28 JULY 2010 MINING ENGINEERING

New tunnel boring machine

accelerates tunnel construction
in deep mining operations
A
s openpit copper operations transition from surface
mines to underground, the speed of underground
infrastructure construction prior to production is
critical for maximizing the value of the project. Typically,
the preferred underground bulk mining method is block
caving.
In preparation for future underground projects, Rio
Tinto made the strategic decision to invest in a step-change
program that would develop system solutions to reduce the
construction time of block caves. The program focused on
improving safety and doubling or more the construction
speed of both vertical shafts and horizontal infrastructure
compared to existing drill-and-blast rates.
After an extensive selection process, Rio Tinto selected
the Atlas Copco mobile miner machine as one of the
concepts to proceed with for construction of horizontal
infrastructure for access and footprint. In addition to un-
derground drilling and hauling equipment, Atlas Copcos
Robbins mobile miner concept (a previous attempt at
horizontal mechanical excavation) completed trials at
Mount Isa, Pasminco and Taisei.
Rio Tinto selected the new Atlas Copco mobile miner
machine concept for a number of reasons including the
use of proven technology from the three previous mobile
miner machines and other commercial products, as well as
the ability to install complete ground support typical with
high rock stress conditions at approximately 1,500 to 2,000
m (4,900 to 6,500 ft) depth.
Atlas Copco, with support from Rowa, the Swiss
company that specializes in back up systems for tunnel
boring machines (TBM), is advancing the detail design of
the access version of a tunneling system on behalf of Rio
Tinto. Because of the different requirements between an
excavation system for access tunnels and that for tunnels
on the footprint, two different versions of the mobile miner
machine technology were
envisioned. The access and
the footprint versions of the
Atlas Copco mobile miner
machine share a major-
ity of key technologies and
systems. Therefore, it was
possible to conduct a perfor-
mance conrmation test us-
ing a full-scale version of the
access machine that would
also mitigate the technical
risks for the footprint ver-
sion. To alleviate confusion,
this article focuses on the
access version of the Atlas
Copco mobile miner machine technology.
Tunnels have been excavated by drill-and-blast, tunnel
boring machine (TBM) methods and, on rare occasions,
other mechanical methods. TBMs are considered advan-
tageous for high speed tunneling. TBMs provide a higher
advance rate, a very smooth prole and a careful excavation,
reducing demands for rock support. The drawbacks for a
TBM include the cost of the machine, its limited ability to
change prole as well as difculties handling small curve
radii. These are all aspects in which drill-and-blast has a
number of advantages. The TBM prole has strengths and
weaknesses. The arched roof is a benet, but the nonat
invert is not ideal for all applications. Cutting crosscuts and
branching is difcult with TBMs, and normally requires
extensive, extra measures. The choice between the two
methods is, therefore, a complex exercise involving many
different parameters and complex calculations.
Based on performance estimates and observed real
performance, a brutal tool is sometimes used for an initial
quick selection of the preferred tunneling method for a
normal tunnel with length L (m), diameter D (m) and rock
compressive strength UCS (Pa). It was found that when
using the simple formula: Q = L/ (D*
3
UCS), if the result
is a value larger than 1.5, then the TBM method has to be
considered the prime candidate. If the result of the formula
was below 1.5, then the drill-and-blast method would be
better. The result, Q, is a sort of feasibility index, but this is
just a rst suggestion that must be veried through a more
detailed analysis.
Using this formula with all of its limitations, one can
still nd some conclusions. Obviously, tunnel length is
important. Capital cost is also important, as are startup
time and the rst months of typical running in low per-
formance of a TBM tunnel. The negative inuence of the
FIG 1
Robbins MM130 (Willoughby, 1993).
UNDERGROUND MINING
Sverker Hartwig and
Fred Delabbio
Sverker Hartwig is vice president
Technology for Atlas Copco Construction
and Mining Technique, Fred Delabbio,
member SME, is general manager
innovation - underground, Rio Tinto,
Brisbane, Australia e-mail Fred.
delabbio@riotinto.com, Sverker.
Hartwig@se.atlascopco.com.
MIN_028_043.indd 28 6/22/10 3:15 PM
MINING ENGINEERING JULY 2010 29
diameter can be explained in different ways. One obvious
way is that the cutterhead speed has to be reduced with
increasing diameters, leading to fewer meters per hour of
advance. The inuence of the rock strength is remarkable.
In this formula, its weight has been reduced by the cubic
root function. In essence, this means that rock hardness
is not the one and only determination factor. It also points
to the fact that a hard rock TBM can cut almost any type
of hard rock, even rock as hard as 300 MPa. This is unlike
some other mechanical methods, like roadheaders, where
there is a clear limit, never to be exceeded. There may ex-
ist different opinions of exactly where the limit for road
headers is; 80,100 or 120 MPa.
The length and diameter of the tunnel are also im-
portant. But would a number of shorter tunnels, more or
less at the same place, do the trick? Yes, but only with the
assumption that the TBM could move by itself to the next
section, in a matter of hours or days. A reasonable tunnel
size, less than 6 m (20 ft), would be ideal. Therefore, a mine
would be the perfect marketplace because there are many
tunnels, not too big, difcult rock and high stresses.
To accomplish this, a machine would have to be able to
change prole; make a at invert; be able to back up after
ground support was installed and tunnel closure completed;
be able to make small radius curves; do cross cuts, travel by
itself; be easy to launch with shaft access; and also maintain
a large part of TBM speed and gentleness to adjacent rock.
In short, this is the basis for the mobile miner dream.
Start of the dream
The dream, as such, may very well have been around
for hundreds of years. In the dream, the hope for a continu-
ous mole, that is controlled remotely, with limited ventila-
FIG 2
Mini machine tunnel, circa 1970.
STOUT
Offering a single-source supply
of all mine hoisting plant services
Locomotives
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Drill Jumbos
Mine Hoists
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a division of Mining Equipment Ltd.
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UNDERGROUND MINING
MIN_028_043.indd 29 6/22/10 3:15 PM
30 JULY 2010 MINING ENGINEERING
tion and other support and utilities, keeps on delivering a
precrushed, steady stream of high-grade ore at shaft. The
rst ideas of how to make it true appeared in the 1970s.
Primus motor here was Dick Robbins and The Robbins
Company (Robbins). Robbins delivered many concepts
for shaft sinking, tunneling, box holing and raise boring.
An entirely new idea evolved using TBM-type disc cut-
ters arranged on a cutterhead enabling most of the dream
functions. The machine type, best known throughout the
world as the mobile miner (Fig. 1), has given its name to
any other attempt to realize something similar. Atlas Copco
and Robbins manufactured three machines of this type and
the latter two were still active or under manufacture when
Atlas Copco acquired Robbins Co. in 1993.
Wild ideas like the mobile miner were not new to
Atlas Copco in any way.
Atlas Copcos history in mechanical rock cutting
Even as a 130-year-old company, Atlas Copco remains
closely related to the Swedish method of tunneling. The
Swedish method is the one man, one machine rock drill
technique developed around the time of World War II.
These machines, having built-in rotation, tungsten carbide
bits and the pusher leg, revolutionized not only rock drill-
ing, but also Atlas Copco. However, after 10 to 15 years,
it became obvious that step-change development goes
on, and further innovations were needed. Since then, the
development has followed two directions. The rst was
mechanization and later automation of the drill-and-blast
process including all unit operations, drilling, charging,
blasting, scaling, bolting and mucking.
Atlas Copco realized that there could be further tech-
nical developments that could differentiate it from other
competitors in the market. Could rock be drilled by means
other than rotary or percussive? Could these options
include microwaves, high-pressure water, thermal lances
and plasma burners? Then, the ultimate opportunity was
the possibility that the machines tried in the late 1800s, the
tunnel boring machines, would develop into something that
not only advanced drill-and-blast methods, but replaced it.
It should be noted that Atlas Copco had a research
institute in Switzerland, CERAC, that for many years
tried any possible (and some impossible) ways to make
a hole or a slot in rock. Techniques such as high-pressure
water and lasers were tried as well as rapid tunneling using
battle cruiser ship cannons. The latter works, but is rather
expensive and noisy. A couple of water jet drilling and or
slot-cutting machines were actually sold.
During the 1960s, Atlas Copco acquired the Swiss com-
pany Habegger, which became Atlas Copco TBM Machines
based in Thun, Switzerland. This company focused on use of
professor Wohlmeyers undercutting method that included
large tungsten carbide cutting picks, running at very low
speed with high forces in a get in under and rip out type
of operation. Many machines, some extremely successful,
were built of this type model, including the Mini and Midi,
as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
There was, however, certain rock types (particularly
those with high ductility) where the machine type per-
formed poorly. Similar machines have been tried most
recently in the platinum industry.
Atlas Copco needed a machine whose performance was
FIG 4
The Atlas Copco shaft borer MBM, circa 1987.
FIG 5
Robbins MM 120, circa 1992.
FIG 3
A midi for White Pine and a Mini for Sidney Harbour, circa
1974.
MIN_028_043.indd 30 6/22/10 3:15 PM
MINING ENGINEERING JULY 2010 31
more predictable and acceptable in hard rock.
So it was decided that Atlas Copco should get
involved with more classical TBM machines.
It acquired Jarva in Solon, OH. This company
had a range of successful Jarva MK x TBMs,
which today are difcult to beat in competent
hard ground. Jarva further developed shield
machines, raise boring machines (RBM) and
some special shaft machines. An interesting
machine started to be developed in Solon,
but nished after Atlas Copco moved this
business to Stockholm, the mobile boring ma-
chine (MBM). Notice the similarity between
the Atlas Copco MBM from 1986 with later
developments in the business (Fig. 4).
In parallel, with these TBM activities,
Atlas Copco joined forces with Gbr Eickhoff
in Germany for the development of heavy
roadheading machines, which had applications in civil en-
gineering projects. Not hiding the fact that a roadheader
can do remarkable jobs in softer ground, again Atlas Copco
entered into a situation in which it was clear that these types
of machines could not be used as a universal mining tool
like drill-and-blast.
After the move of Jarva to Sweden, Atlas Copco our-
ished for 10 years in this business, developing a number
of hard rock TBMs, new cutters, the variable speed drive
(VSD) technique and many more features. To further en-
hance this business, Atlas Copco acquired Robbins in 1993.
Atlas Copco decided to sell off the TBM part of the business
in 1998 and keep RBMs and the other mining machines
portion. Atlas Copco has since been involved in a number
of more or less detailed developments of special mining
machines, for shafts, narrow vein excavation and more.
Atlas Copco has worked actively with novel rock exca-
vation techniques since the late 1950s with noticeable and
sometimes very successful efforts.
Robbins/Atlas Copco mobile miners
Three machines of this type were built in the late 1980s
and early 1990s. They all worked with a vertical narrow
cutterhead that was sumped into the rock and then in a
sweeping movement under rotation was swung +/- 45. The
last machine could also lift the cutter head in a ranging
type mode. Different congurations were tested to hold
the machine stationary in the drift while cutting and also
to propel them forward.
The first was a machine tried at Mt. Isa Mines,
Queensland, Australia, the MM 120 (Fig. 5).
This machine was followed by the MM 130 Pasminco,
Broken Hill machine (Fig. 1).
The Pasminco machine made several projects and a clas-
sical picture is, of course, this beautiful drift. The last of the
three mobile miners was the Taisei MM130R. Some sum-
mary data on these three machines is outlined in Table 1.
Some observations from these machines
Given the conditions, the Pasminco machine was very
successful. Performance measured in meters/month was
handicapped by basically two circumstances. First, was an
experimental machine, it was the one that always had to
stand back when there was risk of interference with im-
portant mining operations. Therefore, average standstill
delays accounted for 47 percent of total available time.
And there was the exceptionally hard rock, with a UCS
that approached 300 MPa (45 kips) in many places. The
cutters became a long Golgotha walk for the machine and
everything known was tried to improve the situation. Actual
boring time reached an average 23 percent of total time
with cutter changes and related issues accounting for 17
percent of total time. Adding the above three percentages
47, 23 and 17 (87 percent), it was realized that little time
was lost for other reasons. But, of course, being a prototype,
several small and a few large breakdowns were reported.
Also, other operational problems occurred, such as the
machine not being able to clean the invert perfectly, so it
started to climb itself on the muck left behind.
There was one fundamental problem with the machine.
A good stable classical TBM maintains the kerfs for the
cutters in neat rings on the face. Simplied, all of the energy
applied to the machine goes into making ne powder of the
rock in these kerfs. But all the rock in between the cutter
kerfs falls out free of charge. A narrow cutter and a large
spacing will, before other factors are taken into account,
give an improved result. The mobile miner does not follow
in its own kerfs. In essence, it mills the whole face into ne
dust and gets nothing for free because of its sweeping mode
of operation. This observation is supported by a very high
reported specic power consumption reported in kWh/
m
3
for this machine compared to a TBM in similar rock.
Obviously, this will inuence cutter wear as well. Here, it is
clear that cutter consumption was many times higher per
m
3
of rock than for a conventional TBM. Add to this the
applied power to each cutter was on average almost three
Mt. Isa Pasminco Taisei
MM 120 MM 130 MM 130
(ranging)
Tunnel height (m) 3.7 xed 4.1 xed 6.1-8.1
Tunnel width (m) 4.9-7 5.5-7.9 9.0-12
Cutterhead diameter (m) 3.7 4.1 4.1
Cutterhead power (kW) 300 500 500
Cutterhead speed (RPM) 12.7 15 15
Number of cutters 20 18 18
Load per cutter 35 23 23
Stroke length (m) 0.75 0.75 0.75
Best consistent
performance 0.15 m/h 83 m/ month 0.5 m/h
Table 1
Data on MM120 and MM 130 machines.
FIG 6
Drift cut by MM130 at Pasminco Mine, circa 1993.
MIN_028_043.indd 31 6/22/10 3:15 PM
32 JULY 2010 MINING ENGINEERING
times higher than on a TBM, due to the fact that very few
cutters at any given moment were in contact with the rock.
It was clear that the cutters would become a problem.

Rio Tintos requirements
Rio Tinto, facing the challenge of going underground
with block caves (less than 100 kt/d or 110,000 stpd), is fo-
cused on advancing tunnel construction systems for safety
and development rate. Due to the massive developments
needed for starting up a block caving operation, the old
expression need for speed is particularly well placed. For
the latter reason, Rio Tinto and Atlas Copco have several
ongoing discussions and projects to speed up tunneling in
traditional drill-and-blast operations.
Additionally, Rio Tinto decided to seriously develop
a step-change program in rapid mine construction that
would look at technologies, concepts and systems that
could double or more tunneling and shaft sinking speeds
in Rio Tinto mining operations of the future. This included
a fresh look at mechanical excavation since the conditions
and requirements for underground copper operations are
different to those that previous machines, such as the mobile
miner, had been designed for. Having a continuous excava-
tion process that can eliminate explosives, blast gases and
scaling of loose ground should increase worker safety by
eliminating risks with a process change. The other positive
aspect is the dramatic increase in development rate that
is possible versus drill-and-blast. The key reason behind
this advantage is that ground support can be installed in
parallel with rock excavation. The net result of these two
factors is that Rio Tinto will have the ability to make mine
construction safer and also reduce the time for construction
Several companies were invited to bring ideas and to
work with Rio Tinto during a concept development stage.
After a comprehensive analysis and selection process, two
tunneling concepts and one shaft-sinking concept were
selected for further detail engineering. One of the selected
tunneling machines was the Atlas Copco modular mobile
mining (MMM) machine. The MMM machine is based on
all Atlas Copcos previous experience with the MMM.
To comply with Rio Tintos demands, some compro-
mises were needed from the true versatility of the original
MM concept. The new machine is much bigger and more
powerful than the mobile miner. On the other hand, it is
not so exible in changing tunnel widths or negotiating
narrow turns. Instead, the machine is based on modules so
that, even if not used during one tunnel, components can be
added, or changed, to adapt the vehicle to new challenges
in the same mine or another mine entirely.
What properties is Rio Tinto looking for to be
mastered by the Atlas Copco mobile miner
machine?
Two versions of the Atlas Copco mobile miner machine
technology were envisioned. The access and the footprint
versions of the Atlas Copco MMM machine share a ma-
jority of key technologies and systems. Therefore, it was
possible to conduct a performance conrmation test using a
full-scale version of the access machine that would mitigate
the technical risks for the footprint version. In terms of
the access tunnels, it is ideal to have a at invert, straight
or slightly curved sidewalls and a Roman arched roof.
The dimensions can vary, larger and smaller, than the base
machine that would be 5.5-m- (18-ft-) wide with a height
(center) of 5.5 m (18 ft). Curve radius is less than 90 m (295
ft) preferably down to 30 m (98 ft). Slope should be +/- 15.
Rock conditions are expected to range from 40 MPa up to
150 MPa (in different mines). Fault and other difcult zones
expected from 0-5 percent of the overall length.
The machine must have the means to handle extraor-
dinarily bad rock by installing rock support at face, and
for all other types of rock continuous systematic bolting
and shotcrete (two layers), most of which is to be applied
between 1 and 10 m (3.3 and 33 ft) from the face. The
FIG 8
Cutting prole using three bottom cuts, plus ve top cuts.
FIG 9
Cutting prole using three bottom cuts and three top, out of
which two have revolving heads.
FIG 7
Robbins MM130 destined for Taisei, circa 1993.
MIN_028_043.indd 32 6/22/10 3:15 PM
MINING ENGINEERING JULY 2010 33
machine will be self-propelled and self-supporting with
everything onboard except muck trucking from the rear
of the machine. Under these conditions the machine will
perform on average 8 to 12 m/d (26 to 39 ft/d) of advance.
High in situ stresses as well as high rock temperatures are
expected in some applications.
The Atlas Copco mobile miner machine
The approach for the Atlas Copco proposal was to reuse
the working principles of the previous mobile miners as
much as possible. It was clear from the beginning that the
machine must operate in a mode where the cutters follow
their own tracks (signicant difference to mobile miners).
So, instead of swinging the cutterhead sideways when work-
ing the cutterhead, it must be advanced straight or almost
straight forward. This is a partial face machine (only a por-
tion of face is excavated at one time). This means that the
head has to be retracted out of the rock and then moved
sideways or vertical in the air and then sumped forward
again to cover the entire drift face. In order to reduce the
lost time for this necessary repositioning, the machine
should have a longer stroke than the mobile miner.
The second issue that needed to be addressed was muck
collection in front of the machine. Roadheader aprons with
collector wheels/arm and chain conveyors are not free from
problems, but were regarded as the more suitable answer
than the previous mobile miner solution.
The third issue was related to the extensive rock rein-
forcements called for in the Rio Tinto requirements. The
machine had to be stretched length-wise in order to provide
enough room for rock bolting and shotcrete equipment.
The rock support must be installed simultaneously with the
rock boring. Finally, the expected performance is to reach
an average advanced rate of 240 to 360 m/month (790 to
1,200 ft/m) versus the MM130 Pasminco machines best
month of 83 m (272 ft). For these reasons, more power,
more cutters and a much heavier machine for stability
reasons was needed.
It can be said that the design of a machine of this na-
ture always starts with the cutters and cutterhead. Using
proven cutter technology, the size and numbers needed
will be determined rather quickly. That, in turn, leads to
a cutterhead size. Tunnel shape and cutterhead width and
diameter will dene how many of these repeated part cuts
need to be done to complete the face. If 3.5 cuts are needed
to make full width, it means four cuts. Iterating this a few
times the basic cutterhead size, power, speed and number
were established. The machine will, in normal operation,
cut the lower cuts at full depth and width. Then the whole
center part of the machine will be lifted (still horizontal,
not tilted) and three or ve top cuts will be done, each with
much less cut volume than the bottom three. Actually two of
them are more polishing type cuts to generate the desired
arch. Examples of proles are illustrated in Fig. 8 and 9.
This type of cutterhead has pros and cons versus a TBM.
A weakness is that only maximum half of the cutters are
active at the same time and, in the top cuts, much less. But
there are some strong points as well. All these cutters travel
with the same speed, not like a TBM where the center cut-
ters run slow and vice versa. Another strong point is that
on this drum, there is room for two cutters per kerf. On a
TBM, this is not true for the positions near the center and
that will dene the rate of penetration (ROP) per revolu-
tion for the whole machine. In all, 56 cutters (two cutters
mounted in 26 positions) are installed, placed in classical
TBM manner with angled gage cutters and center but
with a slight difference in the meaning of center. The cut-
terhead will have a diameter of 4.5 m (15 ft) and a cutting
width of 1.8 m (6 ft). Having such a wide head provided
the opportunity to mount all needed motors and gearboxes
inside the head, which avoided the complex angled drive
line of the mobile miner. At the same time, power has now
been increased from the old machines 300 to 500 kW (403
to 670 hp) to 1,260 kW (1,690 hp). The drive system is based
on VSD technique and the speed can be altered from 0-15
rpm in both directions.
Atlas Copco is using a fairly advanced statistical model
of the cutter loads. The model is based on extensive mea-
surements determined from individual cutter positions
on TBMs. In the model, each cutter presents a load as
function of time (reference to pink noise). This is math-
ematically explained with the help of rain ow statistics
transformed into a total cutter head load in all directions
(time and frequency). The design criteria used thereafter
is based on an average plus a suitable number of added
(variance). Using this method, safety factors can be kept
at a low number. This does not lead to a lighter machine,
but instead a heavier one.
The basic concept can now be described by Fig. 10.
To the left, the cutterhead is mounted in a fork. This
FIG 10
Cross section of cutter head.
FIG 11
3D functional view of Atlas Copco mobile miner machine.
MIN_028_043.indd 33 6/22/10 3:15 PM
34 JULY 2010 MINING ENGINEERING
Summary data - access version of Atlas Copco MMM
(all numbers are preliminary)
Atlas Copco MMM Access Version
paratmeter Atlas Copco MMM Comments
mining tunneling machine
Tunnel width (m) 5.3-6.3 Without change of
modules.
Tunnel height (m) 5,25-6.1 Can be increased
by spacers.
Horizontal curve radius (m) 70 /30 30 with increased
tunnel width.
Slope (degrees) +/-15
Cutterhead size (m) 4.5x 1.8 (Diameter x width)
Cutters number and size (in) 2 x 28 x 17
Installed power (kVA) 2500 (6/10/16 kV)
Cutterhead power (kW) 1,260 at 12 RPM
Cutterhead speed (RPM) 0-15 , both directions
Forward thrust static (kN/lbf) 3,500 / 780 000
Load per cutter (kN) 183 -270
Machine weight (ton) 350
Complete machine
with backup (ton) 675
fork can be moved along the curved front plate +/-15. This
movement is normally done under no load and then the
fork is locked in position, for the left, right or center cut. The
whole yellow part, the main body with internal torque tube
can within the gray gripper frames is lifted horizontally 1.5
m (5 ft) for the upper cuts. The advance for each part cut is
a stroke of 1.75 m (5.75 ft) achieved by cylinders inside the
yellow square tube forcing the bent front plate forward. In
the side cuts, the cutterhead will, thus, advance with a small
skewed angle, but always in line with the tunnel. After all
of the six or eight cuts, the whole machine with a trailing
backup system will move forward for next set of strokes.
The machine is modular and, as such, can use spacers
beneath the grippers to handle larger tunnels. Also, the
front plate can be adopted for different maxi or mini tunnel
widths. In any case, this machine cannot cut a lower prole
then 4.5 m (15 ft) since that is the size of the head. However,
larger and smaller machines can be designed using similar
components. Other modules that can be added are a cut-
terhead revolving unit that can tilt the head sideways +/- 30
and also an articulation that can be tted between the front
and rear grippers. These aspects enable this technology to
ideally cover all present and future requirements of access
and footprint excavation of horizontal infrastructure.
Backup system
The backup system was developed with close coopera-
tion between Rowa, Rio Tinto and Atlas Copco. It should
be regarded as a full TBM backup with all such facilities. It
is crawler based, with individually steerable crawlers mak-
ing it possible to negotiate narrow curves when boring and
when backing out for repositioning to a new face. Muck
is collected in front of the machine and transported to the
rear of the backup with several conveyors. The muck can
then be delivered to mine trucks or possibly into extendable
conveyor systems. The backup hosts a 2,500 kVA system for
the MMMs VSD and hydraulic systems, shotcrete pumps,
compressors, ventilation fans and dust suction fans. Mate-
rial transportation of bolts, wire mesh, spares and cutters
is provided all the way from the rear
to the nal destination. Due to the
expected hot ambient temperatures
that will be encountered, the backup
has extensive built in heat exchang-
ers for water, lube oil and hydraulic
oil. In the rear end, there exist drums
for trailing cable, water hose and
further ventilation duct storage.
Apart from the normally re-
tracted emergency bolting and
shotcrete boom in front of cutter
wheel, the first set of bolts and
shotcrete is applied as soon as pos-
sible after rst gripper system (Fig.
11). The machine has two remote
controlled bolt feeds. In a third ad-
ditional bolting station, application
of shotcrete and wire mesh can be
completed. Each of these stations is
separated from the other with a dust
wall. The machine includes the latest
technology for emergency refuge
chamber and dust ltration system.
Performance
Rio Tinto and Atlas Copco estimate the average perfor-
mance of this technology will be between 10 to 16 m/d (33
to 52 ft/d). This is based on a combination of conventional
cutter performance from RBMs and TBMs combined
with the results of a detailed discrete event simulation.
The simulation individual process steps of this machine,
along with supporting equipment, includes allowances for
probe hole drilling, extending services, truck and transmixer
movements and all ground support activities. As rock cut-
ting rates change with different rock conditions, the critical
path (rate limiting activity) will change in the process. As
an example, a typical cycle in 150 MPa rock for a full ad-
vance of 1.75 m (5.7 ft), inclusive of rock support, will take
2 hours 45 minutes. This corresponds to 0.64 m/h (2.1 ft/
hour) instantaneous rate of penetration. When considering
factors that delay cutting and ground support activities, such
as planned and unplanned downtime, maintenance, services
and trucking delays, an advance rate of 12 m/d (39 ft/d)
is predicted. It is important to note that, in weaker rock,
the advance rate speed will be increase signicantly. Since
rock support is installed concurrently with rock excavation,
reaching advance rates of around 16 m/day (52 ft/d) will be
possible, with the time required for rock support being the
process limiting task (critical path). n
Acknowledgments
This project has only been possible due to the support
and vision of Rio Tinto and Atlas Copco executive and
management teams. The technical work presented here is
the result of a large collaborative global team that consists
of members from Atlas Copco, Rio Tinto Innovation, Rio
Tinto Copper Projects and external consultants. The effort
of many is greatly appreciated.
References
Sales material and internal documentation from TRC and Atlas Copco
1960 -1999.
Principal Arrangement of Access Version of Atlas Copco MMM Machine
and Back-up System.
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