Rippa®

Evolving mining with the latest PDC bit technology.

FASTER PERFORMANCE


LONGER BIT LIFE


BETTER SAFETY

Ulterra Rippa PDC bit standing in rocks
Rippa®

OVERVIEW

RIPPA® PDC Bits Are Built for Australian Mining

Introducing RIPPA® — a PDC drill bit made especially for drill and blast bench mining in Australia. Using state-of-the-art PDC diamond technology, RIPPA bits use torque to drill further, faster, and smoother than existing roller cone bits. RIPPA reduces maintenance costs from wear and tear on equipment, improving safety on the job site and saving time.

Top 5 reasons to use PDC bits:

  1. 1. Increased safety from smoother drilling
  2. 2. Longer bit life
  3. 3. Increased ROP
  4. 4. Straighter holes
  5. 5. Better collaring
Ulterra Rippa PDC bit laying on table in shop
Rippa®

PDC DRILL BITS

The Next Generation in Drilling Technology

PDC bits drill with Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) cutters. These PDC cutters make the difference because they drill using torque to shear the rock instead of crushing it. This more efficient drilling method means drilling faster and further from the same energy. 

PDC bits feature a solid construction made from super hard cast materials with no moving parts to fail. These advanced materials enable PDC bits to last longer and drill more meterage than traditional rock bits before needing service.

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Two men in safety gear standing on rocks
Rippa®

SAFETY

Safer Drilling from the Ground Up

RIPPA bits create a new level of drilling safety due to their torque-driven drilling action that shears instead of crushes. Drilling more with less weight also means less energy buildup in the system, which makes a noticeable and dramatic impact on overall drilling safety and comfort. The rig experiences much less strain and doesn’t shake as violently while still exceeding penetration rates.

The smoother, shear drilling style reduces all forms of vibration, virtually eliminating rod rattle. Finally, the longer bit life reduces the number of bit swaps per bench, keeping you focused on drilling, not maintenance, from the safety of the driller’s cab.

Ulterra Rippa PDC bit standing on rock
Rippa®

SMOOTH DRILLING

More Drilling Feel, No Hassles

Drilling with a RIPPA PDC bit is smoother, cleaner, and more efficient than drilling with roller cone bits. RIPPA bits eradicate rod rattle in the cab to let you focus on the task at hand. They last significantly longer when paired with our SoftDrive™ tool. By using the cleaner and more efficient shearing technology to drill rock, RIPPA bits reduce bit swaps for significant safety improvements.

Drilling at Mine
Rippa®

BETTER COLLARING

A Higher Quality Hole for Consistent Blasting

RIPPA PDC bits drill more precisely for better hole quality. This directly translates into higher-quality collaring on blast holes for the mining industry, making blasting safer and more predictable. The blasted rock is also more uniform, reducing the overall time spent working to clear a blasted bench.

Ulterra Rippa PDC bit standing in truck bed
Rippa®

HIGH PERFORMANCE

Built for Higher Penetration Rates

Ulterra builds our mining bits for speed and durability. We use advanced wear and fluid simulation software to engineer each bit’s cutting structure and achieve maximum performance for the target application. We’ve proven in a head-to-head comparison that with Ulterra bits, you’ll drill more feet faster while saving costs. 

How it Cuts

Shear


Lifespan

Over 15 km


Average Speed

200 m/hr


Lost Cone Risk

No


Vibration

Low

Ulterra Rippa PDC bit standing on table in shop
Rippa®

DRILLING SCIENCE

Roller-Cone vs. PDC

PDC SHEARING

Ulterra PDC bits use a shearing motion to cut the rock instead of crushing it. In all types of rock, this means higher drilling efficiency that traditional roller cone bits can’t match. Using shear force to cut rock, you can drill twice as fast and twice as smooth while applying the same weight.

ROLLER CONE CRUSHING

Traditional roller cone or tricone bits drill with a crushing motion to repeatedly pulverize rock until the cuttings are small enough to travel up the annulus. This method for drilling has high requirements on WOB and generates violent vibrations that ricochet up the drill string due to the larger load placed on the bit while drilling.