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The return of top-hammer drilling

 

Drilling contractors operating ageing pneumatic machines are now being offered a choice of replacement machines. It is important for machines to offer high levels of safety and productivity while being versatile enough to gain access to smaller sites and Tamrock believe their Ranger and Scout series of drill rigs fulfill these requirements.

Both units feature high levels of stability and rough-terrain capability. The Ranger has a ROPS/FOPS ergo safety cabin, while the Scout is a cab-less radio remote-control (RRC) unit. Both rigs feature a rotating top structure to provide greater area coverage of up to 26.4m2. Reach and hole spotting is quick, thereby reducing set-up times.

 

The boom and feed assemblies are counterbalanced by the rear-mounted power pack (which is always on the opposite side to the boom and feed regardless of the drilling direction); this reduces the overall weight and makes the rigs more stable. The machines can also travel parallel to the direction of the blast.

The Scout’s control panel has a range of functions including tramming, percussion and feed-pressure adjustments. The Ranger can be fitted with an electric remote control for tramming to difficult sites.

Nearly all quarry drilling in the UK is undertaken using the down-the-hole method. In the rest of world, however, especially Europe, Scandinavia and the US, the top-hammer method is preferred for hole diameters of 64–140mm. With new advanced control systems and drilling tools, high-quality holes can now be produced even in extreme and fractured rock conditions. The drilling precision of the latest top-hammer equipment helps ensure optimal sizing of blasted rock, making the entire drilling process more efficient and productive.

 

 

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