CAMIRO Micro Bolter

Prototype Test Results

&
Data Analysis

J anuary 01, 2009 through February 28, 2009

By:

2

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3
History of Micro Mining .............................................................................................................. 4
Effects of Dilution ....................................................................................................................... 6
General Specifications ............................................................................................................... 7
Testing at 153 Ore Body ........................................................................................................... 10
Data Collected during Trials at 153 ......................................................................................... 15
Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 16
Conclusions .............................................................................................................................. 22

List of Figures

Figure 1, Hand Held Drilling ....................................................................................................... 4
Figure 2, Long Tom ..................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 3, Single Boom Hydraulic Jumbo .................................................................................. 5
Figure 4, Tramming Configuration ............................................................................................ 9
Figure 5, Bolting Configuration ................................................................................................. 9
Figure 6, Deck and Access Layout ............................................................................................ 9
Figure 7, Feed configuration for 1.2m (4 ft) drill steel ........................................................... 11
Figure 8, Feed configuration for 1.8m (6 ft) drill steel. .......................................................... 11
Figure 9 COP 1022 Drifter with integrated steel locking feature .......................................... 12
Figure 10, Micro Bolter tightening screen to the back .......................................................... 13
Figure 11, Micro Bolter screening and bolting the shoulder and rib ................................... 14
Figure 12, Micro Bolter Operator on deck positioning screen ............................................. 14
Figure 13, Good Ground Bolt Pattern ..................................................................................... 19
Figure 14, Best Case Scenario Simulation ............................................................................. 19
Figure 15, Poor Ground Bolt Pattern ...................................................................................... 20
Figure 16, Worst Case Scenario Simulation ........................................................................... 20

List of Tables
Table 1, Steel lengths, Feed travel and Back heights required .............................................. 7
Table 2 - Ground Support Installation Tasks Time Study Data ............................................ 15
Table 3 - Ground Support Installation Tasks Time Study Data ............................................ 16
Table 4 - Miscellaneous MICRO Bolter Tasks Time Study Data ........................................... 16
3

Introduction
The cost benefits of controlling dilution of extracted ore have been very well understood
by miners and mining professionals for many years. However, as we strive towards
more mechanization, the dilution factor has been compromised in order to fit
equipment that is better suited to provide improved safety and productivity. Alternately,
the drilling and ground support is accomplished by handheld drilling.
In 2007, a short study, commissioned by CAMIRO (Canadian Mining Industry Research
Organization) on the safety of hand held drilling vs. mechanized drilling, concluded that
the risk of injury with handheld drills was seven times greater than with mechanized
drills. Armed with this data, MEDATech Engineering proposed to the CAMIRO group to
fund development of a MICRO Bolter.
Project Objectives
The objectives of this machine were,
1. To operate within the confines of a narrow development or production heading
from 8 ft x 8 ft up to 11 ft x 11ft (2.44m x 2.44m up to 3.35m).
2. To allow the miner to place various types of ground support without exposing the
operator to unsupported ground.
3. To eliminate the risks of handheld drilling (fatigue, white hand, slips and falls and
environmental factors such as noise and air borne contaminants).

CAMIRO found six industry sponsors (Barrick, Breakwater, HudBay, Teck, Vale Inco
and Xstrata Nickel) and initiated the project in J uly 2007. The MICRO Bolter was
delivered in November 2008 to NORCATs Underground Centre for initial testing and
then in J anuary 2009 to Coleman Mine in the 153 Orebody for a 60 day time trial.
The time study proved that the machine could function as designed within the confines
of a small heading (2.44m x 2.44m), safely drilling and placing various kinds of ground
support. The machine was deemed successful in all of its primary objectives. The
following is a brief overview of the machine and simulations of productivity based on
actual data measured at the 153 Orebody.
4

HistoryofMicroMining
The use of pneumatic jackleg drills dates from the early 1930s. This facilitated the
drilling of face holes in drift rounds particularly in small headings. J acklegs have
performed very well and remain in use today throughout the mining world.

Figure1,HandHeldDrilling

There was a progression to Long Toms to add drills and relieve some of the physical
effort of the jackleg.

Figure2,LongTom
5

Figure3,SingleBoomHydraulicJumbo
Productivity increased. Further refinements looked for increased mobility, larger, faster
drills, three and more booms, electrichydraulic drills, computerized jumbos and steadily
larger headings became the norm. The local standard today is a 5m x 5m heading.
About seven years ago, the nickel mines started mining high grade copper stringers in
the Sudbury West End Mines Vale Incos Coleman and Xstrata Nickels Strathcona
and Fraser Mine. These specific operations started looking for equipment that could
operate in much smaller cross-sections, reversing the trend to ever bigger and bigger.
Even so, the optimal drift size is compromised by the lack of suitable equipment.
The obvious technology drivers are safety and simultaneous dilution reduction.
6

EffectsofDilution
Dilution is the amount of waste that has to be taken to get the ore, usually expressed as
a percent (100% dilution connotes taking one ton of waste for every ton of ore). Grades
fall accordingly. Mines usually have a cut-off which in the Sudbury context would equate
to a vein width of six or eight inches in an eight foot wide face. A one foot wide vein
angling across the face of an 8x8 heading means about 600% dilution. Thus a vein
sampling 30% copper would produce a mucked grade of about 5% with this geometry.
There has not been any mechanized bolting equipment that would operate in an 8x8
heading. Wider headings have even lower grade, take longer to drill and muck, require
more bolts and screen and in some cases longer bolts, especially at depth. The process
gets more elaborate, time consuming and more prone to equipment delays. In simplistic
terms, drift back stability is related to the inverse of the span cubed and dilution follows
a square law. This makes larger headings very much less cost effective and slower.
In the following graph, dilution is plotted against drift size for vein widths ranging from
0.3m (1 ft.) to 1.2m (4ft.)
Dilution % vs. drift size

8x8 8x10 10x10 10x12 12x12

7

GeneralSpecifications

Minimum heading size 7ft x 7ft with single stage feed or 4 ft single pass hole length.
Minimum heading size 9ft x 9ft with compound feed system or 6 ft single pass hole
length.
Maximum heading size 11ft x 11ft
Drilling Type Electric Hydraulic
Maximum Single Pass hole length To Suit

Feed Type Steel Length Feed Travel Back Height
Single stage 4 ft 4-4 7-0
Double Stage 4 ft 4-4 7-2
Double Stage 6 ft 6-4 9-0
Table1,Steellengths,FeedtravelandBackheightsrequired
8

Ground Support Hardware
1. Standard mechanical bolts
2. Resin re-bar
3. Friction bolts
a. Split-sets
b. Swellex
4. Other specialty products as specified by User
Mobility
1. Electric over hydraulic track drive
2. Easily disengaged and towable
3. Optional diesel driven power pack (towable)

Power Required
1. Standard power grid options
a. 575 v/60 hz/3phase
b. 460v/60hz/3 phase
c. 480v/50hz/3 phase
d. Others as requested
9

Current Size Specifications

Figure4,TrammingConfiguration


Figure5,BoltingConfiguration

Figure6,DeckandAccessLayout
10

Testingat153OreBody

Methodology of Testing at Coleman Mine 153 OB

The MICRO Bolter was dedicated to a single heading at the 4250 Level of the 153
Orebody at Coleman Mine (see Figure 1). This was done to ensure consistency in data
collection and results. A single operator was selected to operate the MICRO Bolter on a
Monday to Friday dayshift schedule (8 hr shifts). The operator was provided all
information pertaining to the functionality of the machine with respect to the controls.
MEDATech Engineering technicians were on hand at all times to aid the operator in
developing bolting and screening procedures. The operator used basic hand held
drilling techniques as well as using the machine to act as an additional set of hands to
manage the screen.
Bolting in an area less than 2.75m (9 ft)
When the heading size allowed, typically 1.8 m (6 ft) bolts were placed in the back. The
machine was designed to eliminate the need of the operator having to hold the drill.
When drilling 1.8 m (6 ft) holes in an area where the back was less than 9 ft high, the
operation required the feed to be retracted and 4 ft starter steel had to be used (4 ft
single pass hole). Then once this 4 ft section of steel was drilled, the operator had to
remove the steel and replace it with 6 ft steel to finish the hole.
Bolting in areas greater than 2.75m (9 ft)
When ground conditions demanded 8 ft bolts, the same procedure had to be followed
as with the 6 ft bolts except in this case the feed could be extended to 6 ft single pass
drill length. Therefore 6 ft starter steel could be used with an 8 ft steel to finish the hole
to the desired depth.



11

Feed Lengths Verses Hole Length (4 ft & 6 ft Configurations)

Figure7,Feedconfigurationfor1.2m(4ft)drillsteel


Figure8,Feedconfigurationfor1.8m(6ft)drillsteel.
12

Figure9COP1022Drifterwithintegratedsteellockingfeature

Integrated Steel Retaining System
The Copco 1022 hydraulic drill can be fitted with an integrated steel retainer. This allows
the operator to use the exact same steel change procedures as he would if he were
using a jack leg. The steel can be changed easily from the work deck or when operating
from the ground.
This same system can be used to insert bolts by removing the steel and placing a bolt
adaptor into the chuck of the drill. Again, this would be a very similar procedure if the
operator were using a hand held drill.
13

Screen Handling
The type of screen used at the 153 OB was typically 11 ft x 5 ft welded wire mesh.
Along with some input from the MEDATech Engineering technical staff on site, the
operator used some trial and error in developing a technique to place the screen. He
used a similar method as a miner working off the muck pile but also found that he could
use the feed as an extra support arm to pin the screen in position. In addition to using
the feed to hold the screen in place as bolts are placed, the operator used push plates
and other common techniques to hold the screen in position as he drilled and placed the
ground support on standard spacings.

Figure 10, Micro Bolter tightening screen to the back

14

Figure 11, Micro Bolter screening and bolting the shoulder and rib




Figure 12, Micro Bolter Operator on deck positioning screen
15

DataCollectedduringTrialsat153

30Jan 31Jan 1Feb 2Feb 3Feb 4Feb 5Feb 6Feb 7Feb 8Feb 9Feb 10Feb 11Feb 12Feb 13Feb 14Feb 15Feb 16Feb 17Feb 18Feb 19Feb 20Feb 21Feb 22Feb 23Feb 24Feb 25Feb 26Feb 27Feb 28Feb
6' SplitSet Hole 5.25 6.92 7.47 7.33
8.23 5.02 5.1 5.82
6.08 5.27 5.87
4.98
6' Mechanical Hole 8.07 5.90 5.87 6.9 4.6 5.07 4.32 8.98 9.53 5.57
5.52 5.57 8.32 4.96 5.12 4.22 5.25
6.66 5.95 4.73 6.72 5.58 5.02
5.15 4.88 5.37
5.07 4.53 7.13
7.15 4.87
5.47 8.48
10.33 7.5
11.5 5.57
5.42 6.32
6.07 5.63
7.7 7
6.53 5.97
5.03 5.72
7.68 7.57
11.32
5.46
8'Rebar 14.37 10.03 14.6 9.23
11.57 11.23 15.72 9.93
14.12 12.47 9.85
12.53 9.73
12.65 14.6
6'Rebar 9.73 7.85 7.37 8.85 7
8' Mechanical Hole 8.32 7.7 12.03 8.13
7.77 7.57 9 9.8
6.18 9.32 8.43
16.02 12
total number 9 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 16 5 0 4 0 0 0 0 18 6 0 3 0 0 0 0 14 13 0 0
TotalTime 83.22 0 0 0 0 74.36 0 0 0 0 109.05 30.58 0 21.66 0 0 0 0 119.67 32.14 0 19.25 0 0 0 0 142.67 111.29 0 0
AverageTime Per 9.246667 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 9.295 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 6.815625 6.116 #DIV/0! 5.415 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 6.648333 5.356667 #DIV/0! 6.416667 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 10.19071 8.560769 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Timetoplace40bolts 369.8667 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 371.8 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 272.625 244.64 #DIV/0! 216.6 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 265.9333 214.2667 #DIV/0! 256.6667 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 407.6286 342.4308 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Hours 6.164444 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 6.196667 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 4.54375 4.077333 #DIV/0! 3.61 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 4.432222 3.571111 #DIV/0! 4.277778 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 6.79381 5.707179 #DIV/0! #DIV/0!

Table 2 - Ground Support Installation Tasks Time Study Data







16

DataAnalysis
The mean, minimum and maximum values for all Bolts are found in Table 3.
Table 3 - Ground Support Installation Tasks Time Study Data
Ground Support Installation Tasks
Number
of data
points
Time (min)
Mean Minimum Maximum
Install 6' rebar 5 8.16 7.00 9.73
Install 6' splitset 12 6.11 4.98 8.23
Install 6' mechanical bolt 51 6.37 4.22 11.50
Install 8' rebar 15 12.18 9.23 15.72
Install 8' mechanical bolt 13 9.41 6.18 16.02

Other tasks not specific to ground support type were noted and are displayed in the
table 4.
Table 4 - Miscellaneous MICRO Bolter Tasks Time Study Data
Task
Number
of
events
Time (min)
Mean Minimum Maximum
Pre-Op time at beginning of shift 8 9.92 4.20 16.55
Install new section of screen 17 4.64 2.52 8.78
End of shift preparation 9 6.89 3.20 13.17
Move machine to adjacent
heading

(maximum tram distance of 81
feet)
7 7.12 3.37 12.56
Miscellaneous tasks/delays 10 9.21 3.95 20.47

17

The approach taken to analyze the data was to consider the Vale Inco standards for
ground support as a standard datum. From this we determined how long the bolting
cycle would be for a best case and a worst case scenario (good ground conditions and
poor ground conditions. This standard datum was developed from Vale Inco ground
support policies for Narrow Vein Headings. (See Appendix A)
From the standards, a bolting and screening pattern was developed for standard narrow
vein headings in good ground conditions as shown below in Figure 13. In addition to
this, an additional bolting pattern was developed for 11x5 screen in poor ground
conditions as shown in Figure 15.

18

CAMIRO Simulation Methodology

How simulations were conducted:

1. Determine the number of occurrences per cycle of (this can be user specified or
statistically approximated from the collected data)
a. Screen
b. Moving of machine (tramming)
c. Interruptions
d. Pre-operations (prepare material)
e. Post-operations (cleanup work place)
f. Bolts
i. 6 split sets
ii. 6 mechanical bolts
iii. 8 mechanical bolts
iv. 6 resin re-bar
v. 8 resin re-bar
2. For each occurrence from point #1
a. Select a random data point (time) from the collected data for each
occurrence of each task.
b. Sum all of the above to achieve a cycle time.
3. Repeat #2 for 100k times, store each cycle time independently.
4. Determine the range of #3 (min-max)
5. Create 30 bins or buckets for #4 (range)
6. Sort #3 (cycle times) into the 30 bins (each bin has a range ie.. 6.2-6.4 hours)
ie 2.. if there are 8 cycle times between 6.2 and 6.4 hours then increment the
6.2-6.4h bin by 8.
7. Plot the results

19

Simulation 1 Best Case Scenario

Boundary Conditions:
o Good Ground
o 2.44m (8 ft) x 2.44m (8 ft) heading
o Standard bolt pattern for good ground


Figure13,GoodGroundBoltPattern


Figure14,BestCaseScenarioSimulation
20

Simulation 2 - Worst Case Scenario

Boundary Conditions
o Poor Ground
o 2.44m (8 ft) x 2.44m (8 ft) heading
o Standard bolt pattern for bad ground



Figure15,PoorGroundBoltPattern


Figure16,WorstCaseScenarioSimulation
21

Simulation Summary

The two cases simulated above from Figures 14 & 16
Case Maximum (Hrs) Minimum (Hrs) Standard
Deviation
Average (Hrs)
Best Case 3.54 2.19 0.15639 2.87
Worst Case 5.15 3.67 0.18156 4.41
Time Delta 1.60 1.47 0.02517 1.54

22

Conclusions
Although the data was limited, the simulations show some promising results. The
machine definitely provided the operator the safety and protection from all the
environmental factors related to hand held drilling. The productivity numbers of the
simulations also indicated that these goals are achievable, given a reliable machine.
Further design enhancements will be required in order to achieve reliability, however,
for a prototype, the machine preformed remarkably well and was not the cause of any
significant delays.

The operator did damage the water tube of the drill due to some inexperience with the
system but the machine was never damaged. The machine did not require any hose
replacements which is always a concern with machines of this nature.

Further field testing is required in order to fully develop a matrix of data that can be
considered large enough to produce accurate simulations. However, based on the data
collected during the Coleman test, the machine achieved all of its three primary goals as
defined at the onset of the project.
23

Appendix A: Vale Inco Bolt Standards

24

Appendix B: Simulation Scripts

BOLTER STUDY - 8ft x 8ft x 8ft round
11ftx5ftscreen

LoadVALEINCOtimestudydata
cl ear ;
l oad bol t er st udy;
Settings
num_of _st udi es=10000; %number of st udi es
num_scr een_head=4; %unmber of 8' x 4' scr eens per headi ng
num_bol t _scr een=5; %number of new bol t s per scr een <- over r i den i f absol ut e i s set t o
1
num_t r am=1; %number of t i mes t o t r amper cycl e
pr e=1; %1 t o add pr e t o cycl e t i mes 0 t o not
post =0; %1 t o add post t o cycl e t i mes 0 t o not
i nt er upt i on=1; %how many i nt er upt i ons per cycl e
bi ns=30; %how many bi ns t o spl i t r esul t s i nt o

agr essi ve=1; %bol t pat t er n = 1 f or aggr essi ve- 0 f or conser vat i ve - 2 f or
medi um
%over r i den i f absol ut e i s set t o 1
bpat =' 4f t x 2. 5f t pat t er n' ; %Bol t Pat t er n pat t er n
absol ut e=1; %User speci f i ed bol t pat t er n! f i l l i n var i abl es bel ow!

%%%%%%%%%i f absol ut e set t o 1 t hen f i l l i n bel ow %%%%%

s6=6; %number of 6 f t spl i t set s
m6=23; %number of 6 f t mechani cal
m8=0; %number of 8 f t mechani cal
r 6=4; %numbr t of 6 f t r esi n r ebar
r 8=0; %number of 8 f t r esi n r ebar
25

BolttimeVariableinit
t i me_8m=0;
t i me_6m=0;
t i me_8r =0;
t i me_6r =0;
t i me_6s=0;
t i me_scr een=0;
datalengthinit
%%%%bol t s
dp_mech6=si ze( mech6, 1) ;
dp_mech8=si ze( mech8, 1) ;
dp_spl i t 6=si ze( spl i t 6, 1) ;
dp_r b6=si ze( r b6, 1) ;
dp_r b8=si ze( r b8, 1) ;

%%%%Mi sc
dp_scr een=si ze( scr eent ack, 1) ;
dp_t r am=si ze( t r am, 1) ;
dp_pr eshi f t =si ze( pr eshi f t , 1) ;
dp_post shi f t =si ze( post shi f t , 1) ;
dp_i nt er =si ze( i nt er upt i on, 1) ;
26

Appendix C: Conclusions and Recommendations of Vale INCO Following Testing
at Coleman

Conclusions and Recommendations
The MEDATech Micro Bolter proved that it was capable of bolting in small and large narrow vein
headings. The safety benefits were shown on several occasions when loose fell down and
struck the machine rather than risking injury to the operator if he were to be operating a stoper
drill.

Some recommended modifications requested from the operator, maintenance and management
were made in order to render the machine desirable for use at Vale Inco sites. These include:

Adding a cable reel to the machine. However, there is a concern about maneuverability
if the unit becomes too long, thus a cable reel installation should take this into
consideration.

Improving the design of the centralizer.

Providing more on-board storage capacity.

Providing handles and steps on the boom to allow the operator to climb up to the collar
of the hole to cut screen or insert resin cartridges.

More maneuverability of the drill table to make it more versatile to drill slashes or test
holes in burst-prone areas.

The front and rear jacks require longer strokes.

Self-propelled carrier or drive system to make the machine independent of other
equipment in the mine.

Hydraulic hoses need to be re-routed or a bracket installed.

27

Reliability and certification of the remote control(s) need to be addressed.

The addition of a hammer function on the remote control would be beneficial. It is
understood that safety interlocks would have to be in place to ensure the hammer isnt
activated inadvertently. Otherwise, it is suggested to relocate the hammer switch.

In order for the remote not to get lost or damaged, it would be good to have a spot to
store the remote unit.

A wearbar or protection for the main boom mounting bolts where it rests on the floor
would be of benefit. When they wear out or break off, the feed assembly will fall.

MEDATech has recognized some modifications as well. They intend to develop proper
mounting interfaces for screen pushers to allow them to be more effective for the operator. This
was realized during testing at NORCAT and was to be investigated underground at Coleman
but it is unknown what the results of this investigation have concluded.

The overall consensus from operations was that the drill did perform well. At the end of the trial,
it could bolt about 65% as fast as a jackleg/stoper and the operator felt with enough experience
and all the bugs worked out, and with the additions requested, it would be very close to bolting
on par and, of course, be safer to use.