Underground drilling is somewhat similar to surface drilling; however, there are a few differences that you need to consider. These differences play a huge role in ensuring you select the right rock drilling equipment.
What’s the Objective?
When you are drilling underground, it involves definition drilling with the focus being on speed and production. You don’t want to slow down the extraction portion of the operation. With this focus, being able to achieve the best rate of penetration is crucial. Core bits that are able to cut rock properly have good rotation speed and will be able to offer a much better rate of penetration.
Known Ground versus Unknown Ground
Generally, the mines you work in have been in operation for several years. This means that the type of rock present isn’t a huge mystery. In fact, there will be several holes in place already, which means surprises are limited. When choosing rock drilling equipment you won’t have to limit your options to the core bits that are right for a larger array of ground. Instead, you can choose one for the specific type of ground you are working with. Also, when you know what type of ground is present, you can choose a higher crown, which will reduce the number of times you have to change the bit.
Bore Holes Depth
When drilling underground (in most cases) the holes are not going to be as deep. As a result, the rock drilling equipment needed will be different. A little known fact is that a better rate of penetration can be achieved with the thinner kerfs that are used in core bits.
With this information in mind, you can easily choose the right type of rock drilling equipment for the job at hand. This will make the entire process easier and much less stressful.