Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology showcased its Leopard DI650i down-the-hole (DTH) drilling rig at Conexpo 2020. Designed for large hole sizes, the machine offers better fuel efficiency, improved safety and higher productivity in challenging rock conditions.

The Leopard DI650i is suitable for demanding high-capacity production drilling applications in surface mining, as well as large-scale quarry applications. Besides having a powerful engine and compressor, the drilling rig incorporates a highly ergonomic iCAB cabin, excellent serviceability, mobility and fuel economy, along with scalable automation packages to deliver superior overall productivity.

The Leopard DI650i also comes with a range of new or redesigned 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 mm, depending on the size of the hammer. The maximum hole depth is 53.6 m when utilising the carousel option with pipe sizes from 89 to 114 mm. The capacity range of 403-kW Tier 3 / Tier 4F / Stage V Cat C15 diesel engine and reliable compressor is adequate for high-pressure drilling with 4-to 6.5-in DTH hammer sizes.

Thanks to the excellent visibility of drilling area and a single integrated touch screen for all monitoring, diagnostics and mining automation displays, Leopard DI650i’s silent, ergonomic iCAB cabin provides the rig operator with a safer, productive working environment for the rig operator. The maintenance crew can carry out all daily servicing tasks at ground level on both sides of the machine. The advanced serviceability and reliability features can increase Leopard DI650i’s availability by up to 20% compared with conventional DTH rigs at a similar technology level, said Sandvik.

The company added that 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. The Leopard DI650i’s fuel efficiency is further boosted by the flow-controlled drilling control system that eliminates fluctuations in airflow, instead of 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 the most challenging of rock conditions, while still retaining the low fuel consumption of the traditional pressure control approach in easy ground conditions.

The 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.

Note: The Leopard DI650i DTH surface drilling rig has also been featured in the Nov/Dec 2018 issue of Southeast Asia Construction.