The construction process of self-drilling anchor bolts differs significantly from that of ordinary anchor bolts. The construction of ordinary self-drilling anchor bolts requires multiple progressive steps such as repeated drilling, placing the anchor bars, and grouting. In contrast, self-drilling anchor bolts use an integrated approach of simultaneous drilling and grouting. As a result, the construction equipment used for these two methods is different, and the performance requirements for the equipment also vary greatly.
Next, this article will focus on introducing the key construction equipment for self-drilling anchor bolts – drilling rigs. It will provide a detailed elaboration on the types, selection criteria, routine maintenance, and advantages of drilling rigs to offer valuable references when choosing a suitable drilling rig. First, let’s learn the types of construction equipment commonly used in self-drilling anchor bolt construction.
Types and Application Scenarios of Construction Equipment for Self-drilling Anchor Bolts
Hand-held Rock Drill
- Usage Introduction: The hand-held device is used in conjunction with air legs or sliding supports to prevent the operator from getting extremely fatigued during construction and to avoid limiting construction efficiency. The air leg is placed on the sliding support and usually supports the drilling rig by being connected approximately vertically near the crank handle at the rear of the drilling rig.
- Application Scenarios: When the project scale is small, the construction working face is narrow, especially when the overhead space is limited and the entrance size is restricted, this drilling rig can play its unique advantages. In terms of drilling, it is suitable for working conditions with a drilling diameter of Φ42 – Φ46 and a hole depth of less than 4 meters and is commonly used in self-drilling anchor bolt construction projects of R22, R25, and R32 models.
Guide-rail Rotary drilling rig
- Usage Introduction: It is rod-connected rock-drilling equipment for small-diameter medium-deep holes. With the help of a truss, it can drill rock holes at various angles on the rock walls of any hillside and in roadways. It has a wide range of applications and can be used for slope protection of mountain bodies, rock wall reinforcement, grouting anchoring, and drilling low-level horizontal rock holes and highway cable-crossing holes during open-pit bench rock drilling.
- Application Scenarios: In the construction of self-drilling anchor bolts, when there is a demand for a drilling diameter greater than Φ46, the guide-rail rotary drilling rig is the ideal choice. This type of drilling rig is especially suitable for tunnel excavation scenarios and is widely used in the systematic and radial support of self-drilling anchor bolts, effectively ensuring the construction quality and progress under specific working conditions.
Three-boom drilling jumbo
- Usage Introduction: The boom of the jumbo is adjusted to the designed position by the trolley, and then drilling starts. The three-boom rock-distilling jumbo can perform drilling, self-drilling anchor bar installation, and grouting simultaneously, greatly improving construction efficiency.
- Application Scenarios: In the construction of self-drilling anchor bolts for large-scale projects, when facing the construction conditions of a large cross-section in a tunnel, a rock-drilling jumbo or a hydraulic bolting jumbo is a more suitable choice. With its powerful performance, this type of equipment is suitable for self-drilling roof pipe shed construction, fully meeting the requirements for construction efficiency and quality when the project scale is large and effectively promoting the smooth progress of the project.
Crawler drilling rig
- Usage Introduction: The crawler drilling rig is easy to move and can quickly adjust its position, making it suitable for anchor bolt construction at different angles.
- Application Scenarios: It is commonly used in foundation pit support projects of self-drilling anchor bolts.
Excavator-converted drilling rig
- Usage Introduction: It is mounted on an excavator, and the rock drill is installed on a long mechanical arm, and used in situations beyond the construction scope of ordinary drilling rigs.
- Application Scenarios: It is mainly used in the application of self-drilling anchor bolts in high-slope protection.

Crane-converted drilling rig
- Usage Introduction: It is mounted on an electric mechanical arm or a crane basket and for use in hard-to-access places. An additional diesel generator set and hydraulic power source are required.
- Application Scenarios: This approach is widely adopted when the construction entity has both a crane and an electric mechanical arm and is specifically implemented in slope support using self-drilling anchor bolts.
Full-hydraulic Top-impact Rotary Crawler drilling rig
- Usage Introduction: It adopts innovative hydraulic and rotating devices. Thanks to the unique comacchio radio control system, this machine is fully remote-controlled.
- Application Scenarios: It is generally suitable for the construction of large-diameter self-drilling anchor bars and is mainly used for anchor drilling and general integration. It provides a variety of rotary heads, hydraulic hammers, double-head systems, water, and mud pumps, and is suitable for any type of rotary and rotary percussion drilling.
After getting a clear understanding of the various types of construction equipment for self-drilling anchor bolts, it is extremely crucial to select a suitable drilling rig according to the specific requirements of the actual project and thus clarify the selection criteria. Next, let’s learn about the selection criteria for drilling rigs.
Selection Criteria for Construction Equipment for Self-drilling Anchor Bolts
The construction of self-drilling anchor bolts requires the selection of a suitable drilling rig. The choice of a proper drilling rig mainly depends on the following factors:
- Project scale
- Working face of the construction site and the entrance size of the working face (working face space environment)
- Surrounding rock conditions and soil conditions (geological conditions)
- Drilling depth

Routine Maintenance of Construction Equipment for Self-drilling Anchor Bolts
To fully leverage the maximum efficiency of the drilling rig in project construction, in addition to accurately selecting a suitable drilling rig model, it is equally essential to perform routine maintenance on the drilling rig. Routine maintenance mainly covers two key steps: cleaning and maintenance.
Cleaning
- After the construction is completed, the slurry in the grouting equipment should be drained timely, and then the equipment should be thoroughly cleaned with clean water.
- Use a high-pressure water gun to wash away the sand, cement, and other dirt attached to the outside of the equipment to ensure the equipment’s exterior is clean.
Maintenance
- Daily lubrication: Manage the grease for each lubrication part of the equipment to ensure smooth operation.
- Regular pressure inspection and pressure replenishment: Regularly check the pressure in the working cavity of the hydraulic power head. If necessary, use a special pressure vessel to replenish the pressure to maintain the normal operating pressure of the equipment.
- Bolt tightening: Tighten each bolt strictly according to the specified pre-pre-tightening force to ensure the structural stability of the equipment.
Only by solidly performing the routine maintenance of the drilling rig and ensuring that the drilling rig is always in the best operating condition can it give full play to its due role and fully demonstrate its unique advantages. These advantages are not only the key to ensuring the efficient progress of construction but also an important support for improving project quality and benefits. So, what advantages does the drilling rig have? Let’s take a look.
Advantages of Construction Equipment for Self-drilling Anchor Bolts
Strong Adaptability to Complex Geological Conditions
There is a variety of construction equipment for self-drilling anchor bolts, which can be flexibly selected according to different geological conditions, especially showing remarkable advantages in anchoring construction in complex geological environments. Meanwhile, the construction equipment is suitable for special geological environments such as fractured rock formations and loose rock and soil layers, and can effectively handle complex stratum conditions that are difficult to deal with, such as clay, silty clay, mixed rock and soil, miscellaneous fill, and cobblestones, ensuring the smooth implementation of anchoring operations.
Diverse Drilling Methods
According to different geological characteristics, the corresponding type of construction equipment can be selected and matched with the rotary drilling or rotary impact drilling process. It is worth emphasizing that this process supports the simultaneous implementation of drilling and grouting. By grouting to fill the rock fractures, it can not only expand the diameter of the self-drilling anchor bolts, but also significantly improve the anchoring efficiency.
Excellent Terrain Adaptability
The construction equipment for self-drilling anchor bolts has a powerful drilling capacity and is especially suitable for drilling operations in high-hardness rock layers, such as sandstone, limestone, conglomerate, iron ore, granite, etc. At the same time, the construction equipment can adapt to various complex working conditions.
Whether it is a steep slope, a high-altitude restricted environment, or an undulating terrain, efficient and stable construction can be achieved through the flexible selection of supporting equipment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the construction equipment for self-drilling anchor bolts comes in a wide variety. From the hand-held rock drill suitable for small-scale and complex space operations to the three-boom rock-drilling jumbo capable of handling large-scale projects and large-cross-section construction, each type has its unique application scenarios, providing diverse options for projects of different scales and conditions.
In terms of selection criteria, factors such as project scale, construction environment, and drilling requirements need to be comprehensively considered to ensure that the selected drilling rig can meet the actual needs and complete the operations efficiently. As for routine maintenance, whether it is cleaning after construction or maintenance measures such as daily lubrication, regular pressure inspection, and bolt tightening, they are all crucial for ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the drilling rig and extending its service life.
Moreover, the self-drilling anchor bolt construction equipment has many advantages, which enable it to play an important role in the field of anchoring construction and provide a solid guarantee for the smooth progress of various projects. Through a comprehensive understanding of the types, selection criteria, routine maintenance, and advantages of drilling rigs, we can make better use of self-drilling anchor bolt construction equipment and improve the quality and efficiency of project construction.