We designed this electronic rockbolt under the requirements of being ultra low cost for very high volume production. It needed to provide a wireless alert under circumstances of over compression, under compression and immediate cave in, utilizing the minimum amount of energy, electronics, and material possible, yet stand up to decades long use of an extreme environment, and extreme forces. The challenge being, adding a much needed level of electronic safety prevention to a dangerous industry while still being competitively priced in the marketplace.
This was a very challenging design where many compromises were made to keep costs low and to purposely shift manufacturing tolerances out of the equation and rely on the assembly procedure to fine tune tight tolerances.
Mining
