Mining equipment manufacturer Sandvik launched its DR461i diesel-powered, self-propelled, crawler-mounted blasthole drill last month.

The drill is automation-ready and features forward-thinking design and technology for bulk mining operations and is designed to withstand the harshest conditions and equipped for rotary or down-the-hole drilling. The DR461i was developed from the preceding DR460 drill rig and includes upgrades that make the drill extremely reliable, easy to maintain and safe.

“For decades, customers have counted on Sandvik to develop the most durable products on the markets – rigs that will be able to work a mine site for a long time. By developing the DR461i, we have taken our customers’ feedback into our research and development efforts and are proud of the newest addition to our drilling equipment product line,” says Sandvik Mining rotary drilling VP Ken Stapylton.

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

He notes 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 and the Earth Moving Equipment Safety Roundtable design philosophies.

“The DR461i rig includes 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. It also offers unique 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,” he says.

He adds that, owing to the air gap beneath it, the actual cab roof will heat up less, keeping the cabin at more comfortable temperatures.

Stapylton further cites that running off of the CanBus system on the drill acts like an electronic depth counter and drill monitoring system in one, picking up information from sensors that monitor different parts of the machine, such as the motor, compressor, rotary head, tracks. It represents this data through an interactive touch screen that the operator can then easily scroll through in order to keep track of the condition of the drill, how it is drilling and whether it needs maintenance.

“The 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,” he says, adding that it is designed to be self-leveling depending on the topography of the ground around the drill, and it was also built to accommodate the different heights of the drill levels depending on the height of the jack extension.