Mine Master released the battery-powered Roof Master 1.8KE drill rig for testing underground at the KGHM underground copper mine in Lubin, Poland.
The rig is for galleries from 3 to 5 m in height. It has a 1.8-m mechanized bolt mast for 9 bolts. The sodium-nickel battery is 120 kWh, and can recharge on the mine’s existing network.
The battery charger is built on to the chassis. The battery will recharge when the rig goes downhill. The rig also features a closed, air-conditioned cabin.
The rig is the lowest in its class with a transport height of 1.65 m, the company reported. It is designed for a room-and-pillar system with slopes of 15°. It can drill blast holes between 41 mm and 76 mm in diameter to a length of 3.2 m at heights above 1.7 m.
The rig is designed for easy maintenance, the company reported.
