Work instructions for drilling with PD55 pipes

1. Check the drill rig’s condition with the original parts. All parts must be aligned straight from the drill rig through the middle and outer pipe supports (if not, adjust as needed).

2. Remove the bushings (2 pcs) on the lifting arms, then reinstall them after adjustment.

3. Remove the stars in the carousel and replace them with the stars intended for PD55 pipes, then adjust the plates to position 1 from the previous calibration. Calibration cannot be performed with PD55 stars. Test run the carousel to ensure that all positions are correct.

4. Switch from the original neck to the PD55/T45 neck adapter.

5. Load the carousel with 4 PD55 pipes in positions 1, 3, 5, and 7. Place 1 or 2 PD55 pipes in the feed beam (drilling position) and mount the PD55 drill bit onto the pipe in the drilling position.

6. Important! Make sure the pipe always rotates freely and remains centered in the started drill hole. Check that the start position remains intact throughout the entire drilling process. If the feed beam moves, it may cause problems when coupling the pipes.

7. When full drilling depth is reached, retract the drill bit from the bottom of the hole by 5–10 mm to ensure the flow of injection grout. It is sometimes necessary to use the coupling jaws to release the neck adapter from the outermost PD55 pipe.

Work arrangement

To work more efficiently with the PD55 system, it’s important to position the equipment in a way that makes each pipe loading as smooth as possible. You can either use our hoist with one operator for loading, or have two workers load the pipes manually.
Place the pipes as shown in the image below (pipes with external threads facing forward in the same direction as the drill rig).
If you’re using a hoist, make sure it stands stable with evenly distributed weight.

Execution

When the drill rig is loaded, either for 15 m or 18 m, the operator follows the drilling plan and ensures that the drilling remains straight throughout the entire process.

A qualified and experienced operator has no problem drilling and installing a canopy with the PD55. To avoid unnecessary beginner mistakes, such as pipe breakage or damage to machine parts, we recommend taking part in Pretec’s on-site training. With training, you ensure that even first-time use of the PD55 system will run smoothly and with high efficiency right from the start.

There are several types of magazines and drill arms on different rig models. Depending on the drill rig used, some components may need to be replaced, but overall no major modifications are required.