Top 5 Underground Continuous Miners | An Underground Miner

Underground continuous miners are some of the most useful machines in mining.

These machines do heavy-duty mining, especially in places with relatively hard rock. They have robust features that make them capable of handling different types of underground mining.

Different manufacturers of continuous miners improve their machines regularly to ensure that they make the most efficient products.

Consequently, you might have a hard time choosing the one ideal for your mining operations, considering that most of the machines have first-class features.

By checking out the Top 5 Continuous Miners, you can have more insight into these machines' characteristics and, therefore, be able to select the one that best meets your requirements.

Caterpillar has made this continuous miner, particularly for hard-cutting mining in places where enhanced horsepower and weight are required.

It has a hard head-design that allows it to cut through lime, potash, and coal, among other types of materials in underground mines. It is easy to control, where a modern control system can remotely control most of the features.

You can control the traction of this continuous miner using the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). This increases the tram speed of the unit.

As a result, you can cover much more ground within a relatively shorter time. The unit can gain up to 85 feet per minute, one of the highest speeds on the market.

On this modern mining machine, you will get an independent tramming system that allows easier maneuvering even in places that are not even. The machine also comes with a noise cancellation feature and a dust collector to enhance the operators' safety.

A self-diagnostic system automatically detects when there is a problem with some of the unit's components.

Almost all parts of this continuous miner from Caterpillar use hardened materials to enhance durability and reliability. Among these parts include the pads, which use alloy steel to provide the unit with optimum durability.

You can also be sure that the machine will cut through almost any surface, mainly because of its 250 kW of power that goes to the cutter head.

The main feature that makes this unit stand out is its solid-head cutting system which allows it to cut through even the hardest rock.

With this cutting system, the miner will enable you to work in different conditions, including in rocky areas where ample power is required. The unit also has a 38 inch conveyor, which is the standard width for profitable underground mining.

Another essential feature of this unit is that it has individual motors which use direct-drive transmission. These motors provide power to the hydraulic system, cutter, traction, and gathering systems.

It also uses a remote radio control system that has different frequencies for different sections of the machine.

Some of the safety attributes of this continuous miner include a wet head cooling and wetting system. The importance of the system is to lower the breathable dust while at the same reducing frictional ignitions.

The miner also has a stable and broad base lowering its center of gravity to ensure it cannot easily topple.

Among the attributes that make this unit reliable includes the availability of a high-voltage power option that can work with 2300V.

It also comes with outboard access to controllers, gear cases, motors, and other primary components. The importance of this is to reduce maintenance costs and downtime.

With this unit, you can also implement Komatsu's Faceboss 2.0 Automation Platform. This platform enables operators to control and manage their equipment remotely, resulting in increased productivity and reduce harm.

The unit also has relief valves that you can control using a screw. This reduces problems that usually occur in the hydraulic and water systems.

This continuous miner is ideal for operations that require high cutting force, such as coal mines, potash mines, salt mines, and room mines. The unit's makers use modern technology to make the operations efficient and accurate.

The design of the MC470 makes it ideal for harsh mining conditions where it can work perfectly even on restricted spaces.

This mining machine's conveyor width is 960 millimeters, making it ideal for doing different kinds of commercial mining. It has a 45t/min loading capacity, which is enough for controlled mining in underground, enclosed surfaces.

This continuous miner's mechanical weight supports bidirectional sheer-up cutting, consequently reducing the cycle time.

The primary safety feature of the MC470 is that you can control it remotely without going into risky underground spaces. It also has a significantly lower cutting speed which reduces dust production while mining.

To further ensure that the unit produces minimal dust quantities, it also comes with an onboard suppression and filtration system.

The main feature that provides reliability to this continuous miner is its 540 kW cutting power. With this kind of power, the machine can cut through different types of rock without struggling.

Sandvik also helps users of this machine and others of its mining machines to enjoy top-quality reliability by providing on-ground engineers. These are technicians from the company who do routine checkups on the machines purchased from the company.

You can also request help from the manufacturer if there is an emergency that needs immediate attention.

The technology used on this continuous miner is among the main features that make it stand out. There is a patented technology from Eichhoff that plays an integral role in enhancing the unit's performance.

It also has one of the most formidable bodies that make it ideal to use in some of the most challenging mining sites.

Control of the unit is also simple, provided you have the necessary knowledge about handling such machines. You can also get assistance from Eickhoff in case some attributes are giving you problems.

You only need to get in touch with the company, and they will advise you on what to do or send technicians who are conversant with the unit.

There are several safety attributes on this continuous miner, with the main one being a control system with specific features.

Besides controlling the unit remotely, you can also easily adjust the machine's features manually through the ultra-interactive control system.

The machine also comes with enhanced stability with a total weight of 83 tons to prevent unnecessary accidents, especially while working in steep mines.

This modern continuous miner's cutting height is 1.4-3.0 meters, and the cutting width is 3.50-3.65 meters.

These dimensions make the unit ideal for a wide range of mining requirements, especially commercial mining that requires heavy-duty machines. The unit has a ground pressure of 200kPa.

This provides the machine with the ability to hold on firmly while cutting through harsh rock.

Maintaining and repairing the Eickhoff CM2H-45 is simple, where you do not have to get unnecessary disruptions in your mine. You can open the unit to access the crucial components, and this makes repair easy.

The manufacturer of this machine uses properly tested materials to make sure that they can last for years, even when working in harsh conditions.

This continuous miner from JAE Engineering Australia is a modern remote-controlled machine that makes mining in severe conditions relatively easier. It comes with high cutting power to cut through almost any material found in underground mining.

The machine also has several options to easily adjust the features to suit your needs depending on the results.

The fully integrated collision avoidance system is among the primary safety attributes of this mining machine. The unit also comes with a traction brake that holds the miner at the face when cutting.

If you find a particular mine too dangerous to operate the unit manually, you can safely handle it remotely using the interactive control panel.

The Wildcat JAE42 uses an S1 cutter motor that can deliver 300 kW of power. With this kind of power, you can be sure that the machine will handle any material you come across while going on with your mining. 

Slewing is also enhanced on this continuous miner, where it comes with some of the most reliable trackpads.

When using this modern machine, you do not have to worry about stalling because it comes with high inertia cutter drums. Makers of this machine ensure that the spare parts are readily available for all miners to avoid downtime.

The company has a reliable support desk where you can quickly call and request assistance if your machine has stalled or is experiencing any problem.

The different underground continuous miners listed in this brief have qualities that qualify them for top-class modern underground mining. These qualities may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer of the mining equipment.

By going through the continuous miners' qualities, you can identify the one that will meet your specific mining needs and give you value for what you spend.

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This article was written by An Underground Miner