TS. Loader Types
- iarmstrong
Overview
Every project must have at least one loader type, which is used to calculate Loader Cycle Times and Mining Production Rates.
A Loader is a tool that expends hours to deplete blocks. When, where, and how much it digs is determined by the Agent targets and Fleet assignments (see in the sections that follow).
Once a Loader has been assigned to a movement, then its hours are depleted at the dig rate for the specified truck and material.
Adding Loaders
Loader definitions must be present in Haul Infinity in order for the Scheduler to reference them.
Loader types must be listed in Haul Infinity.
In ATS, loaders can be added using plus icon in the toolbar, or imported directly from Haul Infinity.
Option | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
Adding Loaders manually | To add and remove loader types manually use the green plus and red minus buttons located in the top toolbar. The names in the Loader Type Name column must be consistent with names in Haul Infinity > Loaders. | |
Adding Loaders from Haul Infinity | You can add all or missing loaders from Haul Infinity. For this, use the Add Missing Items button located in the top toolbar. It will find all loaders from Haul Infinity > Loaders step and populate the missing items to the Loader Type Name column. |
Availability Types to Specify
Availability types are calendar-based time usage factors that affect the actual hours of a Loader. They are used to convert calendar time to engine hours and direct scheduling hours.
Availability Type | Description |
|---|---|
Planned Availability (PA) | Affects the Direct Hours, Direct Utilisation and Actual Total Hours of a Loader. |
Unplanned Availability (UPA) | Affects the Direct Hours, Direct Utilisation and Actual Total Hours of a Loader. |
Use of Availability (UA) | Affects the Direct Hours, Direct Utilisation and Actual Total Hours of a Loader. This should be the percentage of time the equipment could have been used but intentionally was not. |
Operator Efficiency (OE) - Power/Engine On. | Affects the Direct Hours, Direct Utilisation and Actual Total Hours of a Loader. |
Productivity Factor (PF) - Power Engine On. | Affects the Direct Hours, Direct Utilisation and Actual Total Hours of a Loader. |
The availability types flagged here will be added to the Calendar as rows, where the values can be entered.
Loader Cycle Time Factor Field
Column Loader Cycle Time Factor Field is used to read a value from the block model, so cycle times can be factored faster or slower for different areas.
Adjust Loader Cycle Time Factor by Time
Flag in Adjust Loader Cycle Time Factor by Time introduces a new row in the Calendar, so cycle times can be factored faster or slower in different periods (ie. wet weather period).
Loadable Trucks
In the Loadable Trucks column, specify which trucks to be loaded by the each Loader type, or flag the “(Select All)” option if this Loader type can load all available Truck types.
Use as Agent
From here we start to get into the Scheduling logic.
Specify whether you want to schedule each of the Loaders individually, which is particularly used in the short-term plans, where more control over the pieces of equipment needed.
Flag in Use as Agent column creates a 1:1 mapping between an Agent and a Loader.
Notes
Agent and Loader utilisation are calculated differently.
Loader utilisation is a target instantaneous utilisation while working.
Agent utilisation includes non-working time.
If a loader only works 70% of the time, then the Agent utilisation will be 70% of the loader utilisation.
When using Loaders as Agents, the user may enter an Agent Rate in each period, and ATS will automatically scale that to an appropriate target for the period duration.
Refer to TS. Agents and to TS. Scheduling FAQ for more information.
Example
Wheel Loader 994 is used not for ex-pit ore movements, but for stockpiles rehandle fleet only (which is the software default fleet - Stockpile Reclaimer), it’s not going to be used as an Agent.
Detailed explanation of Use as Agent option for Loaders is available in the section Schedule Logic > TS. Loaders, Fleets and Agents.
Enforce Matched Rates
The Enforce Match Rates option is used to enforce the software to apply loading equipment production rates set in the Calendar. Meaning, the rate with which you are picking blocks equals the rate in which you are going to deplete them.
Enabled | Disabled |
|---|---|
If this option is enabled, the selected Loader type (used as Agent) productivity equals Production Rate defined in the Calendar (depending on the Haulage Material and Period). Meaning the Rate defined in the Calendar row, where the dig rate is input, will override any rate that is calculated in Haul Infinity. Recommended when using Loader as Agent.
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Productivity = Truck Payload / (Historical Load Time)
Truck Payload / (Spot Time + Swing Times) |
Recommended Method | |
Although the Enforce Matched Rates method provides easier control of the Rates and the Overflow through the manual rates input directly in the Calendar, it is more advantageous to use calculation-based rates from HauI Infinity > Parameters. Recommendation
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