It is particularly beneficial if these tools can also feed into project-wide asset management solutions, and My Sandvik Onsite, launched in June, is one recent example.

Built on Sandvik's OptiMine technology, the My Sandvik Onsite solution targets improved operational efficiency through better optimisation of drilling cycles and drilling resources.

The system analyses data for drilling optimisation with Sandvik iSeries surface drill rigs. The rigs are capable of drilling hole sizes ranging from 64 to 406 mm (2.5 to 16 in) and includes Sandvik's Surface Boom Drills: Ranger DXi, Pantera DPI, and the Leopord and Sandvik's Blasthole drills: DR410i, DR412i, DR413i, and DR416i.

Mining Magazine conducted an email interview with Nellaiappan Subbiah, product manager, Rotary Drills and Demetre Harris, product line manager - Surface, Automation, Rotary, about the topic.

How does My Sandvik Onsite use data generated by drill rigs to enhance drilling optimisation in open pit mines and large quarries?

NS: My Sandvik Onsite helps boost productivity by addressing concerns in near real-time, analysing shift performance, identifying areas of improvement, and reducing time and effort through wireless pattern updates and feedback. See Fig 1

 

 

The system improves process and production efficiency by analysing idle vs productive time, identifying areas of improvement in drilling activities, and comparing drilling performance to identify top performance and training opportunities.

It also maximises uptime by increasing awareness of equipment health through onboard alerts, and improving preventive maintenance by knowing details of alerts prior to bringing the drill to the shop. In addition, it reduces troubleshooting time with the ability to analyse major component signals and identifies areas of improvement through system and operator warnings.

Can you explain how the OptiMine technology forms the foundation for the My Sandvik Onsite solution's data analysis capabilities?

NS: Firstly, the system is well-proven; OptiMine is deployed at over 75 sites around the world. Onsite is developed on the same advanced and well-proven platform to match surface drilling needs. The data integration and monitoring are exactly the same as OptiMine as shown in Fig 2.

 

DCH: In addition, drilling information from My Sandvik Onsite can be forwarded to the Sandvik Cloud, if desired. Once forwarded to the Sandvik Cloud, the data can be made available to Sandvik factory and regional specialists allowing Sandvik to assist customers with ensuring equipment availability and opening doors for future data-driven solution improvements and enhancements.

Could you provide specific examples of how the My Sandvik Onsite solution assists in addressing maintenance-related concerns and planning preventive maintenance based on real-time data?

NS: My Sandvik Onsite can be used to browse signal data obtained from onboard sensors and counters. Users can also conduct a thorough analysis of signal values both before and after past alarms, gaining valuable insights into equipment performance.

Additionally, users have the capability to view the effects of adjusting various parameters, ensuring that any modifications made are well-informed and optimised for improved performance. The solution further provides a convenient overview of alerts through a downloadable list of drill-specific alerts, facilitating easy tracking and reference.

Moreover, users receive usage-related notices aimed at proactively preventing future damage, thereby enhancing the longevity and reliability of equipment. 

DCH: Ultimately, My Sandvik Onsite provides maintenance professionals access to equipment health data faster; and provides the ability for specialists to perform deep dives and analysis while the drill is still in operation. No longer do we need to bring down equipment to troubleshoot and no longer do we need to wait for scheduled preventive maintenance routines to find out areas of concern. With My Sandvik Onsite, maintenance professionals can be notified sooner so that they can respond faster, improving drill availability and lowering maintenance costs with several clicks of a button.

How does My Sandvik Onsite's integration with Sandvik's AutoMine Surface Drilling remote operation and autonomy solution enhance its functionality and reporting capabilities?

DCH: More and more mining operations are beginning to identify and understand the value of automating their drill fleet for increased utilisation, lower equipment damage, improved efficiency, and increased production. My Sandvik Onsite now gives mining operations the ability to highlight the use of automation at their mining operation and helps to quantify the value. My Sandvik Onsite stores the data highlighting details of equipment utilisation from the operating location, use of automation, and more.

In what ways does My Sandvik Onsite enable real-time visibility at the shift level and immediate reporting for drilling operations while allowing data to be kept within the mine network?

DCH: My Sandvik Onsite exists on premises and within the controls of the mining operation. Sandvik has a cloud offering with My Sandvik Insight and Productivity solutions; but we understand the needs and concerns of our customers. Some customers do not want their data in the cloud. We want to ensure that we have a solution to offer all our customers. Our customers own their data. Our iSeries drilling solutions utilise the mine network to transfer the data in near real-time to My Sandvik Onsite, making the information available for review and analysis within the shift. Mining operations are able to analyse productivity, utilisation, and health information as the data is received, providing the capability to report at a granular level. In addition, the data is available in My Sandvik's production and reporting databases, providing historical reporting.

Could you elaborate on the compatibility of My Sandvik Onsite with third-party reporting systems and its ability to seamlessly connect drilling with other aspects of critical mine operations?

DCH: The My Sandvik Onsite solution includes an API and a reporting database providing 3rd parties and mining professionals direct access to production, utilisation, and health data. The data is useful to every aspect of the mining value chain. We have interfaced in the past with blasting companies providing Measurement while Drilling data allowing efficient and optimised blasting. It is possible to interface with planning solutions to provide as-drilled results so that mining operations can track progression. In addition, the reporting database can easily be utilised by analysis tools such as PowerBI, Tableau, etc. so that detailed analysis can be performed, improvements identified, and efficiency maximised.

What drill rig models, sizes, and types are compatible with the My Sandvik Onsite solution for drilling optimisation?

DCH: All of Sandvik's iSeries Family of Surface Drilling solutions.

Can you provide insights into how the solution's wireless drill plan transfer and drill navigation features contribute to improving hole precision and drilling efficiency?

NS: Firstly, they reduce time and effort by allowing for wireless pattern updates and providing pattern feedback. They also enable the drilling of high-precision holes by utilising wireless drill plan transfer and drill navigation. They allow for the monitoring of hole quality and rock conditions through the use of as-drilled and measurement while drilling data. Finally, they facilitate the tracking of pattern progress and completion.

DCH: In addition, once the drill plan is transferred to our drilling solutions, our onboard automation functions are enabled to automatically drill, level, and raise/lower the drill mast according to the designed plan.

How does My Sandvik Onsite assist in visualising bottlenecks and optimising drilling cycles and resources to efficiently meet production targets in large-scale mining operations?

DCH: All data produced and transmitted to My Sandvik Onsite is time-stamped providing the ability to report the details. With these details, it is possible for customers to track the utilisation, status, productivity, and health of the equipment at the lowest level. Our Drill Plan Progress and Cycle Time dashboards provide mining operations the ability to analyse each drill cycle and identify the amount of time the drill spends in each activity for each hole drilled. My Sandvik Onsite Productivity Reports provide the ability to report productivity on an hourly basis helping operations identify slow ramp-up time that sometimes occurs between shift changes or during lunch breaks. The first step in continuous improvement is identifying the gaps and areas of opportunity; and our ability to report the details at this level provides mining operations the ability to identify bottlenecks and optimise drilling cycles to ensure efficiency.