Rockmore International’s new B6 drill bit is intended to increase drilling efficiency and reduce operating costs for hardrock drilling and blasting in tunneling operations. The bit’s new design is claimed to prolong bit life and increase drilling penetration rates by incorporating enhancements in the bit face design and improvements in the configuration of cutting geometry.
Offered in 45-mm (1.75-in.) head diameter—the most popular tunneling blasthole dimension—the B6 is a button bit with six large tungsten carbide inserts on the periphery row for enhanced rockbreaking characteristics. The inserts are about 1 mm larger in diameter compared with previous models, leading to longer bit life. The B6 also incorporates changes in flushing design, such as placement of grooves and flutes designed to effectively carry rock cuttings away from the bit face. Multiple flutes are placed strategically between all button inserts to maximize the flow of the flushing medium carrying the cuttings. Such enhancements in the bit face flushing design, according to Rockmore, contribute greatly to penetration rates since the rock cuttings evacuate the drilled hole more efficiently. www.rockmore-intl.com
