In mining, infrastructure blasting, and geotechnical engineering, drilling in hard rock has always been a core aspect affecting construction efficiency. Ordinary drilling rigs are slow, suffer from high wear and tear, and have poor accuracy in deep holes, making them unsuitable for medium-hard and hard rock drilling needs. Down-the-hole (DTH) drills, also known as percussion drills or downhole drilling machines, are specialized equipment that uses compressed air to drive a bottom-of-hole impactor, combined with a rotary motion, to complete hard rock drilling. Their core advantage is that the impactor moves forward synchronously with the drilling depth, resulting in low energy loss; the efficiency advantage becomes more pronounced the deeper the hole, and the hole achieves high verticality and a smooth hole wall.
YG, as a professional rock drilling equipment manufacturer, produces both crawler down-the-hole drilling rigs and small down-the-hole drilling rigs, adaptable to drilling needs of different scales and scenarios. Many purchasing customers are most concerned about the price of DTH drilling machines; our factory insists on direct sales, ensuring transparent pricing and cost-effectiveness far exceeding that of similar equipment in the industry. Our products are currently exported in bulk to countries with rapidly developing mining and infrastructure industries, such as Peru, Chile, South Africa, Ghana, Indonesia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. They are suitable for various construction scenarios, including open-pit mines, quarries, and infrastructure blasting. Contact us for more product information.
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How to Choose Between Tracked Down-the-Hole Drill Rigs and Outrigger Down-the-Hole Drill Rigs?
| Comparison Items | Tracked Down-the-Hole Drilling Rig | Small pneumatic down-the-hole (DTH) drilling rig |
| Power Type | Diesel engine + hydraulic system | Electric motor + pneumatic drive |
| Structural Features | Large machine, high stability | Compact and lightweight, can be manually transported |
| Mobility Method | Self-propelled by tracks | Manual transport or small trolley |
| Drilling Diameter | 76-260mm | 76-130mm |
| Drilling Depth | Maximum depth 35m+ (single advance) | Typical range 10-20m |
| Applicable Terrain | Suitable for open areas, mines, and large quarries | Suitable for narrow spaces, slopes, mountainous areas, and remote locations |
| Maintenance Costs | High height, complex structure | Relatively low price, common parts |
| Price Range | $5,000-$320,000 | $1,200-$8,500 |
| Suitable Customers | Suitable for large mines, quarries, and infrastructure contractors | Suitable for small to medium-sized construction teams, individual operators, and agricultural wells |
Selection Recommendations:
- If your project involves open-pit mine blasting holes or large-scale quarrying, with large borehole diameters, depths, and workloads → choose a tracked system.
- If your project involves slope anchoring, farmland well drilling, small-scale quarrying, or requires manual transport to remote work sites → choose an outrigger system.
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YG Crawler DTH Drilling Rig Introduction
Tracked down-the-hole drill rigs are the main equipment for drilling and blasting operations in open-pit mines and quarries. The machine comes with its own walking system and air compressor, so it can start working on site immediately.
Crawler DTH Drilling Rig Parameters:
| Model | YGL130 (diesel and electric engine) | YGM150T (diesel engine) | YGM153 (diesel and electric engine) |
| Drilling diameter | φ83-φ130mm | φ90-φ150mm | φ83-φ165mm |
| Drilling depth | 30m | 30m | 30m |
| Rock Hardness | f=6～20 | f=6～20 | f=6～20 |
| Travelling Speed | 2.5km/h | 2.5km/h | 2.5km/h |
| Climbing ability | 30º | 30º | 30º |
| Electric System | 24V | 24V | 24V |
| Power type | Diesel engine+ electric engine | Diesel engine | Diesel engine+ electric engine |
| Diesel tank capacity | 70（L） | 70（L） | 70（L） |
| Oil tank capacity | 109（L） | 148（L） | 155（L） |
| Total machine weight | 3.7t | 5.2t | 5.8t |
Features of Crawler DTH Drilling Rigs
- All-terrain self-propelled: The tracked chassis has a climbing ability of up to 30°, allowing for smooth passage on gravel, mud, and mountainous terrain, and eliminating the need for hoisting during multi-point relocation.
- High-efficiency deep-hole drilling: Equipped with a high-frequency impactor as standard, it achieves drilling speeds of 25-40 m/h in hard rock, with a maximum drilling depth of 30 meters and a hole verticality error of ≤1%.
- Dry and environmentally friendly dust control: An integrated pulse dust removal system ensures zero dust spillage throughout the drilling process, meeting the environmental protection standards for open-pit mines.
- Intelligent and labor-saving operation: Centralized control from the cab allows one person to complete all operations, reducing worker fatigue.
- Multi-diameter adaptability: By changing different sizes of impactors and drill bits, it can drill holes with diameters ranging from 80-165 mm, suitable for blasting holes, anchor bolt holes, and grouting holes.
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YG Small DTH Drilling Machine Introduction
A small DTH drilling machine is a kind of efficient and flexible drilling equipment, mainly used in geotechnical engineering, mining engineering, water conservancy engineering, and other fields. It is small in size, light in weight, easy to operate, and is particularly suitable for small spaces and field operations. Click here to know the DTH drilling machine price.
DTH Drilling Machine Parameters:
| DTH mining drill rig | |||
| Model | YG70 | YG100 | YG120 |
| Drilling Diameter | 55-90mm | 65-130mm | 65-180mm |
| Drilling Depth | ≥15m | ≥25m | ≥40m |
| Power | 3kw | 4kw | 5.5kw |
| Drill Rod Diameter | 42mm | 50mm | 60mm |
| Drill Rod Quantity | 15pcs | 20pcs | 20pcs |
| Air Consumption | 4.5m3/min | 6m3/min | 10m3/min |
| Air compressor | 3.5/7 | 7/7 | 10/7 |
Features of Small Down-the-Hole Drill Rigs
- Small size and lightweight: easy to carry and operate, suitable for various complex terrain operations.
- Powerful power: high-performance hydraulic system, high drilling efficiency, can drill through hard rock formations.
- Easy operation: humanized control system, easy for operators to master.
- Easy maintenance: simple structure, easy maintenance.
- Strong adaptability: can be matched with a variety of drilling tools, suitable for drilling operations in different rock formations and hole diameters.
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In Which Fields Are Down-the-Hole Drilling Rigs Suitable for Use, And How Should One Choose the Appropriate Model?
| Application Areas | Typical Scenarios | Recommended Models |
| Mining blasting hole drilling | Bench blasting holes in open-pit coal mines, copper mines, iron mines, and gold mines | Crawler Type |
| Quarry extraction | Drilling and splitting operations in granite, limestone, and basalt quarries | Crawler Type |
| Water well drilling | Irrigation wells, rural drinking water wells, and geothermal wells | Crawler Type or Outrigger Type (Specialized water well drilling rigs available) |
| Slope anchoring engineering | Anchor bolt/cable bolt holes in highway slopes, railway subgrades, and high mine slopes | Crawler Type or Outrigger Type (depending on specific needs) |
| Tunnel engineering | Pre-pipe roof holes and anchor bolt holes in highway tunnels, subway tunnels, and water conservancy tunnels | Small Crawler Type |
| Foundation pit support | Jet grouting pile pilot holes and anchor bolt holes in urban underground spaces and deep foundation pits | Outrigger Type |
| Geological exploration | Core sampling or sampling boreholes in mineral resource exploration and engineering geological surveys | Outrigger Type |
| Photovoltaic/wind power foundations | Pilot holes for solar photovoltaic pile foundations and anchor bolt holes for wind power tower foundations | Crawler Type |
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Case Studies of Projects Completed by Customers in Peru and Ghana Using YG’s Down-the-Hole Drilling Rigs
Case Study 1: Tracked Drilling Rig Project in a Peruvian Open-Pit Iron Mine
- Client Background: An open-pit iron mine in southern Peru required drilling a large number of blasting holes. The mine’s terrain was rugged, and the drilling sites were scattered. Previously used split-type drilling rigs were inefficient and had high labor costs.
- Pain Points: Split-type drilling rigs were slow to relocate, resulting in short daily effective drilling time; manual labor was intensive, and recruitment was difficult; poor borehole verticality led to unsatisfactory blasting results.
- Solution: Purchased two tracked down-the-hole drilling rigs, equipped with a dry dust collection system and high-pressure impactors.
- Implementation Results: The tracked rigs were self-propelled for relocation, increasing daily drilling efficiency by 2.5 times, with a single rig achieving over 200 meters of daily footage; operation required only one person, reducing labor costs by 60%; high borehole verticality resulted in uniform blasting block size, and subsequent crushing efficiency was also improved.
- Customer Testimonial: “The tracked drilling rig is incredibly efficient, quick to deploy, saves manpower, and produces excellent borehole quality, completely exceeding our expectations. It was a very worthwhile investment.”
Case Study 2: Ghana Small Gold Mine Outrigger Drilling Rig Project
- Customer Background: A small gold mine in northern Ghana, located in a mountainous area with inaccessible roads, preventing large equipment from entering. Only simple manual rock drilling was possible, resulting in extremely low efficiency.
- Pain Points: Rugged mountain roads prevented the transport of large equipment; manual rock drilling was slow, costly, and posed significant safety risks; limited budget prevented the purchase of large tracked drilling rigs.
- Solution: Purchased 6 small outrigger down-the-hole drilling rigs, which could be disassembled and manually transported uphill, along with a mobile air compressor.
- Implementation Results: After disassembly, the rigs could be easily transported uphill for smooth on-site construction; drilling speed was 8 times faster than manual rock drilling, while costs were lower; the all-pneumatic structure was stable and durable, with minimal malfunctions even in the harsh mining environment.
- Customer Review: “This small drilling rig perfectly solved our problem of accessing the mountainous area. It is inexpensive, durable, and its efficiency is significantly improved, making it very suitable for our small mine.”
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Frequently Asked Questions about YG Down-the-Hole Drilling Rigs
A1: For large and medium-sized open-pit mines, concentrated drilling sites, and long project durations, choose the tracked model for higher efficiency and less hassle. For small mines, confined spaces, and scattered construction work, choose the small down-the-hole drilling rig for lower cost and greater flexibility.
A2: It mainly depends on the model type, drilling specifications, impactor configuration, and dust collection system. The smaller outrigger model has the lowest cost, while the higher-spec tracked model is more expensive. Choose the configuration that best suits your needs.
A3: It is mainly suitable for medium-hard and hard rocks, such as granite, basalt, limestone, and sandstone. The harder the rock formation, the more significant the efficiency advantage compared to ordinary drilling rigs.
A4: Yes, down-the-hole (DTH) drilling rigs rely on compressed air to drive the impactor and slag removal, requiring a matching air compressor with the appropriate air volume. These can be purchased individually or as a complete set; we will help you find the appropriate specifications.
A5: Yes, they are easy to source. All YG models use industry-standard impactors and drill bits, readily available in the local market. Special accessories are shipped directly from the manufacturer, with delivery within 7-10 days.
A6: Not difficult. The small models are all pneumatically operated, and the tracked models have a centralized cab operation. The structure is simple, and the logic is clear. Ordinary workers can become proficient in operation within 1-3 days; no specialized technicians are required.
A7: The basic price only includes the main unit and standard drilling tools, excluding the air compressor. You can choose a complete machine + air compressor package as needed; package purchases offer better value and effectively reduce overall procurement costs.
A8: Bulk purchase discounts are available. When purchasing multiple tracked or small down-the-hole drilling rigs, you can enjoy benefits such as tiered pricing, free consumables, and reduced logistics costs, making it suitable for engineering teams to stock up in bulk.