High-technology engineering company Sandvik has added the new DR461i drill to its equipment product line.

“The DR461i is a diesel powered, self-propelled, crawler-mounted blasthole drill that is automation-ready and features forward-thinking design and technology for bulk mining operations,” states Sandvik Mining rotary drilling VP Ken Stapylton.

He adds that the drill is designed to withstand the harshest working conditions and is equipped for rotary or down-the-hole drilling.

The DR461i was developed from the preceding DR460 drill rig and includes upgrades that make it reliable, easy to maintain and safe, says Stapylton.

“For decades, customers have counted on Sandvik to develop the most durable products on the market – rigs that will be able to work a mine site for decades.”

He adds that in developing the DR461i, the company took its customers’ feedback into account in its research and development efforts and is therefore proud of the newest addition to its drilling equipment product line.

Safety
Stapylton says safety is a top priority at Sandvik Mining, and as such the DR461i includes several safety enhancements such as autonomous pipe handling, above-the-deck bit change, additional walkways, hand railings and safety interlocks.

He adds that the drill was designed to fully comply with the various safety standards around the world, such as Mining Design Guidelines for mobile and transportable equipment in mines, Earth Moving Equipment Safety Roundtable and Design Philosophies.

Additional features of the DR461i rig include an ergonomically designed cab to ensure maximum comfort and ease of operation for the operator. The cab includes air conditioning and sound insulation to 80 dB or less.

The cab also offers unique “all in the seat” drilling and tramming controls, as well as a roof designed as a canopy, which sits above the actual roof with a four-inch air gap between them. Owing to this air gap, the actual cab roof heats up less, keeping the cabin at comfortable temperatures.

Further, the graphical user interface (GUI) system digitally displays the features of the DR461i while operating and tramming.

The GUI runs off the CanBus system on the drill and acts like an electronic depth counter and drill monitoring system in one, picking up information that sensors monitor in different parts of the machine such as the motor, compressor and rotary head.

Meanwhile, the drill’s hydraulic main access stairway is developed to be a safer alternative to accessing the drill rig rather than using vertical hanging steps.

The stairway enables the operator or maintenance personnel to bring tools up onto the drill with a reduced risk of falling. It is designed to be self-levelling depending on the topography of the ground around the drill, and is also built to accommodate the different heights of the drill levels depending on the height of jack extension.