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The Automatic Bit Changer (ABC) concept from Epiroc was originally introduced on its large platform Pit Viper drills back in 2022 and has proven to be a game changer on those machines in terms of safety, decreased downtime and easing operator workloads. Now these same upsides are available as an option on large Epiroc DTH crawler drills as well, initially on both the SmartROC D65 and D60 using the Epiroc COP M6 hammer.
With the ABC on the SmartROC D65 and D60, customers can match the speed of a manual bit change, but avoid all the heavy lifting whilst staying safe and comfortable in the cabin. Manually changing DTH drill bits is a task which operators and technicians have to perform regularly whilst working with a drill rig. DTH bits are heavy – up to 28 kg in weight when using the Epiroc COP M6 hammer. The old bit needs removing and then the new bit needs to offered up and threaded onto the hammer. This is a tough job, performed regularly, often under stress in challenging conditions.
The Automatic Bit Changer (ABC) for the SmartROC D65 and D60 can be pre-loaded with up to five drill bits, depending on bit size – for 203 mm bits it can accommodate four. This reduces the number of times the operator has to leave the cabin to change the bit.
The ABC also allows remote operators working from a control room – using Epiroc’s Common Automation Panel (CAP) – to change bits without having to call a technician on-site for assistance. The ABC helps to improve the working environment by reducing exposure to potential hazards. Additionally, this system assists in boosting the productivity of an operation. By maximising drilling time through the automated sequence and reducing machine downtime, the ABC helps to deliver higher productivity compared with manual bit changes.
The ABC is designed with a bit loading-deck. Heavy bits are placed here prior to being slid into the carousel. This limits the amount of time that an operator or technician is forced to bear the full weight of each bit. Each bit in the ABC requires its own chuck and stop ring prior to loading in the carousel. An interlock on the ABC guard door prevents the carousel from moving hydraulically when it is open. A release valve allows for manual rotation so each bit can be loaded in safely.
The controls for the ABC are fully integrated into the Rig Control System. No extra joysticks, controls or buttons are required in the cab. The ABC requires minimal operator training and Epiroc says will start to pay for itself immediately in terms of increased safety, operator comfort and efficiency. The company adds: “As with all SmartROC rigs. the high level of automation increases consistency and helps to prolong the life of valuable consumables. The ABC is no different. It threads and unthreads bits accurately every time and will help extend the operational life of both bits and hammers.”
IM caught up with Mattias Hjerpe, Global Product Manager at Epiroc. He states: “We want to remove operators from the danger zone and make our products as automated as possible. An important step on this journey was to develop the ABC for SmartROC D65 and D60. This is a game changer in many ways and I’m looking forward to seeing the impact the ABC will make in our industry.”
What about challenges in the ABC development for these rig sizes? Hjerpe: “With its location on the crawler rail feed beam, I would say the main challenge for us was to find the right space on the rig for it and still have the necessary protection from moving parts by including a cage around the feed beam. So we needed to be able to fit it inside that cage without making the footprint of the machine bigger and therefore increasing its transport dimensions.”
Hjerpe said the ABC has been run extensively in field tests and at Epiroc’s own proving grounds, with the first commercial versions expected to be deployed on D65 rigs in Australia and other markets that are already using autonomous D65 machines in 2026/2027 – there are several sites in Australian iron ore for example using both autonomous Pit Vipers and D65s – with the D65 preferred for tasks like pre-splits and perimeter drilling.
He added that demand is expected to initially follow overall drill autonomy, so as more D60s are automated then the ABC will be deployed on these rigs as well. The market in autonomous drilling is based on the fact that the ABC allows users to get ever closer to total automation on these rigs, bringing required operator proximity to the machine while it is working to an absolute minimum.
That is not to say that the ABC is only going to be used on autonomous drills – in normally manually operated drills it still brings huge benefits especially in terms of Live Work Elimination progress. The system also has the capability of being retrofitted as a kit. Looking to the future, moving down the crawler drills sizes such as into the D55 and D50 is a possibility but will require more development as it will involve a smaller unit due to the smaller sized bits and hammers.
The post Epiroc’s Automatic Bit Changer for large DTH drills appeared first on International Mining.
