The new Cat MD6200 rotary blasthole drill from Caterpillar is designed as a production drill with the flexibility to do pre-split drilling—all in a package that is the company's most transportable rotary drill yet.

The versatile MD6200 is designed to perform rotary or DTH drilling in single-pass or multi-pass modes and can drill holes of 127 to 200mm (5.0 to 7.87in) in diameter.

Caterpillar's MD6200 offers the ability to drill at a negative angle up to 15 degrees, which enables matching the slope of the highwall for pre-split drilling. The result is cleaner highwalls with less waste material going to downstream operations. For traditional production drilling, the mast can tilt from vertical out to 30 degrees. The operator can adjust the mast angle in increments of five degrees from the touch screen in the cab—with no special setup required.

Due to its compact size, the Cat MD6200 can be transported over the road with the mast on, so it can simply roll onto a truck when it is time to move to another site. The new drill also has the smallest shipping envelope of any drill in its class. In some configurations, parts outside the shipping envelope can be removed without the use of lifting tools, allowing two people to prepare it by hand for shipping.

The drill also offers best-in-class manoeuvrability. Its extremely compact working envelope and powerful undercarriage get it into position faster, too, reducing the time spent accessing drill patterns and moving between holes. The Cat 336 excavator-style undercarriage provides superior durability, tractive effort and drawbar pull.

A Cat C18 engine powers the drill and is rated to meet the needs of any mine site. It is available in US EPA Tier 4 Final configuration and in US EPA Tier 2 equivalent configuration to suit regional needs. The Cat power train delivers high efficiency and reliability expected from the manufacturer.

Both high-pressure and low-pressure compressor configurations offer variable volume air control, perfectly matching the compressor output to the drill tool and application needs. The system also lowers stand-by pressures while the machine is idle, further improving fuel efficiency.

Proven Cat electronics control the MD6200 and offer technicians the same architecture used on other much larger Cat machines. Integrated machine protection is featured and interlocks help keep operators safe and the machine up and running by preventing potential failures and operating errors.

With Product Link Elite, drill health metrics are easy to download, and managers can track drill performance in real time. The MD6200 electronics also provide a platform for automated controls.

The MD6200 is designed to promote operator comfort and productivity. The cab offers ergonomic controls, which help the operator remain productive and efficient through the entire shift. Optional upgrades, such as a heated, ventilated seat with heavy-duty suspension and dual-pane glass, help operators stay comfortable during the working day. Multifunction joystick controls and touchscreens are intuitive to use, too. In addition, the three standard cameras give the operator awareness of the work area.

Cat technology options make the MD6200 even more productive and efficient. Drill Assist offers a number of automated functions, including auto level, auto retract jacks, auto raise and lower mast, and auto drill. The drill depth monitoring system helps to reduce over- and under-drilling—to optimise productivity and fragmentation.

The MD6200 is also ready for Cat Terrain for drilling, which uses state-of-the-art guidance technologies to help operators drill holes in the exact location and specified by the plan, resulting in smoother, safer and more efficient blasting.