New Top Hammer XL

New Top Hammer XL

Published by Donna Schmidt in www.miningmagazine.com

The system permits higher productivity for surface mining and large-scale quarry customers, features components that have been optimised to work together, including a new Pantera DP1600i drill rig, new RD1840C rock drill and new LT90 rock tools. All components have been designed and produced at the company's facilities in Sweden and Finland.

From an efficiency perspective, the trio of components at the heart of the system offer a "solid base" for its powerful rock drill to generate an optimum pulse for tooling system. That, then, transfers high-energy shock waves with minimum rock losses to the rock.

Its tests revealed a 50% fuel consumption drop, as well as a 25% reduction in total drilling costs and 15% increase in productivity over DTH.

Together with the powerful RD1840C rock drill and robust LT90 rock tools, the end result is extreme capacity for a larger hole size, without increasing the actual physical drill rig footprint. The Pantera DP1600i drill rig is available with Tier 3 and Stage 5 engine emission versions.

The RD1840C rock drill, also designed for large hole drilling, has drilling power of 49 kW (66 hp).Its piston percussion package features a new layout of pressure accumulators to maximise efficiency and minimise hose vibrations.

Finally, the system's LT90 rock tools, which consist of a shank adapter, MF tube rods and drill bits, offer the user the best drilling dynamics and rock-breaking efficiency.LT90 rock tools design increases productivity, improves hole straightness and provides great coupling characteristics and a long service life.The steel shank adapter on the LT90 offers energy transfer from the rock drill piston to the drill string in an optimised manner. With the new MF tube rods, operations can realise a higher rate of penetration, straighter holes and an increased service life.The optimised thread design minimises stress levels from bending, and excellent coupling characteristics are seen in the double-pass thread of this tool system. Premium steel grades and heat-treatment processes further improve its durability.

The drill bits are available from 140 to 178 millimeters (5.5 to 7 inches) and can be with standard carbide grades of PowerCarbide, depending on the rock formation.