Skip to main content

Automated operation boosts productivity on Atlas Copco’s new SmartRig

Automated operation is said to boost productivity for Atlas Copco's new ROC F9C SmartRig. This innovative machine allows operators to lay out shot patterns on a computer and can help them follow through with GPS-guided, automated drilling for higher accuracy and speed. Documentation of performance is kept for better planning and accountability and the ROC F9C rock drill can adjust impact power and feed pressure to suit rock conditions, for smoother drilling and reduced stress on the drill string.
February 24, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Atlas Copco's sophisticated ROC F9C drill rig offers a high degree of automation for higher accuracy and productivity
Automated operation is said to boost productivity for 161 Atlas Copco's new ROC F9C SmartRig. This innovative machine allows operators to lay out shot patterns on a computer and can help them follow through with GPS-guided, automated drilling for higher accuracy and speed. Documentation of performance is kept for better planning and accountability and the ROC F9C rock drill can adjust impact power and feed pressure to suit rock conditions, for smoother drilling and reduced stress on the drill string.

An operator can pre-plan a shot by entering hole spacing, burden, depth and blast angle on a computer program that comes with the rig. A memory card slotted into the ROC F9C allows the machine to follow the plan accurately and in all weathers, while hole deviation is said to be less than 50mm. The computer means that there is no need to manually site the drill, or mark holes on the ground. The ROC F9C drills holes from 89-127mm in diameter and up to 30m deep.

Using this machine is said to speed drilling operations, reduces the risk of errors and cuts operating costs. It also improves blasting performance by allowing more consistency, reducing overbreak, fines generation, oversized material and flyrock as well as delivering a smoother floor for the blasted area.

The drill is able to add steel, adjust parameters to suit unconsolidated rock formations and completes a hole to the predetermined depth without the operator touching the controls. In addition the machine offers lower fuel consumption as it operates at optimum performance throughout and the company offers a low noise silencing kits as an option.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • MOBA’s innovative drill control offers efficiency
    January 6, 2017
    MOBA continues to develop its novel MDS-2000 drilling system. This package has already proven itself in use for blast hole drilling in many operations and can now be used to record the orientation of the machine with GNSS antennae and the height using laser reference. With telesupport, MOBA also offers fast service through an Internet connection. By recording the machine orientation using two GNSS antennae, the torsion on the machine can be determined with very high accuracy and included in the calculation
  • Piling accurately with Trimble’s new tool
    June 10, 2019
    Trimble is offering a new system that can help to boost the quality of drilling and piling work. The firm’s new Groundworks Machine Control System has been developed as a streamlined machine control solution for drilling and piling operations that helps optimise productivity and quality. The firm claims that this highly sophisticated system allows contractors to carry out drilling and piling operations more quickly, safely and accurately than using conventional methods. “Engineered for ease of use, Trim
  • Atlas Copco's new rotation unit
    July 19, 2012
    A new series of rugged, hydraulically-powered rotation units for use with any type of DTH (down-the-hole) hammer in the 92-203mm range as well as ITH (in-the-hole) underground production work with Simba drill rigs, has been introduced by Atlas Copco. The DHR 6 is the latest unit in the company's well known DHR series and complies with demands for air pressure of up to 35 bar and a maximum torque of 6kNm. This means the unit will allow a DTH hammer to be run at much greater power, significantly accelerating
  • Compact and efficient drilling
    February 22, 2012
    Using MOBA MDS-2000 drilling system controls to monitor blast hole drilling in a limestone quarry is helping ensure optimum accuracy.