Mining: tough sensors for better productivity

For these and similarly demanding applications, the German inertial sensor specialist ASC Sensors has developed a particularly robust range of high precision yet extremely robust and flexible sensors: the ASC OS series.

Sensors improve mining efficiency

From the benefits realized for these industries in challenging settings, it is a small step to expecting similar advances for the mining industry.

Particularly, as high-precision monitoring, guidance and control systems for drilling, excavation, stabilizing shafts or modeling surfaces won’t just improve your results, as such. In addition, they will typically help achieve the desired outcomes faster, with less disruptions, overheating, wear and tear and the associated loss of time, effort and precious resources compared to traditional approaches.

Critical robustness and precision

From the world’s deserts to its rainforests, equator to polar circles, from mountains to the depths of the ocean: Mining projects are frequently carried out in the most extreme locations, geological and climatic conditions. Therefore, beyond their precision and long-term stability, sensors utilized in demanding settings like mining must feature extreme robustness, too.

Like the ASC OS series, a range of highly accurate uniaxial, biaxial and triaxial accelerometers to meet the toughest measuring tasks while resisting the harshest conditions. They are based on two proven MEMS technologies and capacitive operating principle. With available measurement ranges from ±2 g to ±400 g, the LN (Low Noise) models of the ASC OS series provide outstanding noise performance from 7 to 400 μg/√Hz. Their high signal-to-noise ratio, in particular, is essential for the demanding capturing of the smallest frequencies and amplitudes.

The MF (Medium Frequency) accelerometers provide measurement ranges from ±2 g to ±200 g while featuring a wide frequency response range of 0 Hz to 7 kHz (±3 dB) and extremely robust design with shock resistance of up to 6,000 g. In addition, the integrated electronic circuitry enables a differential analog voltage output of ± 2.7 V (FSO, MF) or ± 4.0 V (FSO, LN) and flexible power supply voltage from 5 (MF) or 6 (LN) to 40 VDC.

Diverse applications in challenging settings

With operational temperatures ranging from -40 °C to +100 °C, these cost-efficient sensors feature robust, reliable stainless-steel housings of protection class IP68 and an integrated cable of configurable length with connectors. This compact housing makes the OS series ideal for tough applications and environments, such as mining or geothermal energy drilling as well as other deep and surface drilling, high-frequency sheet pile vibrating/driving, ramming, pressing, hydraulic hammering, trench cutting or soil mixing techniques, to name but a few that may benefit from ASC’s flexible, cost-effective sensor innovations.

In all these endeavors, the use of appropriate sensor technology to ensure precise results is of crucial importance. Knowing exact drilling paths or working patterns – and keeping neatly to them – is essential. So are shock and heat resistance, to prevent strong vibrations and high temperatures from skewing measurements and outcomes.

Quartz-based sensor solutions

In addition to its own capacitive sensor solutions, ASC also represents high-performance servo quartz-based accelerometers manufactured by Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd (JAE). These, too, feature high temperature ranges, significant shock and vibration resistance as well as low/medium measurement ranges. Their resolution of 1 µg, low noise and excellent long-term stability of scale factor and bias makes them ideally suited for inclination measurement and other high-demand applications in mining and geological drilling.

For ASC customers, this partnership means that they may now benefit from a combined portfolio of cutting-edge inertial sensor solutions and both companies’ dedication to excellent service – conveniently delivered through one supplier, providing the latest tailor-made, sustainable solutions adding business value and minimizing risks for the mining industry and adjacent sectors.