Bauma 2007 Sheds Light on Atlas Copco's E-series Drill Rig and New Roofex BoltTo further enhance the success of Rocket Boomer E-series - Atlas Copco's new series of face drilling rigs for medium to large tunnels - a number of options have been added to the list of features. The rig can now be delivered with the upgraded Tunnel Manager™ software, the Atlas Copco Tunnel Profiler and a new rod handling system, specially designed for the E-series. Click here.BUT 45 boomThe BUT 45 boom has a double rotation head for faster boom and feed movements when drilling the tunnel face. The rotation head also offers sideways boom rotation, which together with the higher bracing force ensures that the crosscuts and rock bolts drilled require few set-ups. More importantly, the increased boom stiffness permits longer boom extension and more accurate positioning, resulting in greater coverage area and reduced over- and underbreak. Optional equipment, such as the rod handling system, can be mounted onto the boom thanks to the higher carrying capacity. Rocket Boomer E-series can now be delivered and equipped with RHS E, the upgraded Tunnel Manager™ software and Atlas Copco Tunnel Profiler Flying to the moon: the Atlas Copco Rocket Boomer E-series booms can be lifted up to an impressive 18 metres, making possible to bore double-deck tunnels! If you feel uncomfortable from vertigo, don't let anybody lift you that high! Rod Handling SystemThe new Rod Handling System, RHS E, is developed solely for the E-series rigs and can accommodate 3.05 m extension rods. RHS E enables the drilling of longer holes, for grouting, probing or drainage, without the necessity of manual rod extension.In addition to drilling blast holes at the face a Boomer drill rig is often engaged in drilling holes in other directions and for other purposes. In infrastructure projects, especially when excavating through fractured and weak rock or soil, a high number of long holes for pregrouting are drilled 20-25 metres ahead the face. This type of drilling requires extension rods. New stricter safety regulations recently introduced in some countries do not permit men standing on the service platform carrying out manual work, while drilling is being performed with other booms. To eliminate time consuming stoppages during extension drilling, one or more booms equipped with RHS E will make the rod handling procedure mechanically while face drilling is being conducted with the other boom(s). The hydraulically driven carousel furnished with two gripping arms accommodates eight 3.05 m extension rods.One of the design goals has been the possibility to quickly attach and detach RHS E on site. In addition to an improved working environment RHS E will no doubt make its vital contribution towards faster and more efficient tunnelling. The new Rod Handling System RHS E The new Rod Handling System RHS E equipped with rods Tunnel ManagerThe Rocket Boomer E-series features the third generation Rig Control System, RCS3, which gives improved control of the drilling process and the boom and feed movements. When the rig is equipped with ABC Regular and Total, Atlas Copco now offers the facility to furnish it with the upgraded software Tunnel Manager, for creation, storage and analysis of vital tunnelling and drilling data. The software is available in three packages, whereof the most advanced package offers the possibility to analyze and translate data into rock mass characteristics such as rock hardness and fracturing.Thanks to usage of latest computer technology the new programmes are easier to use compared to the previous versions. The most advanced package, Tunnel Manager MWD, offers a completely new functionality built on several years of research at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden.The Windows-based programme Tunnel Manager is suited for Atlas Copco Boomer rigs equipped with Rig Control System, RCS, and the Advanced Boom Control function, ABC Regular or ABC Total. The upgraded Tunnel Manager software is available in three different packages: Tunnel Manager, Tunnel Manager Pro and Tunnel Manager MWD. The first package, Tunnel Manager, offers basic functions, such as generating drill plans and following up the result. The second package, Tunnel Manager Pro, contains the upgraded Measure While Drilling function, whereas the most advanced package Tunnel Manager MWD, also contains the possibility to analyze the collected data. This means that the user can swiftly translate rock drilling data into relevant rock mass characteristics such as rock hardness and fracturing.The MWD technique is a well proven and useful method for collecting drilling data, such as penetration rate, feed force, rotation speed, percussive, rotation, water pressure and water flow while drilling a hole. Previously, data had to be sent to consultants or transferred into a separate tool for analysis, but now Tunnel Manager MWD offers the possibility to analyze and translate the data directly by the user. The calculated figures are presented in line with customer requirements, which can be chosen from a range of various graphical tools available. Compared to other methods to characterize rock properties, Tunnel Manager MWD gives without delay high data resolution at low costs, since data are extracted automatically at regular intervals. Based on this information the excavation and rock reinforcement plans can be modified to achieve optimum safety, speed and economy. Information regarding fracture zones, water flow and rock discontinuities can also prove valuable for the long term maintenance of the tunnel. Tunnel Manager MWD - tunnel mapping of two parallel tracks Atlas Copco Tunnel ProfilerAnother feature introduced at Bauma is the Atlas Copco Tunnel Profiler, a fully integrated 3D-scanning system telling the operator after just a few minutes of scanning how the excavation conforms to the pre-planned design. By using this system under- and overbreak and shotcrete thickness can be assessed and corrected at an early stage of the tunnelling cycle. A main objective in tunnelling and drifting is to drill and blast to an optimum contour at the lowest total cost. Any deviations from the specified profile can be costly and time consuming to correct later on. After setup at the face the Atlas Copco Tunnel Profiler conducts 3-dimensional automatic scanning of a defined section. The resulting data are immediately available and displayed in the Rig Control System, RCS, with a coordinate accuracy of +/- 2 cm. It takes about five minutes only to scan a 65 sq m face/roof area. The under- and overbreak are calculated and presented graphically to the operator. Using the Tunnel Profiler can be compared to having a surveyor on board the rig at all times. An additional benefit of the Atlas Copco Tunnel Profiler is the possibility to use the laser for rig navigation. In tunnelling this feature has been required for many years and the Atlas Copco Tunnel Profiler offers a convenient, new method of navigation.The Atlas Copco Tunnel Profiler, which has been developed in cooperation with Bever Control AS in Norway, can be offered to all Atlas Copco computerized drill rigs. Already during first half of 2007, the Atlas Copco Tunnel Profiler will be delivered to contractors in Norway and Finland. Atlas Copco Tunnel Profiler is a fully integrated 3D scanning system for all Atlas Copco computerized drill rigs New Roofex boltRoofex, a new deep mine rock bolt that can adapt to faulting, rock deformation, whilst retaining its reinforcement strength, or displacement underground, while maintaining a constant load capacity, has been developed by Atlas Copco.Following in the footsteps of Swellex rock bolts and MAI self-drilling anchors, the Roofex deep mine rock bolt fulfils the need for effective bolting in difficult underground applications such as tunnelling in squeezing ground or deep mining in poor quality rock. The new bolt is a high quality steel bar inside a smooth plastic sheathing which is fixed inside the borehole with cement or resin grout. The bolt also has a patented energy absorber which functions as a sliding element over the high quality steel bar. The bolt length adapts as the rock deforms and this allows the high load capacity to be maintained. Loading and displacement can be pre-set during manufacture to suit the expected conditions. In this way, the bolt can absorb sudden displacements such as rock burst or seismic events. This makes the Roofex especially suitable for developing new, deep underground excavations in poor quality rock or in areas where rock burst or seismic events are frequent. The bolt can be produced in standard lengths typically used in mining and tunnelling, and the displacement capacity can be pre-selected during manufacturing. Visit www.atlascopco.com 20/07.