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The new Pantera range also offers increased service life and lower mainte- nance costs through features such as heavy-duty main frame and boom/feed, with modular layout and improved access available for all components. Each rig will be available in three con- figurations—Silver, Gold and Platinum— allowing them to be readily adapted to the needs of customers in different mining mar- kets around the world. The Silver configura- tion meets the highest global safety and productivity requirements, according to Sandvik, and is designed to deliver out- standing drilling performance, hole preci- sion and quality. Gold models are designed for applications requiring Sandvik precision TIM3D navigation via GPS and data trans- fer; they also incorporate automated drilling functions and a machine health monitoring system. Platinum, said Sandvik, is for mines looking to take advantage of its AutoMine Surface Drilling automation sys- tem. This configuration incorporates all Silver and Gold features, as well as allowing autonomous and teleremote operations. Sandvik said significantly increased fuel efficiency is available through the proven Sandvik Compressor Management System (CMS), which matches compressor use and output to drilling needs, and advanced clutch technology. Cat Drills Get More Cat Parts Caterpillar has been busy upgrading its surface-drilling rig line, acquired as part of its purchase of Bucyrus in 2011, and has revamped its manufacturing plant in Denison, Texas, for higher productivity. Its rotary line has been augmented recently with the addition of the "B" Series MD6420, which now includes more Cat components. Offering a bit load force of 42, 000 kg (92,594 lb) and three different mast lengths (10 m, 13 m, or 16 m) to choose from, the new MD6420B can drill holes as large as 311 mm (12.3 in.) in diameter and as deep as 74.4 m (244 ft). According to Cat, the rig has heavy-duty structures, fewer hydraulic components and hoses with improved hard pipe routing, and a cascading, self-leveling staircase for easier access and exit from the deck among its new features. Cat's 345 excavator undercarriage with GLT is now available on the MD6420B, as is its Terrain for Drilling (formerly AQUILA) machine loca- tion and monitoring system. Cat's largest rotary rig—the MD6640— also features a new undercarriage as stan- dard equipment. Cat claims its 390 exca- vator-style undercarriage helps minimize downtime and reduces issues involving tramming limitations, turnability and track tensioning. The 340,000-lb (154,224 kg) MD6640 drills holes from 9-5/8 in. to 16 in. diameter (244- to 406-mm) and can angle drill to 25ᴼ. It provides a maximum bit load of 141,000 lb (63,975 kg). Cat also recently introduced the MD5150C track drill, which is is basically the same rig shown at MINExpo 2012 but with more Cat components and the C Series designation. The MD5150C drills holes from 4 in. (101.6 mm) to 6 in. (152 mm) diameter and comes with a choice of three different rock drills, patented carousel rod changer, ergonomic cab and many other features. Cat said that compared with the MD5125, which the MD5150C will replace, the new drill has 18% more power, a compressor that can deliver 33% more air volume and 40% more air pressure, and has 19% faster tram speed as well as 40% greater ground clearance. The standard rock drill on the MD5150C is the HPR5128, which uses 51-mm drill steel. Also available is the HPR6832 rock drill, which can use 68-mm speed rod, and the HPR6030 designed for 60-mm drill steel. Cat claims it is the only manufacturer offering rock drills designed to be serviced on site to reduce downtime and control costs. Service doesn't involve a clean room or freight costs to ship the rock drill to the OEM for maintenance or to keep a spare rock drill in stock to accommodate maintenance downtime. The rig's rod changer and feed assem- bly have seven patents pending. The sys- tem holds six rods and accommodates two lengths and multiple diameters of drill steel. Dual-rod grippers and a unique gate design let the rod and gate move simulta- neously, reducing cycle time. The rod changer is supported by a sturdy feed and heavy-duty 9-ft (2.7-m) boom that extends to 11 ft (3.3 m) for larger pattern coverage with fewer setups. Because the carousel 40 E&MJ; • MARCH 2014 www.e-mj.com S U R FA C E D R I L L I N G Sandvik's new Pantera track drill platform includes both DTH and TH models. Cat claims its newest track drill model—the MD5150C—has more power, higher compressor performance, faster tramming speeds and better ground clearance than its predecessor. EMJ_pg38-41_EMJ_pg38-41 3/3/14 12:15 PM Page 40