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Drill masters

The current series of Atlas Copco Rocket Boomers is

based on the latest, well proven computer
and information technology.

uppliers of underground drilling equipment today have very many things

to consider. There is little doubt that the global mining industrys future
direction is underground, for both environmental and geological reasons.
The major deep mines of the future will be planned and built on a far grander
scale than those of today. Atlas Copco experts note that high speed ramp
drivage and mine development will be of importance, and benchmarking and
comparisons with the methods used by contractors in tunnelling can be useful
for speeding up operations. Accuracy and speed in all operations in the drill
and blast cycle has to be improved. Shorter drilling times are needed and
when possible also, longer rounds (advance). Greater accuracy is required to
avoid overbreak and reduce mucking time and transport, and to reduce time
spent on scaling and rock reinforcement.
Other areas include the growth in block caving and the drilling technologies
required to make this mining method work efficiently and the wider use of low
profile drilling machines, and not just in the platinum mines of South Africa.
Many mines themselves can improve work practices to deliver the drill
machine utilization and overall efficiency levels that are possible today.
Automation is a long researched area, but is becoming more critical in the light
of today's severe skills shortages.

Automation
Of course, the aim of all suppliers and users of underground drilling is faster,
more productive and less supervised drilling. The current series of Atlas Copco
Rocket Boomers is based on the latest, well proven computer and information
technology. These rigs are of modularized design in both hardware and
software, so their functionality is upgradeable step by step. Options such as

26 International Mining MAY 2007

ABC Regular, ABC Total, drillplan generator, and communication products are
available to facilitate quality drilling.
Atlas Copco has applied the same new automation technology for other
drilling equipment such as Simba production rigs, Boltec rockbolters and ROC
surface crawler rigs. For the customer, this means commonality of components
and training, leading to a better understanding of both the capability and the
maintenance of Atlas Copco products. For the company, it allows continuous
product development, which can be applied right across the range1.
Also, the Mine Navigation and Drill Plan Generator systems developed for
the Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer series of jumbos provide drillers with better
accuracy and precision than ever before. Together with mine planners, this
enables drillers to better follow sinuous and irregular orebodies, while
producing less waste, and increasing overall mining efficiency2.
During the 1990s Atlas Copco and Swedens big iron ore producer, LKAB,
developed a pioneering fully automatic longhole production drilling system
based on the Atlas Copco Simba W469 drill rigs. These drill rigs have since
then drilled about over 8 million drill metres at the Kiruna and Malmberget
mines. In 2005 LKAB ordered three new Atlas Copco Simba W6 Cs, to
complement Simba W469s still in operation. These new Simbas were based on
the latest generation computerized drilling technology and have met the
expectations of LKAB and now form a base for future automation in the two
mines.
Two of these Simba W6 Cs were designed for production drilling at Kiruna
mine, with Wassara water hammers (ITH-W100) for nominal 115-mm
diameter holes. The third rig was specially redesigned to optimize slot drilling in
the Malmberget mine, using 165-mm nominal diameter slot drilling equipment

SANDVIK MAY 07

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and again the Wassara hammer ITH W120. The
Simba W6 C Slot rig has the ability to drill
production holes around the slot, with the added
benefit of drilling parallel rings from the same set
up with a burden of 500 mm.
LKAB demands high productivity, efficiency and
accuracy from its production rigs. Automation and
the ability to remotely steer the drill rigs is often an
integral part of obtaining the drilling rates required.
Patrik Ericsson of Atlas Copco notes that, with all
our customers we stress that the first priority when
implementing automation to production drilling is
to obtain a fault free fan automation and to record
and compare the planned and actual result. Full
logging capability is often a demand3..
All LKABs production rigs have drill rods/tube
magazines that are sufficient to drill the required
production hole lengths so there is no manual
adding of drill tubes/rods. To assist in changing out
worn drill tubes/rods and hammers a crane is available either on the rig or in the vicinity of the working area again the aim is no
heavy lifting.
The Simba W6 C rigs are equipped with a rig control system especially
designed for in the hole hammer (ITH) applications. All units are equipped with
Rig Remote Access via standard WLAN systems, which enable a number of
functions such as remote supervision when drilling unmanned in full fan
automation, as well as data transfer of drill plans and log files.
Some special features/benefits on the Simba W6 C are:
A reserve hammer rack for four hammers and a place for reserve drill bits
Fan automation and automatic redesign of the fan to planned hole ends
(autospreading)
Tube magazine for 35 drill tubes (1.8 m in length = 63 m)
Drill cuttings collector
Set-up accuracy and ease of set up.

Further needs
Although we have come a long way with the accuracy of drill rigs Patrik
Ericsson and his colleagues3 know that further improvements are needed in
producing a drilling plan and setting up the rig and in completing a hole to a
known location. LKAB is aware of current limitations, such as drill planning
programmes, human errors and locating the drill rig in real space. Although
these variables are often marginal at the rig the magnification of the error 60 m
from the rig can be significant and that is without including deviation of the
hole caused by uncontrollable influences such as rock characteristics.
To achieve demands for drilling accuracy with a hole deviation of less than
1% it is important to select the best possible tools for the task. In LKABs case

The LKAB Simba W6 C rigs

operate with the highest
level of automation ABC
Total, a package from Atlas
Copco that provides a full fan
automatics system.

the selection has been ITH. ITH produces very straight holes with an even
penetration rate throughout the complete hole depth. To further improve
drilling accuracy it is common to use a guide tube to complement the guiding
of the hammer. Both hammer and the guide tubes are equipped with a guide
skirt to improve the guiding capability.
It is not only the mechanical tool that has to be optimized to achieve quality
holes. Other important factors that influence accuracy and deviation of the
drilled hole, and that are taken into account in the design of these W6C rigs,
include rotation pressure, feed pressure, feed speed and the impact pressure.
The LKAB Simba W6 C rigs operate with the highest level of automation
ABC Total, a package from Atlas Copco that provides a full fan automatics
system. Thus the rig can drill a full fan in automatic mode with only some
initial steps needed from the operator. Within the ABC Total package there is
also the possibility to drill manually or with one-hole automatics if preferred.
The automatic functions give LKAB the opportunity to use the machines
unmanned during shift change, lunch break and night shift. In gains of drill
metres this is a valuable possibility.
With increased automation and reduced manning there is a growing need
for remote surveillance. Atlas Copco has developed an interface called Rig
Remote Access (RRA). With RRA the user can connect the drill rig to an existing
network system via LAN or WLAN. LKAB uses RRA to transfer drill plans, log files
and to handle messages coming from the rigs control system. Drill plans are
created in customized software, GIRON, a 3D program able to map the whole
co-ordinate system of the mine. Drill plans are stored in an RRA-server which is
connected to the whole network, both on surface and underground. From the
access points underground all data is received and uploaded to the rigs. The

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28 International Mining MAY 2007

Document3

1/5/07

7:37 am

Page 1

Unearthing the right solution

Fluent in the international language of mining
Our engineers have one overriding aim: to develop, refine and implement
the innovative systems that improve safety at the same time as increasing productivity and cost efficiency. Day in and day out, they delve deeper to discover
more about the problems Minova customers face and the products needed to
overcome them.
Our ability to integrate local knowledge with global resources allows us to call
upon the very best people almost anywhere in the world where their expertise
is most needed. Wherever they go, they speak the same language as their customers the international language of mining. Its this fluency gained over
three decades that allows us to go further by challenging convention and
uncovering the very best solutions.

Roof bolting
Membranes

Ventilation seals
Backfill

Injection resins
Roadway support

Contact +44 1608 649 355 or visit our website

www.minovainternational.com
Operations in:
Australia
Czech Republic
Germany
India

UK
Ukraine
USA
Poland
Russia

Slovakia
Spain
South Africa
Switzerland
Peoples Republic of China

Solutions from Materials Technology

Minova International Ltd.

26 Fleetwood House
Cromwell Business Park
Chipping Norton
Oxon OX7 5SR
England

UNDERGROUND

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UNDERGROUND DRILLING
access points also allow the machines to send out messages on the network.
The messages are picked up from specified IP addresses and can be read from
a lap-top or PC located anywhere in the network.

...and Sandvik and LKAB

Sandvik is also working with LKAB to develop next-generation remote controlled rigs for production drilling. The agreement between Sandvik and LKAB is
for at least ten Sandvik Solo 8s equipped to drill vertical holes, with the waterpowered W100 Wassara hammer.
An initial prototype will be delivered this year for trials at the mines, and once
the concept has been fully developed and accepted, mass production of the
remaining machines will start. These are scheduled for delivery from end-2007
through 2010. The machines will have complete fan automatics, be remote

controlled and be monitored from a control room in the mine. They will only be
manned when being moved in order to drill a new fan.
Fan drilling comprises of between 300 and 600 m of holes in total, with
each hole being up to 60 m in length, all drilled upwards. The maximum hole
length will increase by about 5 m compared with what is drilled today. Even
more rigorous demands are being made of hole straightness, says Jan-Olov
Nilsson, LKABs project manager who is drawing up the specifications for the
new rigs. Given the hole straightness requirement, the only drilling method
suitable is water powered DTH-drilling, using the Wassara hammer developed
by LKAB and being sold and marketed by Sandvik in certain markets. LKAB has
owned Wassara AB jointly with Sandvik for about ten years. LKAB recently
acquired Sandviks holding (40%) in Wassara, and the company will thereby
become a wholly-owned LKAB subsidiary.

Deilmann-Haniels narrow, low height, crawler mounted jumbo BTRL1 was

developed to operate in bad ground conditions and/or at inclinations of up to
25, for example for drift mine access. It ideally operates together with powerful
side discharge loaders in very narrow roadways. The twin
rotational drive of the BTL boom with 90 offset allows
the fast and precise positioning of the feed for blasthole
drilling and roofbolting.

Bar Bolts DYWIDAG, headed,

threaded, self-drilling, glass-fiber,
post-grouted, resin bolts, expansion shells

Friction Bolts Sets

Cable Bolts galv.0.6/0.7, Hi-Ten; Flexi
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Plates domed, butterfly

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Mats & Mesh W-Strap, Mesh-Strap, welded

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Installation Tools Cable tensioner, spanners
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MINING SYSTEMS
www.dsiminingproducts.com

30 International Mining MAY 2007

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UNDERGROUND DRILLING
In addition to wanting the Wassara hammer ourselves, part of the agreement with Sandvik includes
developing the Wassara concept as much as possible, says Jan-Olov Nilsson.
The rigs currently being developed by Sandvik,
based on LKAB's specifications will feature a separate
magazine with drilling hammers that are automatically replaced on the basis of a preset value for
metres drilled. The magazine will hold eight drill
hammers.
We have rocks that are relatively tough on the
drill bits, particularly in Malmberget, where they average approximately 70-80 m between each regrinding, says Jan-Olov Nilsson. Today LKAB uses 13 rigs
for production drilling in Kiruna and Malmberget,
three of which are Sandvik Solo rigs with hammers
for top hammer drilling. Sandvik is therefore very
familiar with the conditions prevalent at LKAB.
The carriers are based on previously known
designs, and the hammer technology is also familiar.
The technology that will now be developed is a control system to meet LKAB's
automation requirements, says Elias Engman, Sandviks Account Manager for
LKAB. He is delighted with the agreement that has been concluded between
the companies. Long-hole drilling is one of the most important processes for
LKAB and we have been issued with strict requirements by the customer.
Obviously, were pleased to have been shown such confidence, says Elias
Engman.
Thomas Sderqvist, Manager of Sandvik Mining and Construction Region in
Central and Northern Europe explains: LKAB is a customer that the mining
business worldwide looks to when it comes to engineering; thats why it is

Boart Longyears new Semi-Automated Rod Handler can be fitted to all LM/LMA
underground diamond drills, including retrofitting.

important for us to be acknowledged as a preferred business partner for LKAB

in the development of these significant production rigs.

Drill string stress

As underground rigs and rock drills become increasingly powerful and the rounds
longer, drill strings are under far greater stress than ever before. There is greater
risk of drill string breakage, loss of holes and costly downtime. Atlas Copco

MINE MASTER THE NEW COMPANY WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN SUPPLYING
DRILLING & BOLTING EQUIPMENT FOR ALL MINING & TUNNELING APPLICATIONS

ul. Dworcowa 27, Wilkw

59-500 Zotoryja, Poland
Tel: +48 76 87 83 511

Fax: +48 76 87 84 101

info@minemaster.eu
www.minemaster.eu

MAY 2007 International Mining 31

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Secoroc introduced its first solution to this six years ago with the Secoroc Magnum
SR35 drill string system. Today, Secoroc reports the Magnum range has grown
to be a universal tool for all drifting and tunnelling applications.
Sture Stenquist, Product Line Manager Secoroc Top Hammer Equipment:
The success came as no surprise after all the testing we had done before the
introductions. The patented conical thread design allowed us to use rods with
larger cross-sections and still supply drill bits for the required small hole sizes.
We have through Magnum SR reinforced the whole drill string design by
adding innovative solutions and more material where it is really needed.
The result, the company says, is stronger and more reliable drill strings that
deliver higher penetration rates and considerably longer service life. Straighter
holes are another advantage because the stronger/stiffer rods have less tendency
to deviate during collaring. The drill bits are also easy to uncouple thanks to the
conical SR thread design, facilitating rapid bit changes and more holes drilled.
The success has led to increased demand for other dimensions and use of
Magnum SR for other underground applications, and development has
progressed accordingly.
The Secoroc Magnum SR family has been growing with additional sizes
(SR22, SR25 and SR38). So today they cover hole diameters of 32-51 mm for
blastholes and bolting, 51-64 mm for grouting and there are 76-127 mm
dome bits for reaming.

Coring underground
One of the great names of underground drilling, and the worlds leading
exploration drilling services provider, Boart Longyear, listed on the Australian
Stock Exchange in April at a 1% premium to its A$1.85 issue price, after
successfully raising A$2.35 billion in what was described as one of Australias
largest public share offers. A week previously, the company announced
a successful bookbuild in which there was strong demand from both
domestic and international institutions.

32 International Mining MAY 2007

As noted in our Bauma

preview article in March,
Boart Longyear sold its
Polish Mining Capital
Equipment division to new
owners, which includes a
30% holding by German
companies Schmidt, Kranz
& Co and GHH Fahrzeuge.
Under the new name Mine
Master the company plans
to grow in both the domestic and international mining
markets. The alliance with
GHH provides the potential
to offer packages including
Gemcoms LogMATE
LHD and mine trucks.
Mine Masters principal
products are a full range of
jumbos (Face Masters) roof bolters (Roof Masters) and excavator drilling
attachments (Flexi Masters). The company has supplied over 300 drilling and
bolting rigs to one of its major customers KGHM Polish Copper.
Boart Longyear continues to be a leader in underground coring rigs.
Designed with safety in mind, the new Semi-Automated Rod Handler can be
fitted to all Boart Longyear LM/LMA underground diamond drills, including
retrofitting. The rod handler reduces operator fatigue, occupational health and
safety liabilities and can improve productivity. Ergonomically designed for safe
rod handling, it will reduce back and hand injuries. Featuring automated rod
threading and non-intrusive laser guarding, it handles drill rods and core barrels
up to and including HQ size.

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05/07
To control that underground coring, Gemcoms LogMATE is a hand held
portable exploration logging software package that is easy to use and is
backed by an effective worldwide support team. Gemcom says it ensures
integrity and validation of all logging data right from the point of collection.
The data is subsequently available in digital format and can be loaded directly
into a database for further processing.
This package is designed for use on laptops, desktops and handheld computers
running Windows CE. It allows users to see an advanced spreadsheet-like data
entry screen where borehole data can be viewed and edited as it is logged. Data
can be logged directly into the computer using either a pen to write on the
computer screen, a keyboard or choosing codes directly from your predefined
lookup lists. LogMATE allows users to collect as much or as little information as
wanted. There are no physical limitations on the amount of data that can be
captured. Gemcom says data processing time is a thing of the past - the data
is ready for loading into your software package as
soon as the hole is logged.
One of LogMATEs advantages is the capability
of full real-time data validation. All data is consistent and valid as LogMATE real-time validation will
tell you when you use an invalid code.
Other advantages Gemcom puts forward include:
Available on most current hardware systems
Easy to use with familiar spreadsheet like interface
Real-time validation
Errors are eliminated by single data entry
It is not just a sample logger but enables the user
to collect both detailed logging information as well
as sampling information.

handles on either side of the head unit. By the use of these handles one man
can easily lift and move the machine to the next bolting position. The operator
also uses the handles, on either side of the head unit, to support the machine
while preparing to start drilling.
Due to the reduced fixed height achieved by side mounting the motor,
rather than a top mounting, the design of the Super Turbo enables it to
achieve greater leg extension on two-leg stages than other machines achieve
on three stages. This is very important since there is almost 50% more thrust
developed, due to the larger cross sectional area of the first stage, when
drilling or installing a bolt with the Super Turbo as compared with other
machine types which require a three-stage leg for similar reach. This design has
the further benefits of faster drilling rates and less drill rod changes.
The machines work at their peak performance with 6 bar dynamic air
pressure and 3.4 m3/min air flow. Even at 4 bar however, the Super Turbo will

Support drilling
For roof bolting, Minova manufactures a range of
compressed air operated, telescopic leg type
machines, designed to be readily adaptable to different types of drilling and bolting applications. These
are all lightweight, high performance machines. The
machines offer flexibility, rapid set-up, ease of use,
low maintenance requirements and low operational
costs. The flagship of the range is the Super Turbo
Bolter, which has been designed for the drilling and
installation of roofbolts and cables and is supplied in
six standard sizes.
The Super Turbo Bolter is a compressed air operated,
telescopic leg machine used for installing resin bolts
in underground roadways. The machine is lightweight, portable and offers a large degree of
flexibility in terms of the bolting pattern and operating
height.
It consists of an air motor and a drill unit mounted
on a telescopic leg which usually has two or three
extending sections. The operations of the machine,
which include drill rotation, leg thrust and water
feed, are all via a centralized rigid control handle,
which is connected to the head unit by means of a
distribution pin. The handle provides the operator
with full control of the machine away from the
immediate drilling area and under the protection of
previously supported ground.
The Super Turbo Bolter is designed to be moved
and located in position by hand and is fitted with a
lifting handle attached to the base and carrying

MAY 2007 International Mining 33

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drill and bolt satisfactorily and out perform its rivals due to the efficient fourpiston motor and the longer leg. Super Turbo bolters can be supplied for either
water flushed or air flushed drilling.
Minovas Remote Cable Bolter is designed for rapid, larger diameter and
longer hole drilling with all the benefits of remote operation. It comprises a
two-stage Super Turbo attached to a Stinger leg by a nylon guide bracket. This
arrangement is also ideal for 1-m extension drill rods with the high thrust first
stage of the telescopic leg being used for the majority of the drilling. The guide
bracket has the useful facility of allowing the drill unit to be swung out of the
way after the hole has been drilled. In low height roadways this significantly
eases the installation of the cable. The drill unit and Stinger sizes can be
adjusted to suit specific job sites but the standard machines heaviest part is
only 35 kg and can therefore be easily handled by a single operator.
The Twin-Leg Super Turbo is the latest development from Minova. Designed
primarily for cable bolting in mines with reduced air power, the twin leg design
develops double the thrust of the standard machine, offering maximum drilling
rates and easier operator control.
It is also suitable for the installation of solid anchors and, because of the
extra thrust capability, can be supplied with four stages. This caters for bolting
in very low height conditions with effective thrust even when the pressure of
the supplied air is low. At only 4 bar dynamic air pressure the Twin Leg
machine delivers 1.3 t of thrust from stage 1. That is a 30% improvement over
the standard machine at 6 bar.

most extensive fleets in the world, Redpath has completed well in excess of
205 km of contract raiseboring work. This includes raises up to 677 m in
length and up to 5 m in diameter.
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Redpath first introduced the Redbore
series of raise drills in 1987 with the popular Redbore 40 (RB40). Dan Kelly,
Manager of Raiseboring Operations: We saw a need in the industry for a
powerful machine that required less set-up room than was available at the time.
The RB40 is a small compact drill designed primarily for production slot
programmes. The drill can be configured for downreaming and upreaming.
Nominal capacities range from 724 mm up to 1.52 m diameter with lengths of
raise up to 152 m. The next step in the Redbore series, the RB70, was introduced
in 2000, it offers significantly increased capabilities while maintaining a low
back height. A large capacity drill, the RB70 is able to pilot/ream raises from
1.51 to 3.66 m diameter with lengths of raises up to 300 m.
The most recent addition to the Redbore series, the RB50 fills the
operational capacity gap between the previous two. Designed to be even more
compact and versatile, the RB50, although capable of drilling longer and larger
raises, fits into the exact size excavation required for the RB40.
The future, the RB100, is now in the design stage. It is anticipated that this
will be one of the most powerful raise drills with capabilities of 3.05 to 8.0 m
diameter and up to 914 m in length. IM

References
And raiseboring
As underground mines get larger, it is likely that raises will become even more
important to production drilling. Redpath says because of its penchant for
challenge and years of experience, the attitude of its raiseboring division is
Yes, we can do that!. The innovative minds at Redpath have made it
possible to carry out numerous advanced raiseboring projects. With one of the

theRAISERSedge

1. Following the Orebody with Accuracy, Underground Mining Equipment,

Atlas Copco
2. Automation for Quality Drilling, Face Drilling, Atlas Copco
3. P. Ericsson, M. Ramstrm, Atlas Copco Rock Drills and C. Griffiths, LKAB,
Experiences with a new generation automated longhole drilling rigs at LKAB
Kiruna mine in northern Sweden.

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P.O. Box 810, North Bay,

Ontario, Canada P1B 8K1
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www.jsredpath.com
C A N A D A / U N I T E D S TAT E S / C H I L E / I N D O N E S I A / M O N G O L I A

34 International Mining MAY 2007

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