Lincoln Electric has updated its Ranger family of engine-driven welders with new, more powerful engines. With an additional 1- to 5-hp available, depending on the model, the new Ranger models now offer higher generator power ratings and more reserve engine power for welding. The Ranger line, featuring 200-300 amps of welding and 9,000-11,000 watts of AC generator power capabilities, is ideal for a variety of light construction, maintenance and repair applications, according to the company. They are designed to deliver a high-output, smooth arc for a variety of welding processes, including stick, TIG, MIG, flux-cored and pipe welding, as well as arc gouging. The Ranger 10,000, 3-Phase, and GXT offer professional AC and DC stick welding, while the Ranger 250, 250 LPG, 305G and 305D offer superior multi-process arc performance. www.lincolnelectric.com
The Paus Minca Mining Car is a four-wheel drive mine transport vehicle that accepts interchangeable "cassettes" which allow the basic vehicle to be configured for a variety of functions including a 16-man personnel carrier, loading platform with crane, work platform, 3,000-L diesel fuel tanker, or ambulance and fire engine. The vehicle, which can be ordered with optional four-wheel steering for improved maneuvering in tight spaces, is powered by a 93-kW, water-cooled Deutz diesel with a monitoring feature that initiates automatic engine shutdown in case of system malfunction. The flameproof version of the Minca is fitted with a Perkins 1104C diesel. Alternatively, a hydrostatic drive is available. According to the company, mines with heavy inclines prefer the hydrostatic drive unit, as gear-shifting on inclines is eliminated and optimum power is available, providing a top speed of 35 km/h. Two standard Minca versions are available: Minca 5 with a length of 4.6 m and Minca 18 with a length of 5.7 m. Paus says its engineers have continued to optimize features that have already been field proven. For example, the chassis has been completely revised: both axles are equipped with spiral springs and shock absorbers, and the front axle is arranged as pendulum axle. Because of this change in design, adaptability to the worst roadway conditions has been significantly increased. The four-wheel drive is now bolstered by a differential lock. In addition, increased power, excellent ergonomic features for the driver and intelligent automatic functions are important characteristics of the new Minca generation. Driver and passenger sit in a large, sound insulated cabin with clearly arranged operating and indicating elements and an adjustable steering wheel. Maintenance convenience also has been enhanced; filters, fill points and other maintenance areas are easily accessible. www.paus.de
Unifin, a supplier of cooling equipment and transformer oil pumps and valves, has introduced the ForZair line of transformer oil coolers for superior performance in demanding applications. ForZair coolers are designed for new transformers and for existing installations that require additional heat removal capacity. The coolers feature Unifin’s Mono-Aluminum extruded fin-tubes and plate fin technology, both of which are claimed to provide optimal heat transfer efficiency and exceptional durability. ForZair coolers are available in forced oil-to-forced air, natural convection oil-to-water and forced oil-to-water models, in 50 and 60 Hz versions. Unifin says it uses an advanced oil flushing system, which achieves the highest ISO standards for cleanliness in the transformer industry. Hinged fan panel design makes it easy to open the cooler and pressure-wash the fin surface, thereby maintaining maximum performance of both the cooler and transformer. www.unifin.com
During January, Sandvik unveiled the DR460 rotary blasthole drill at its manufacturing facility in Alachua, Florida. It is a diesel-powered, crawler-mounted unit that drills 251- to 311-mm (9-7/8- to 12-1/4-in.) diameter blastholes. Sandvik said they have designed the drill for mines prioritizing high penetration rate, easy maintenance, good availability and an ergonomic work environment.
All mechanical and hydraulic systems are enhanced compared with existing models. For example, with 194 kW (260 hp) input on the multi-pass machine, the DR460 has 38% more rotary horsepower than typically seen in this size class. Tim Murphy, vice-president Surface Mining Drilling at Sandvik said: "When ground conditions allow, the operator can increase his rotation without sacrificing torque, to gain penetration rate without stalling." The feed system has been designed with extreme hard rock in mind by including extra heavy duty chains to ensure a constant load at increased rotation speeds.
From a service and reliability perspective, the DR460 offers a full perimeter walkway for improved access. The drill has been engineered to meet stringent Australian standards (MDG15) for electric and hydraulic design. The hydraulic system has been designed to reduce the amount of hoses in one location by moving the hydraulics nearer to the point of use. In an effort to reduce fire hazards, the electrical system has been encased and isolated from the hydraulic system to keep the two from interacting.
"We have used piping to eliminate as much hose as possible and all of the piping is secured to the machine," said Murphy. "The purpose is reliability over time. Hoses tend to chafe. Although it’s impossible to completely eliminate it, you try to minimize it where you can." The hydraulic lines are secure through Stauff clamps, eliminating plastic zip ties.
A FOPS-rated, 4.4-m2 (47-ft2) cabin offers the operator a comfortable work environment. "The electro-hydraulic controls are mounted in the chair and the chair faces floor-to-ceiling windows providing an unobstructed view of the drill deck," Murphy said.
A standard DR460 is engineered to operate at an ambient temperature of up to 54°C (130°F), but can also be equipped with optional cold weather equipment that includes generator sets and machinery housing for arctic climates. "In extreme cold, we use Mesabi coolers," Murphy said. "Because of the thermal expansion capability, they handle cold oil better than an aluminum core." For work at high elevations, an optional engine is available capable of operating at locations up to 5,000 m (16,400 ft) above sea level.
Sandvik says the main goal of the DR460 is to increase productivity while adding features to improve reliability, operator acceptance and serviceability. Maximum pulldown force is 356 kN (80,000 lb) and bit load is 445 kN (100,000 lb) for optimal productivity in hard rock formations. The DR460 is capable of drilling benches up to 75 m (246 ft) with 12.8-m (42-ft) long drill pipes. "The DR460 has a longer single-pass capability than our previous models and our competitors," said Murphy. "Many mines are using hydraulic excavators and they prefer a 10-meter bench. With 42-foot pipe, the DR460 can drill a 12-meter clean hole on the first pipe." The first machine is being delivered to a Canadian coal operation and Sandvik will have a model on display at MINExpo. www.sandvik.com
Designed for applications that require portability, Clearwater Industries’ new Model 2000 water clarifier allows operators to produce clean water from a dirty water stream immediately, while concentrating fines and solids to a thick state. Producers can eliminate the need for clean water ponds or setting ponds, avoid trucking in large volumes of water, and operate at sites where there is little or no water or suitable site for a settling pond. Featuring closed-circuit operation, the Model 2000 is a totally self-contained unit that delivers up to 2,000 gallon-per-minute capacity, at 20% solids by volume. The system is complete with an automated dry polymer feed system, hydraulic package, control panels, a 40-hp drive and a hydraulically driven solids discharge pump that will move solids up to 800 ft. Ideal for highly mobile operations, the unit typically requires no more than three hours for setup. www.clearwaterind.com
Material Washing Systems for a Wide Range of Applications
The Haver Screening Group reported that since development of its high pressure washing systems began in the late 1990s, the Haver & Boecker washing process has steadily found new applications beyond washing gravel. To fulfill the requirements presented by this broad spectrum of applications, a completely new series has been developed and includes four machine models: the Hydro-Clean HC 350, HC 700, HC 1000 and HC 2000. In all four models the parameters such as pressure level, nozzle count and the mounting angle of the washing rotor and other settings can be adjusted to suit the individual application at hand. While the smallest in this family of machines, the HC 350 Hydro-Clean, is primarily used for exploration work in the diamond industry, the largest machine, the HC 2000, was developed for especially high material throughput rates. An innovative washing drum design in tandem construction is the most prominent feature of the HC 2000 Hydro-Clean machine. In contrast to the other models, which are equipped with a washing rotor, the HC 2000 has two rotors. Both are positioned in line next to each other and share a common bunker, washing drum and discharge belt conveyor. Operation and adjustment of all parameters of all HC models is carried out via a touch-screen control panel. www.diemaschinenfabrik.de
Gemcom Software International Inc. has released Whittle 4.1, the latest version of its strategic surface mine planning software. In describing the product, Gemcom says Whittle allows its users to optimize mine plans and maximize NPV because it allows them to understand the impact of all the variables that can influence the profitability of an operation. New and improved features include: increased flexibility of the program’s GUI, with movable toolbars, menus and windows that enable users to tailor a working environment to their needs; improved 3-D visualization, including a new block survey option that allows different categories of blocks to be plotted by color code; increased memory support and program help system; and additional improvements to the data import wizard, grade tonnage graphs, binary file reblock and export, and individual stockpile limits. Whittle 4.1 has been tested for compatibility with Microsoft’s Vista operating system. www.gemcomsoftware.com
Encom has released the latest version of its geophysical interpretation package, Encom PA 7.0, which incorporates a change in name and feature packaging and a free viewer. Encom PA, previously called Profile Analyst, now supports drag and drop of 2-D and 3-D objects into 2-D maps and 3-D views using automatic interpretation of industry standard data formats and model objects. The range of acceptable formats is large and covers ground and airborne geophysical surveys, drillhole geology and geochemistry, mine models, geophysical models, remote sensing and GIS. Encom also has configured product packaging into three options: a fully featured professional version called PA Professional, a fully functional processing and visualization system named PA Explorer and a free viewer called PA Viewer. PA Explorer includes all visualization modes for 1-D and 2-D mapping, 2-D sections and 3-D data, including a 3-D fly-through generator. It also includes a range of specialized filter modules, object builders and processing tool kits. PA Professional extends the capabilities with a full 3-D object construction and editing environment, 3-D voxel toolkit and advanced FFT GeoFilter module. PA Viewer is freely distributable to colleagues and third parties and provides tools necessary to visualize, zoom, pan and print any PA Professional or PA Explorer project session file. www.encom.com.au
Lincoln Electric’s line of Vista auto-darkening welding helmets is topped by the full-featured Vista 3000, which provides one of the industry’s largest view sizes—up to 25% larger than many similarly priced helmets. These helmets include variable shade adjustment from shade 9 up to 13, as well as variable sensitivity, including a grind mode that fixes the shade at the light state of shade 3 for grinding. In addition, a TIG mode assists the helmet in detecting the arc in low amperage welding applications. Variable delay is also included, for protecting operators from the bright light of slow cooling weld nuggets during high-amperage welding.
Four independent arc sensors help ensure the auto-darkening lens reliably and safely darkens in any application, moving from light to dark in 1/10,000 of a second. The TIG mode is designed to detect a welding arc as low as 5 amps. The Vista line also features a cover/spatter plate that can be conveniently changed in seconds from the front of the helmet. Welders can custom fit the helmet with new Push-N-Turn headgear, and a patent-pending tilt mechanism adjusts the viewing angle and helmet down stop. This is backed by the Positive Lock-Up, which holds the helmet up until it is time to weld. www.lincolnelectric.com
Engine Air Filters Offer New Design, Better Performance
Baldwin Filters says its new Channel Flow air filters feature a design that provides a stronger, more reliable filter, with one of the key features being the filter element, which is environmentally friendly and fully incinerable. Channel Flow media is formed by layering alternating rows of flat sheets and corrugated media. Air enters an open channel on the inlet side, flows through the media and exits through an adjacent open channel—contaminants remain trapped within the channels and won’t dislodge during servicing. This media is inherently strong, according to Baldwin, thus eliminating the need for the center tube and metal wrappers used in traditional air filters. Channel Flow air filters also feature a durable frame, which in addition to enclosing the media pack and protecting it from damage during handling, also prevents air from being drawn in through the sides of the filter, adding an extra element of protection for the engine. Baldwin also has added a stronger media support to provide protection from increases in differential pressure. www.baldwinfilter.com
Training for new and existing mobile hydraulics and industrial hydraulics installations is now available through Bosch Rexroth’s on-site training program. These customized training programs, according to the company, can improve operator skills, plant uptime and productivity. Each training course is designed to solve operational and system issues, eliminate offsite training costs and offer superior scheduling flexibility. Customizable on-site training gives employees an opportunity to expand their knowledge, on their schedule and within a specified budget, while customers who utilize the on-site service save on travel costs as Bosch Rexroth brings the courses to them. Employees receive training in proper start-up and preventive maintenance procedures from qualified Bosch Rexroth personnel. In addition to customized training, Bosch Rexroth also offers a series of regularly scheduled courses throughout the year to meet the needs of hydraulic systems maintenance personnel, engineers who are designing new systems, or those upgrading existing systems with new technology.
CanDig claims its Mining CD21 mini excavator is capable of digging 8 ft deep in the toughest of ground conditions and handling boulders that weigh up to a ton. The Mining CD21, according to the manufacturer, provides even more breakout force than some tracked excavators, employing a 9-hp Honda engine and 2.5–in-bore cylinders for extra digging power. At just 1,200 lb, it can be conveniently hauled either fully assembled, or by unfastening one large bolt (wrench provided) can be reduced to two loads of 700 lb and 500 lb, respectively. The load can be easily balanced with three convenient sling attachment points. The MiningCD21 can be configured with an 8-in.-wide trenching bucket or 20-in.-wide grading bucket. A ripper accessory allows users to dig through frozen or tough ground more easily and also doubles as a root cutter. The latest version of the Mining CD21also is fitted with a spare parts kit to reduce downtime in the field. www.candig.com
Gemcom Software International Inc. has released a new, automated Underground Design module for its Gemcom Surpac software. Key benefits of the Underground Design module include: integration with the Surpac user interface, which provides powerful, flexible geology and planning features developed for ease of use; integration with Gemcom MineSched production scheduling; logical, visual design process using a flowchart-based approach; user-defined parameters are stored in a secure database, ensuring designs are both auditable and repeatable; and wide applicability to the diverse needs of different types of underground mines. According to Gemcom, by employing Surpac, the Underground Design module and Mine-Sched scheduling software together, mining companies can benefit from an integrated, end-to-end modeling, mine design, scheduling and analysis solution. With automation built into design and scheduling, mine planners are able to spend more time analyzing and improving end results. www.gemcomsoftware.com
Telsmith’s new line of inclined vibrating screens, the Vibro-King TL series, is intended to replace the existing Vibro-King and Specmaker screen lines, offering longer service life, reduced maintenance and lower operating costs. At the heart of the Vibro-King TL is the new TL shaft assembly featuring a "Never-Wear" seal design that eliminates contact seals, reducing maintenance and providing longer service life. For greater bearing life, all TL shaft assemblies utilize wide-series bearings and polished shaft bearing journals. Minimal maintenance is ensured via its large-diameter shaft casing that boosts oil volume to allow lower operating temperatures and fewer oil changes. For optimum efficiency, multiple flat and crowned deck designs are available allowing the Vibro-King TL to work with all screen media types. Also, deck spacing between the top and middle decks has been increased to simplify screen media changes.
Available in both single and dualshaft models and in sizes ranging from 5 x 14 ft up to 8 x 24 ft, the new Vibro-King TL line is available in both standard and heavy-duty models, with all HD models featuring half-inch-thick side plates. Spring mounts incorporate a "jacking bracket" providing safe, speedy access for spring maintenance. www.telsmith.com
Web Portals for X-Ray and Spectroscopy Information
Thermo Fisher Scientific has expanded its range of online resource centers with the addition of two new web entry portals for X-ray (www.thermo.com/xray) and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (www.thermo.com/oes). Visitors are able to access a complete overview of Thermo Scientific X-ray and OES instrumentation and its applications in the metals, mining, cement and petrochemical industries. In addition, users can download application notes and can sign up to receive specialist news resources including the popular Thermo Scientific Materials Analyst e-newsletter. Extensive service and support is also included, providing information on the provision of spare parts, training courses and help with support plans. An event section is also available which details the diary of upcoming shows relating to X-ray and OES. These web pages incorporate RSS feed capability for users who wish to be kept updated on Thermo Fisher’s OES and X-ray news. www.thermo.com
Major Wire Industries says that producers around the world are using its Flex-Mat 3 high-performance, self-cleaning screen media on all three screen decks to increase production of cleaner in-spec product and reduce costs. Major Wire offers a range of wire diameters and opening sizes to work on all three decks—up to 4 in. and as small as 30 mesh. Flex-Mat 3 is a non-woven, self-cleaning wire screen cloth that employs single wires running from hook to hook and bonded in place with lime green polyurethane strips aligned to each crown bar. The manufacturer says that because its wires vibrate independently, Flex-Mat 3 eliminates pegging on the top deck, and material passing through to the the middle deck will not blind, peg or clog the media. With more rock getting through to the bottom deck, fines will not build up, eliminating blinding. Flex-Mat 3 is claimed to have up to 30% more open area than woven wire, while its wear life exceeds that of traditional woven wire up to three times because there are no cross wires with high wear spots as there are with woven wire. www.majorwire.cc
This content is taken from the December 2008 Engineering & Mining Journal. Subscriptions are free to qualified recipients. Apply today for your free subscription.
Ambercore, a provider of spatial software and services for mining, recently announced significant enhancements to its spatial data sharing and integration software. Ambercore says its spatial data sharing application is designed for organizations that have extensive 2-D and 3-D spatial data in a variety of formats, and in distributed locations. Ambercore brings this data together, allowing multi-user access to large volumes of potentially distributed data. The technology is claimed to provide seamless integration with existing information types including: drill hole, seismic, geological, geophysical, surface, LiDAR, image and infrastructure data. Common data formats such as ESRI, Maplnfo, AutoCad, SegY, LAS, USGS, GeoTiff, and others are supported, as are standard databases such as Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server. Associated with this advanced data integration capability, Ambercore also is promoting a variety of data purification services which reveal inconsistencies in damaged, incomplete or inaccurate spatial data, and allow remedies to be applied. www.ambercore.com
Horizon Conveyor Equipment says its patented Magna-Patch system is a reusable magnetic patch designed to give conveyor operators flexibility in their maintenance schedules by offering quick, secure patch solutions in high-wear situations or during breakdowns. In these situations, according to Horizon, Magna-Patch application can dramatically reduce downtime, labor and material costs that are often encountered by operators. Magna-Patch components are pressure rated up to 60 psi and provide a rapid, secure way of repairing holes in steel pipes, flat back elbows, silos, chutes, hoppers and other steel susceptible to abrasion. The reusable patch is simply placed over the worn-out area and is securely held in place magnetically until the next scheduled downtime. www.horizon-conveyors.co.uk
Fletcher’s Custom Tractor Becomes New Product Line
A custom diesel tractor designed by J. H. Fletcher & Co. for a customer in Illinois has become a full-fledged product line, with three available sizes and an eighth unit slated for delivery. Fletcher’s 3800-Series tractors are designed to transport materials, supplies and equipment into the mines efficiently. It features a 5th wheel and pintle hook arrangement; powerful diesel engine; four-wheel drive; pressurized, enclosed cab, and the added maneuverability of an articulated chassis. The five tractors in the Illinois order were 68-inches high. All were 10-ft wide and 25-ft by 3-inch long, with ground clearance of 12 inches. By the second order, two machines for a West Virginia mine, the machine height had been lowered to 60 inches. Machine No. 8, now nearly ready for delivery to a customer in Virginia, is just 46 inches high.
“The Fletcher objective is always to evolve to meet our customers’ needs,” said Ben Hardman, coal products sales manager. “We maximize horsepower and towing requirements, but match them to size restrictions.” www.jhfletcher.com
The latest addition to Flexco’s Mineline conveyor product line is the MMP medium-duty precleaner, featuring a 10-in. (250-mm) TuffShear blade that provides optimal blade tip tension on high speed, high load conveyor applications. It is designed with 6 in. (150 mm) of useable urethane, enabling the blade to deliver 20%-30% longer wear than conventional blades in most medium-duty applications. A faceted profile design renews the blade’s cleaning edge as it wears. A unique visual tension check feature allows the blade to quickly and easily be brought back to optimal tension on the belt. Universal mounting plates and assembled tensioners simplify installation. Only 4 in. (100 mm) of horizontal clearance is needed. Pole lengths are belt width plus 54” in. (1,350 mm) to fit varying conveyor or chute wall widths. Pole extensions are available for extended length requirements. The MMP is compatible with Flexco and other mechanical splices. www.flexco.com
Famic Technologies has released Version 5.5 of Automation Studio, the company’s software solution for system design, simulation, engineering, prototyping, diagnostics, and training. The software allows for advanced engineering, thus optimizing the entire workflow in a maintenance cycle—from system design through training to service. New features include pneumatics installation and circuit management that integrates the ISO1219-2 Norm recommendations without limiting itself to them. The new version allows users to register and share AVI format files, all the actions accomplished by the user in project editing or simulation mode, as well as in diagram simulation mode. All Reports and Bills of material in Automation Studio have been standardized, and the report options have been enhanced. www.automationstudio.com
NanoSteel’s Super Hard Steel (SHS) 9700 is an iron-based alloy for weld overlay featuring an ultra-refined crystalline microstructure, up to a thousand times finer than existing solutions, and extreme hardness up to 69 Rc without the use of nickel, molybdenum or tungsten. SHS 9700 is produced in a range of cored-wire diameters suitable for MIG/open-arc/submerged-arc welding applications. The improved hardness/ wear performance and cost-effective pricing makes it an attractive hard-facing and wear plate welding, with wear resistance in severe abrasive environments claimed to be up to five times that of traditional chrome carbide and complex carbide materials. SHS 9700 is available in 25-lb and 125- to 500-lb bulk spooled wire packaging for MIG/open-arc/submerged-arc welding and 10-lb bottle and 25-lb bucket powder packaging for PTA welding. www.nanosteelco.com
Indeco North America has added the IRC Series rotary cutting head to their line of non-impact demolition attachments. The rotary cutting head is a compact tool that can handle different types of trenching and demolition jobs. According to Indeco, the cutting head is the right tool for jobs where materials are too soft for a hydraulic breaker or too hard for a bucket to be used. It is designed to be directly mounted on an excavator and can be used to loosen hardened or frozen soil prior to digging or to excavate small trenches in rock. There are three different IRC models in the rotary cutting head line: IRC 800, IRC 1000 and IRC 2000 for excavators weighing between 15 and 50 tons. The rotary cutting head has specially designed tungsten carbide cutter teeth that are each mounted at a specific angle to rotate in their holders for minimal wear and tear. The holders are designed to allow the teeth to be easily be removed and replaced. www.indeco-breakers.com
Tunnel Radio of America says it has received approval from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for its UltraComm radio VHF and UHF systems and integrated data networks. These technologies provide a wireless environment within an underground mine, allowing operability of modern two-way radios and data systems. The approval includes an U/G power supply with battery backup and an IS supply for the radio network in an X/P enclosure. The company said the network is compatible with its new MineAx wireless tracking system that allows the use of wireless tracking readers. These readers can be deployed at any location in the mine provided with UltraComm wireless as used for two-way radio, so only one wireless backbone network is required for two-way radio and tracking. Readers are independent devices relaying personnel and asset tag input via radio or Ethernet connectivity to capture software on the surface. www.tunnelradio.com
(Content from Nov 2007 Engineering & Mining Journal)
New Drills for Underground and Surface Applications Atlas Copco is now offering the COP 2238, a new 22-kW hydraulic rock drill for the 51- to 76-mm hole-diameter range in drifting, tunneling and extension drilling applications. According to the company, the new drill’s proven dual-damping system ensures that the bit maintains constant contact with the rock, re-tightening drillstring joints between each impact. This technology allows the rock drill to operate at a consistently high impact frequency, resulting in a higher penetration rate even during extension drilling of probe or grout holes. In addition, the damping system absorbs excess energy from each impact, reducing wear on both the rock drill and drill string. The COP 2238 is claimed to be easy to service, with several wear parts replaceable without having to demount the drill from the drill rig. The COP 2238 also has many parts in common with the COP 1838 series, which offers an opportunity for users to reduce on-site inventories. The COP 2238 can be used with both short- and long-shank adapters and with R32, R38 and T38 threads. Four different rotation motors are available.
Atlas Copco also introduced an upgrade to its popular COP 1238 rock drill. The new COP 1240 is specifically designed for surface drilling applications. It has a larger, more durable driver which helps to reduce wear and keep operational costs low, while allowing efficient drilling of holes in the 40-102 mm range. The 1240’s design is uncomplicated, according to the company, and easily accessible parts make it easy to maintain. The new drill shares the same housing as the larger COP 1840 for improved robustness and durability. There are three shank adapters to choose from, depending on the drill steel being used; i.e., R32, T38 or T45. The latter two are also available with extractors. www.atlascopco.com
Software Extends 3D Environment Encom’s recently released Discover 3D 2.5 for MapInfo Professional delivers to geoscientists a range of productivity tools and enriched interactive 3D display capabilities. Discover 3D provides tools for interactive analysis of drillholes, trenches, profiles, mine models, terrain, geochemistry, geophysical models, topography and geological sections directly linked to a user’s GIS work environment. Visualization enhancements include 3D performance, transparency management, volume clipping, object selection and new data object links. Discover 3D creates and edit points, lines and polygons in 3D to add interpretive elements directly to the 3D volume. It uses these objects to create features such as 3D fault surfaces, interpretive geological surfaces, untested target volumes and resource outlines. www.encom.com.au/Discover_3D
4100C BOSS Features Centurion AC Drive P&H Mining Equipment recently introduced the 4100C BOSS with Centurion AC drive to the oil sands producers operating in northern Alberta, Canada, following a two-year project to integrate current AC technology with the advanced P&H Centurion supervisory control system. P&H MinePro Services Canada personnel commissioned the new AC-drive shovel in March 2007 and performance immediately exceeded customer expectations, according to the company. In more than three months of operation, says P&H, the new shovel consistently generated strong gains in productivity and availability. The company reports that two additional 4100C BOSS units have been ordered and several others are under discussion. Due to recent advances in ACdrive technology, P&H is now offering an AC alternative featuring air-cooled drives specifically sized and packaged by partner ABB to meet mine-duty requirements. The control system remains Centurion with motors designed and manufactured by P&H. However, P&H DC drives will continue to be offered for all models as well. www.phmining.com
