Sandvik Launches New DTi Series Tunnelling JumbosAt an official launch event on 8th-10th October in Helsinki and Tampere, Finland, Sandvik Mining and Construction has taken tunnelling performance to a totally new level. The DTi tunnelling jumbos are at the forefront of excavation quality and user-friendliness. The new i-series jumbo models include the DT920i for 16-125 sq m cross sections, the DT1120i for 16-177 sq m cross sections, the DT1130i for 20-177 sq m cross sections, the DT1230i for 20-203 sq m cross sections.The new i-series is the spearhead of 50 years of experience, research and development in drilling at Sandvik Mining and Construction. This has been one of the most comprehensive projects Sandvik has ever accomplished. There was a global team for assessing the customer needs when it started, and key customers have played a central role in the development work. Very good feedback has already been received from Lemminkäinen, the Finnish company who runs one of the first units, who told that this is the best tunnelling jumbo of all times. A DT1130i jumbo is being used by the company for a multi-purpose tunnel in Helsinki. State-of-the-art technology integrated with solutions for the latest customer demands for accuracy, speed and user-friendliness form the backbone of the entire product line. The intelligence features in the DTi jumbos include, for example, data collection of production and process information such as round data, cumulative production data and drilling parameters logging that, in turn, help production logistics planning, scheduled maintenance and productivity improvement.The DTi series jumbos are designed for automatic use. With the automatic mode, the jumbo works as per the designed drill plan and drilling sequence which greatly adds to the predictability of the tunnelling process. But, for added flexibility in special rock conditions, there are also a range of practical features allowing the operator to finetune the process on line. Lock-to-Target helps the operator to rapidly find the correct hole position, QuickStep allows the operator to affect the operation steps, and Dynamic Correct continuously redirects drilling when the booms are moving, keeping the hole bottom as planned. The operator can also adjust drilling power level, feed and rotation speed on line when appropriate.Adding to the excellent accuracy of the DTi series is the boom control. It is based on proven and widely tested deflection compensation but improved further with new ingenious features: Roll-over joint and boom location compensation model. The DTi series advanced accuracy features also include a new type of front centralizers that offer the best possible drill steel guidance in the collaring phase. In addition, the drill bit remains inside the front guide in the collaring. This allows the bit to get as close to the rock as possible. Click here. Visit www.sandvik.com or www.miningandconstruction.sandvik.com iSURE softwareThe DTi jumbos utilise an advanced tunnel planning software, Sandvik iSURE (Sandvik Underground Rock Excavation), which offers a totally new and efficient way of working with blasting and drilling pattern simultaneously. The major benefit of the new software lies on the use of the level of hole ends - where the excavation is at its most demanding and where more energy is needed to break and loosen rock - for calculating the hole spacing and burden. The iSURE ensures optimised blasting as per plan and supplies better pull-out, decreased need for scaling, increased rock loadability and smoother collaring in the following round. This simply means high excavation quality and a tunnelling project finished ahead of time. Economical benefits to user can rise to impressive amounts, both thanks to faster advance of tunnel and reduction of overbreak and consequently savings of lining concrete.The iSURE also produces a perfect review of the drilling process as it offers a possibility to report round, user, service as well as overall performance. The reports offer both, a numeric and a graphical display of the results. Moreover, the iSURE generates visual 3D and diagramme presentations of several essential parameters of drilling, offering an MWD tool for excavation process development and rock monitoring development.The Sandvik i-series jumbos, as well as the iSURE tunnel plan software, offer the possibility to define separate drilling parameters for different kind of holes. This feature allows low power and longer collaring phase for contour holes where accuracy plays a key role and high power for field holes to cut down the round time without sacrificing the profile quality. Another great feature to increase accuracy is the possibility for advanced factory calibration meant for customer use in job site conditions. This makes maintaining accuracy extremely easy and simple.Excellent working conditions and safety were one of the focus points in the design of the Sandvik DTi series tunnelling jumbos. The modern, FOPS-certified safety cabin with 20% larger-than-before window surface gives a feeling of space and provides top visibility in all drilling applications, also when the cabin is not elevated. Adding to the visibility is an operator seat placed as close to the windshield as possible, and high power xenon lights for drilling and tramming. Ergonomically designed workstation with armrest integrated controls, efficient air filtration and optimised flow, as well as low noise (75 dB (A)) and vibration suppression make drilling with Sandvik i-series jumbos a pleasure. The Sandvik DTi design focuses on the ease of service. The components are damage-protected, and all daily service points and the most of the components are accessible from the ground level. The machines are easy to maintain. Rock drill modules can be serviced on the feed beam, and all hoses on the booms are well-organised. The intelligence features also include condition monitoring and built-in self-diagnostics system. It comprises onboard diagnostics on a screen, graphical representation of component and subsystem statuses, clear and simple error messages. All events in the control system are recorded for later analysis. These features greatly help service personnel to identify problems and save time. Sandvik's range of DTi tunnelling jumbos is the most comprehensive one on the market. The increased modularity combined with advanced intelligence in the new series jumbos enhances this versatility even further. The machines can be configured with many different sets of features and components to handle multiple tasks in the tunnelling cycle and in different rock conditions. Click here to read more on the iSURE software. 42/08.