Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology has expanded its high-pressure DTH drill rig offering with a new model, the Leopard DI650i, designed for larger hole sizes.Â
The Leopard DI650i down-the-hole (DTH) drill rig is designed for demanding high-capacity production drilling applications in surface mining, as well as large-scale quarry applications. The rig incorprates a powerful engine and compressor, ergonomic iCab cabin, along with scalable automation packages. The machine comes with a range of new or re-designed components to boost its productivity. The standard rotary head option, HTRH6, has performed successfully on existing Sandvik DTH rigs, whereas the new heavy-duty option, MRH6, is a good fit with Sandvik’s new RH560-series DTH hammers and well-matched to the demands of the upper range of the capacity area.
Pipe sizes range from 89 to 140 millimeters, depending on the size of the hammer. The maximum hole depth is 53.6 meters when utilizing the carousel option with pipe sizes from 89 to 114 mm. The capacity range of 403-kW Tier 3 CAT C15 diesel engine and reliable compressor is adequate for high-pressure drilling with 4-6.5 inch DTH hammer sizes.
Equipped with a single integrated touch screen for all monitoring, diagnostics and mining automation displays, Leopard DI650i’s iCab cabin provides the rig operator with a safer, productive working environment for the rig operator. Intelligent control technology applied in both the compressor and the hydraulic system’s cooler fan can reduce fuel consumption by up to 15% compared with conventional DTH rigs, according to Sandvik.
The Leopard DI650i’s fuel efficiency is further boosted by the flow-controlled drilling control system that eliminates fluctuations in airflow, instead allowing the pressure level to fluctuate in response to more difficult ground conditions and increased back pressure (for example, due to groundwater or collapsing holes). This makes maximum flushing pressure and penetration rates available in challenging rock conditions, while still retaining the low fuel consumption of the traditional pressure control approach in easy ground conditions.
Leopard DI650i joins Sandvik’s other i-series drilling rigs in its compatibility with the newest scalable automation solutions. The latest onboard options include TIM3D drill navigation with wireless data transfer, My Sandvik fleet monitoring system and full-cycle drilling automatics, which merge functionalities such uncoupling, feed auto-aligning and feed auto positioning into a single efficient sequence. These capabilities can be further upgraded with more advanced modules such as single-rig or fleet remote control systems by Automine Surface Drilling.