New bits for Boart

Boart Longyear has launched the Alpha series diamond drill bits, which are designed to last longer than their predecessors.

The Alpha series was developed for hard ground conditions, in particular gabbro, granite, rhyolite and diorite. Boart Longyear’s new cutting design features tightly packed metal powder particles, which reduce wear and limit sharpening.

The so-called “Alpha bits” have a titanium coating that allows the diamond to be retained in the crown longer by protecting it from oxidation. Boart says coating the diamond with specific metals inhibits premature “pull-out” of the diamond and increases the number of cutting edges exposed to the rock, effectively allowing the bit to cut longer and faster. For extreme conditions, the bits come in abrasive and competent versions.

During testing near Rouyn-Noranda, Que., a rookie driller used an Alpha07 bit to drill 873 metres.