Tag Archives: Sandvik DR416i

Sandvik AutoMine open-pit drilling automation offering surfaces

Automation, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , , , , ,

Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology is taking its underground automated drilling expertise to the surface with the release of AutoMine® Surface Drilling.

A leader in mining automation, Sandvik has for a number of years been helping mining companies across the world improve productivity and increase safety with the use of its intelligent AutoMine systems for trucks, LHDs and underground drill rigs.

Even so, the commercialisation of the AutoMine Surface Drilling system marks an important milestone for the company in surface mining automation, it said.

The system is designed to meet customer’s challenges and maximise productivity and safety while increasing drilling efficiency. It enables mines to operate multiple Sandvik iSeries drill rigs from a remote control room miles away.

AutoMine Surface Drilling is available for Pantera™ DP1100i, Pantera DP1500i and Leopard™ DI650i rigs as well as Sandvik DR412i and DR416i blasthole drill rigs. It will be available for the recently released DR410i in the December quarter, the company added.

“This game-changing technology is the most advanced commercialised autonomous fleet system in the world enabling customers to reap the benefits of an autonomous drilling cycle,” Riku Pulli, Vice President Automation at Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology, said.

Like the AutoMine Underground solution, AutoMine Surface Drilling dramatically improves the working conditions and immediate safety of the operator while keeping mine personnel out of hazardous areas, Sandvik said. This reduces the operator’s exposure to noise, dust, and vibration and the hazard of working close to high walls.

Automated on-board functions enable iSeries rigs to work autonomously while the operator monitors at fleet level. Automated drill operation, accurate rig control and positioning increase the drilling quality and the overall excavation efficiency, according to Sandvik, thus ensuring higher productivity for the mine.

“We look forward to working closely together with our customers to automate drilling operations and unlock the full potential of AutoMine Surface Drilling,” Pulli said.

Sandvik ups single-pass capacity on newest DR416i rotary blasthole drill

Automation, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , ,

Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology says it is continuing its tradition of developing innovative technology to help customers enhance safety, improve productivity and reduce cost with the introduction of its Sandvik DR416i rotary blasthole drill.

Designed to improve efficiency and deliver dependable penetration in the world’s harshest mining conditions, the Sandvik DR416i delivers a single-pass capacity of 21 m (69 ft), the longest single-pass mast in its class, according to the company.

The drill rig is constructed for large diameter (406 mm/16 in) rotary drilling, is automation-ready, scalable, and “supplies the highest rotational torques and pull-down forces at the lowest possible operating cost”, Sandvik said. It’s also equipped with the company’s patented Compressor Management System (CMS), designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve productivity.

The three key principles that led the innovative design efforts of the Sandvik DR416i are safety, productivity and value, Sandvik said.

The blueprint for the Sandvik DR416i is focused on space, accessibility, visibility and automation to ensure operator safety, including the following features:

  • Easy-access 360° walkways;
  • Four egress points;
  • Easy access to mast components, and;
  • Non-rust, fiberglass-reinforced grating.

“Designed with a mix of durability and innovation, the Sandvik DR416i achieves optimal availability and productivity,” Sandvik said. It does this through features such as:

  • Dual feed speeds for greater drilling control and faster retract;
  • Auto-setup, auto mast raise/lower, auto-levelling and auto-drill;
  • ‘Live Tower’ design, lower/raise mast with rotary head and pipe at top of mast, and;
  • Traveling centraliser for straighter holes and reduced drill pipe wear.

The Sandvik DR416i is equipped with several features that improve the efficiency of customers’ operations while also cutting costs, according to the company. The CMS saves up to 30% on fuel consumption, while independent cooling offers quick core replacement. Sandvik also claims that the rig’s increased service intervals increase availability and reduces interaction, while there is advanced troubleshooting available via the controls system to help identify problems before picking up a wrench.

Dave Shellhammer, President, Rotary Drilling Division, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology, said: “In developing the latest addition to our iSeries family, we looked at our customers’ greatest challenges in the large-diameter drill space and developed a cost-effective, highly-efficient solution to solve those challenges.”