WorldWide Drilling Resource

23 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2015 Challenges Lead to Changes Adapted from Information by Thompson International Working at blasthole drill sites is always a challenge, but sometimes challenges can lead to improvements. Such is the case with Thompson International and their latest tri-cone rotary bits. On a recent jobsite, they began making small adjust- ments to their bit design to improve the penetration rate, performance, and bit life. After the initial modification, they noticed slight improvements. They decided to make an- other modest change, which resulted in even better re- sults. At this point, the company brought in experienced metallurgical and engineering professionals to assist with the bit redesign. The results were outstanding and led to a complete reengineering of the company’s bit design, improving the bit’s per- formance. These vast improvements didn’t happen overnight and they were truly a team effort. The creative Thompson International manufacturing team was dedicated to making a better bit, and they succeeded. Of course, it also required several visits to the mine site and many hours in the pit drill site, but the results of their hard work are clear. What started out as a simple bit modification, turned into a complete redesign project. The company decided to go all the way with the redesign and even changed the color of the bits and revamped the blasthole bit packaging using durable wooden boxes versus traditional cardboard. Thompson International has been manufacturing tri-cone rotary bits for over 55 years and this marks the most significant reengineer- ing of the drill bit line to date. The improvements gained in this particular project will eventually be transfered to the rest of the bit line. 326()6 2,341(6/32 +43: 33*532 .32+ (9 # $ " % # & 1(/0 33*532 68)( 34- 888 6-8( 34- ! !!& # " ! " ! "4(*+ !.38 *7)(6/32 7 6/32 30, 380/2- "3742(1+26 , 380 "37 2(1+26 7)6/32 34+ 7) /32 " $ " " " " & ! # % " " % " % #!" ' &% ! "" * "(%$ ))) (" $( ' & $ %# # " (" $( $ ( " !" !! ! &% ! % ! (" $( & $ $ $ " ! $ $ ! ! $ ! $ # $ $ $