Evaluation of the Quality of Conical Picks and the Possibility of Predicting the Costs of Their Use

Currently, the user’s choice of a conical pick involves specifying its geometric and material parameters, taking into account the place and conditions of its work. The selection is then made, usually on the basis of solely one criterion, which is the price. Thus, at the stage of both purchase and operation, the quality of picks and their suitability for a specific machine and the processed mineral are not assessed. Therefore, a method was developed to enable conducting tests that determine the geometric parameters of a pick, the types of materials of the pick body and WC insert as well as the pick wear rate (intensity) in a laboratory workstation. The wear rate (intensity) is described by the C2 index – the smaller is its value, the slower is the pick’s wear. The C2 index has been used to forecast the wear of picks and to determine their unit price and operating costs. This allows for precise determination of investment requirements and a proper selection of the pick.