Top Hammer: Ideal Selection for Mining and Underground Operations

Let us first understand the importance of top hammer drilling for diverse purposes of mining and construction. Well, top hammer drills make the best use for drilling short and narrow boreholes in hard rock. The percussive system is responsible for generating a percussive force on the drill rods or bits, which make it possible for the professionals to drill holes in the hard rock and it continues in a combination of drill and rotation; like, if the percussive system drills the rod for 2,000 to 5,000 minutes, the rotation speed can be examined at 60-200/minute. Besides, drilling through a top hammer can be considered the default choice for all holes with a width between 1- 1/2 -4in and a depth of about 30m.

For a very long time, the equipment has been using mainly for mining, quarrying for rock material, and construction. The combination of “drill and blast” method through the drilling turn the entire excavation process an easy task.

The reason why the top hammer method is widely preferred worldwide is because of its feature of using water to flush out cuttings. Due to this characteristic, the hammer makes the best selection for underground mining operations. It improves the underground work environment simply by lessening the bearing of drilling dust air in the number. It offers more accurate and controlled blasting which is highly critical in underground operations. It is also an ideal choice for bolting operations in that it secures tunnels; however, the machine used can be slightly different and require the same skillset from operators.

Besides all the applications mentioned above, the hammer is considered for a special use in tunnel forepoling that refers to weak ground conditions and a necessity for using top hammer methodology. 

The Limitations of Top Hammer:

Unlike many other tools, the top hammer also comes up with a set of drawbacks and limitations. One of the biggest drawbacks is seen when the drill string loses percussion energy, longer rods start lessening the energy and the efficiency of both. The speed keeps decreasing towards the end of longer holes. Constant shock waves on couplings and rods of top drill strings create continuous wear on various components, which means more consumables.

 

 

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