Mining equipment is the most important in mining engineering, serving as the core. So far, with the development of mineral resources, various equipment is being utilized in the extraction process, which poses higher demands on the usage and operational techniques of mining equipment. Improper operations and unreasonable use will inevitably lead to a significant reduction in the service life of mining equipment, severely affecting the efficiency of mineral resource extraction and directly increasing the extraction costs for mining enterprises. Therefore, it is essential to standardize the use of mining equipment, conducting regular maintenance and servicing, which has significant positive implications for the long-term development of mining enterprises.
1. Analysis of Key Factors Affecting the Service Life of Mining Equipment
Quality Issues
Quality issues are always of paramount importance. When mining enterprises purchase mining equipment, they should select products that meet the standards and not engage in private modifications or designs. If quality problems arise, they will not only affect the service life of the equipment itself, more seriously, but also may lead to safety accidents at the mining site, endangering the lives of workers. Therefore, before equipment is used, it must be comprehensively tested by professionals to ensure that its functions, performance, and operational requirements are met and to check for any quality issues before they are used. Quality is one of the key factors affecting the service life of mining engineering machinery and equipment, and mining enterprises must not blindly cut costs at this stage. In addition, if it is necessary to design mining engineering machinery and equipment to meet the actual needs of mining, an expert design team must be formed to conduct a comprehensive and detailed design of the required functions and use materials that meet quality standards. Finally, during the procurement or custom production of mining engineering machinery and equipment, all production processes must be supervised to prevent quality issues.
Human Factors
In the use of mining equipment, improper operation by users will significantly shorten the service life of the equipment. Human factors are one of the most challenging aspects affecting the service life of equipment. Unlike quality issues, human factors are more difficult to control and standardize. The technical skills, professional quality, and mental awareness of operators directly determine their daily usage behavior. Therefore, providing targeted professional training for operators to enhance their technical skills, improving their overall professional quality, and strengthening their awareness of equipment maintenance and care are all important means of daily maintenance and service. Mining enterprises must pay attention to the impact of human factors on the service life of mining equipment. Under reasonable coordination, the service life of equipment should be maximized to bring the greatest economic benefits to the enterprise.
2. Discussion on the Daily Maintenance and Servicing
Timely Diagnosis of the Status of Mining Equipment
By using detection technology to promptly eliminate safety hazards of machinery and equipment and prevent sudden failures that affect normal production, it can also effectively extend the service life of equipment. The main detection technologies include the following items.
- Non-destructive Testing Technology: Non-destructive testing technology is already widely used in maintenance work. It can detect developing cracks in the main shaft, thereby preventing sudden shaft breakage accidents.
- Iron Spectrum Analysis: By using an iron spectrum analyzer to determine the particle size and quantity of metal shavings in lubricating oil, the working condition of gears or bearings can be judged.
- Temperature, Vibration, and Noise Monitoring: Experienced personnel can use these methods to judge the working condition of equipment. Alternatively, the operating condition of the equipment can be comprehensively assessed through frequency spectrum analysis of these parameters, thereby determining the appropriate timing for equipment maintenance.
Strengthening Supervision in the Production and Design Process
Quality issues of mining equipment directly affect their service life. During the production and design of equipment, comprehensive supervision and design guidance must be provided, and a quality system for the production and design of mining equipment must be established. The quality awareness of production and design personnel should be enhanced. Products that do not meet the standards should be re-manufactured and not put into use directly. After the production and design are completed, repeated testing and debugging should be conducted, and wear-resistant and durable parts and components should be replaced to improve the service life of equipment from a physical quality perspective. In addition, the service life of equipment should be analyzed from a technical standpoint to ensure it is in harmony with advanced technology, achieving the most rational state.
Implementing Technical Operating Standards
Irregular operations by technical personnel in mining engineering will significantly increase the load and wear on equipment, thereby accelerating their damage and severely affecting their service life. Therefore, in the daily maintenance of mining equipment, it is essential to establish standardized technical operating procedures and prohibit non-compliant use. Regular professional skills training should be provided to all equipment operators to enhance their vocational skills. Additionally, practical demonstrations can be conducted to strengthen their maintenance awareness and encourage them to actively participate in the maintenance of equipment. A comprehensive maintenance system for equipment can also be established, with each operator taking turns to inspect and maintain the equipment and keep detailed maintenance records. If any issues arise, they can be quickly tracked down and resolved to ensure the normal use of equipment, thereby extending their service life. Finally, a dedicated person should be assigned at the mining site to provide guidance and supervision on the use of equipment. Any non-compliant operations should be immediately corrected to avoid unnecessary wear and tear caused by human factors.
Other Considerations in Equipment Maintenance and Servicing
The maintenance and service of mining equipment must be based on actual influencing factors, and corresponding maintenance standards should be established. First and foremost, the basic principles of equipment use must be clarified: assigning specific personnel, locations, times, quantities, and machines. Since mining machinery and equipment are generally used in open-pit mining, weather conditions can significantly impact their service life. Therefore, establishing strict environmental usage standards is also an important part of daily maintenance. Secondly, rapid repair methods should be incorporated into routine maintenance. Rapid repair methods are one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways in machinery and equipment maintenance and are also an effective way to extend the service life of equipment. For example, techniques such as part rotation, brush plating, and adhesive repair can be used. Finally, properly handling the relationship between the service life of equipment and technological progress is also a key aspect of daily maintenance. In mining engineering, the service life of equipment includes not only the physical service life but also the technological service life. Both aspects need to be considered in maintenance. The relationship between the two must be coordinated. Under the premise of meeting usage requirements, the effective application of technology should be ensured, and the service life of both aspects should be balanced to achieve the most rational utilization of equipment. This is not just about extending the service life, but about reasonably extending the service life.
