Specialized Services for Drag Line Excavators and Mining Applications
Advanced Control Systems
Dragline control systems have evolved alongside decades of significant advances in technology, leading now to a world in which excavators largely depend on digital systems and computers. DCS draws upon a vast amount of experience in establishing control systems as a mix of the incredible amount of expertise and collaboration that has been achieved within its ranks, along with a mutually beneficial relationship with a multitude of mines, which have served as laboratories for DCS innovation.
Fundamental Control System Improvements
The extent that DCS has improved the control system dynamics and flow has largely been accomplished independently of drive and PLC upgrades. Several modifications have been introduced, which serve as a substantial improvement between an operator input and excavator output.
Simplification of Control Through the Newest PLC/Drive Technology
We have found that the newest Siemens DC drives, referred to as "Sinamics DCM Drives" or "6RA80s," represent a double-edged sword. Regarding the DC outputs, general drive control architecture, and physical sizing, the 6RA80s remain fairly conventional and are easy to install in place of an existing 6RA70 or 6RA24. This has become an important aspect because Siemens no longer supports the 6RA80s' predecessors, and they are difficult and expensive to obtain.
Engineering and Electrical Service
DCS is ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist our customers with scheduled and unscheduled electrical service. We provide this with a tightly-knit, dedicated group of field service engineers, technicians, and electricians. We service mining equipment in a variety of functions and in projects as large as a monthlong complete machine rebuild or as small as a quick, remote diagnosis of a machine’s behavior.
Dragline Electrical Complete Installation
DCS is fully capable of providing all electrical equipment and control systems on a dragline, and we successfully turnaround a complete electrical wiring upgrade on 2 to 6 draglines per year. We are restless in continuing to improve and streamline our upgrades, and our installations utilize increasing craftsmanship and durability. Our electrical prints are more reliable than ever, and we have been able to make our installations and programs consistent across many machines.
Electrical Repair
Failure of electrical equipment or wiring is never anticipated and always inconvenient. DCS is able to mobilize very quickly and procure parts through an extensive network of distributors and other mines and provide a solution as rapidly as possible. We are often used when substations need to be repaired or when old breakers fail to protect excavator cabling.
Dragline Tuning and Audits
DCS maintains periodic checkups and visits on draglines to ensure that the control system and DC circuits are functioning properly. DCS works together as a network of dedicated employees to provide analysis of "XYs" and stripline charts that DCS personnel record on draglines and the experience of maintaining a presence on so many draglines enables us to quickly relate certain dragline situations to those we have encountered in the past.
We are able to compensate for a wide variety of issues that occur as mining excavators age. We can selectively adjust references to compensate for phenomena such as swing gear lash or propel shoe issues, and we can optimize controller settings to other mechanical and electrical conditions.
Advanced Dragline Diagnostics
DCS is able to leverage emerging resources such as vibration and temperature analysis to better understand the behavior of draglines. Unresolved issues have been successfully identified through the use of these technologies, and as they are adopted on draglines DCS will continue to improve the ability of end-users to monitor them. DCS is also able to provide in-depth analysis of computer equipment and networking on mining equipment.