costs in drilling blasthole patterns in tunneling operations, the B6 increases overall drilling productivity by incorporating enhancements in the bit face design and improvements in the configuration of cutting geometry. Offered in 45mm head diameter, the most popular blasthole dimension, the B6 is a button bit with six large tungsten carbide inserts on the periphery row for enhanced rock breaking characteristics. The robust carbide inserts are about 1mm larger in diameter compared to previous models, leading to longer bit life.”

The B6 also incorporates many changes in flushing design, such as placement of grooves and flutes designed to effectively carry the rock cuttings away from the bit face. Multiple flutes are placed strategically between all button inserts in order to maximise the flow of the flushing medium, usually water, mixed with the displaced rock cuttings. Such enhancements in the bit face flushing design contribute greatly to increase penetration rates since the rock cuttings evacuate the drilled hole more efficiently.