Down the Hole Hammer

Cluster Down the Hole Hammer

Cluster drilling is a proven method to penetrate high to extremely high strength rock formations, usually in excess of 100 MPa.
A cluster drill is an assembly of several individual down the hole (DTH) hammers, combined in one individual steel cannister.

In order to penetrate the rock, the pistons of the individual DTH hammers of a cluster drill are mobilized by air pressure and the hammer action of the drill bits crush the rock.

A complete cluster drill needs several air compressors to provide enough air pressure to activate each individual DTH hammer and also flush the rock cuttings quickly to the surface to maintain efficiency of the cluster drill.

Cluster drills can be used in diameters ranging from 900mm up to 2400mm.

Theoretically, though, the size of a cluster drill is only limited by the lifting capacity of the proposed machine and logistics of transporting it.

Full-face Down the Hole Hammer

Full-face Down the Hole Hammer drilling is a proven method to penetrate high to extremely high strength rock formations, usually in excess of 100 MPa.

A Full-face hammer is a single down the hole (DTH) hammer. Common diameter available are 150mm up to 750mm and special circumstances larger diameters can be used, but more often cluster hammers are adopted above 750mm diameter.

To penetrate the rock, the piston of the hammers is mobilized by air pressure and the hammer action of the drill bit crush the rock. A set-up needs several air compressors to provide enough air pressure to activate the DTH hammer and flush the rock cuttings quickly to the surface to maintain efficiency of the process.