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A range of articles written by our team to help you make those important mining decisions.
Your drilling rig will require various levels of maintenance depending on how often you use it and the types of jobs you are using it for. However, at the minimum, your rig should have a daily inspection before use and a monthly maintenance check.
For both your daily inspections and your monthly maintenance, you should ensure the person undertaking the checks is qualified and has a thorough understanding of rig safety. What may appear minor to the uneducated eye could be major for the drilling team. To ensure nothing is missed we advise creating a daily and monthly checklist that your team can reference when undergoing your rig checks.
When conducting a daily inspection look over the key components of your rig such as your emergency shutdown controls, drilling rods, drill bits, and any other visible moving parts. At this time you should also conduct preventative maintenance such as greasing individual components to ensure adequate lubrication and cleanliness. If you are unsure which components need to be greased daily on your specific rig, consult with your supplier.
When performing monthly maintenance checks, look closely to inspect every corner of your rig. At this time you can look closely at the inner workings of your drill rig engine. Topping up any oil and cooling fluids, replacing them in full when they reach their hour limit or time limit, whichever may come first. It is equally as important to service your hydraulic system, replacing the filter at the intervals outlined in your maintenance manual.
Monthly maintenance checks are also a good time to record any new chips or scratches in the paintwork that could later lead to rust and corrosion as well as any evident dents. You should also record any wearing on hoses, replacing any that are starting to crack or break.
If you are currently operating an ATROX ATX series drilling rig do not hesitate to get in touch regarding individualised maintenance advice.
