Atlas Copco surface drill designed to optimize efficiency

Atlas Copco’s SmartROC D60 surface drill was designed to increase productivity and consistency. According to the company, the SmartROC D60 drills accurate quarry, construction and surface mining blastholes from 4 1/2 to 7 in. in diameter.

The SmartROC D60 is powered by a 475 hp Tier 4 Final Caterpillar C15 turbo-charged diesel engine. According to Atlas Copco, the estimated fuel savings can be as great as 15 percent over similar rigs.

“The development of this rig is the latest in our drive to produce a wider range of surface drill rigs giving better results at a lower cost,” says Mike Wentworth, product manager for Atlas Copco Surface Drilling Equipment in the United States.

The surface drill rig’s increased automation capability optimizes efficiency for consistent productivity, reports Atlas Copco. The SmartROC D60 features a hole navigation system and auto positioning for improved fragmentation characteristics. Additionally, its standard feed eliminates the need for inductive sensors, which helps to ensure more reliable handling of 16 1/2-ft. drill steel from built-in sensors of its rod handling cylinders and carousel motor. The rig also features an auto rod handling feature that automatically adds and extracts rods when the desired depth is reached.

“What we have in the SmartROC D60 is robustness and intelligence working together to achieve optimum performance and cost efficiency,” Wentworth adds. “The result is that the owner gets more holes per shift and consistently high productivity.”

The SmartROC D60 can also be used in toe-hole, dewatering and horizontal drilling applications, the company adds.