In mineral exploration, engineering geology, and geotechnical investigation, picking a suitable drill rig directly decides the project schedule and test data accuracy. If you’re searching for an HQ core drill rig for sale, you need not only large-diameter coring capacity but also full-hydraulic solutions to drill through broken ground and alternating soft-hard formations. Our YG series hydraulic core drilling machine features an integrated mast-rig design, remote-controlled crawler chassis, and top-drive power head, making it top-pick core drilling equipment for exploration teams upgrading old machines. ► Get in touch now for a free site-tailored selection plan and a full technical datasheet!
HQ Core Drill Rig for Sale: Technical Specifications
| Model | YGX-400 | YGX-600 | YGX-800 | YGX-1000 |
| Drilling Depth(M) | 180-400-500 | 200-600-650 | 400-800-1000 | 500-1000-1100 |
| Rated pressure(MPA) | 21 | 21 | 25 | 28 |
| Rated Flow(L/min) | 168 | 192 | 260 | 300 |
| Heat Dissipation Mode | Air cooling+water cooling | |||
| Engine Brand | Yuchai | Yuchai | Yuchai | Cummins |
| Rated power/speed | 78kW/ 2400r/min | 92kW/ 2400r/min | 92kW/ 2400r/min | 154kW/2400r/min |
| Drilling Angle(°) | 0-90 | 45-90 | 45-90 | 45-90 |
| Lifting Force(T) | 12 | 16 | 24 | 30 |
| Feed Force(T) | 6 | 8 | 12 | 15 |
| Hydraulic Mud pump flow | 30-90（L/min） | 30-90（L/min） | 90-180（L/min） | 90-180（L/min） |
| Hydraulic Mud pump power | 4-7(MPA) | 4-7(MPA) | 4-7(MPA) | 4-7(MPA) |
| Dimension | 4000*1900*1800mm | 4000*2000*1800mm | 5500*2100*2000mm | 6000*2200*2400mm |
| Weight | 4.3T | 4.5/5.5T | 6.5T | 7.5T |
From the parameter table, YG rigs adopt a dual cooling system of air cooling plus water cooling. The hydraulic system runs steadily even in hot summer or long continuous shifts. Equipped with Yuchai and Cummins engines, the rig balances low fuel cost and sufficient power to support large-scale HQ coring drilling.
What is the HQ Core Drill Rig?
HQ is a standard wireline diamond coring tool specification set by DCDMA. Dimension details: HQ bit OD:96mm, reamer OD:96mm, drill rod OD:88.9mm, core diameter:63.6mm. Compared with the smaller BQ (core 36.4mm) and NQ (core 47.6mm), the HQ core’s cross-section is nearly double that of NQ’s. For rock mechanic tests, a 63.6mm core can be processed into standard 54mm test samples to finish uniaxial compression, tensile, and elastic modulus tests. Small-sized cores have to be spliced from multiple pieces, and bring unstable test data.
Our YG series hydraulic core drilling machine is optimized for modern wireline coring. The mast and main machine are fixed on one crawler base without an extra field mast assembly. The telescopic mast folds below 6m for legal road transport and extends to 9m on site to hold 6m single drill pipes and cut pipe connection times during tripping. More importantly, its top-drive power head clamps drill pipes directly with a 3.5m max-stroke feed cylinder. No frequent rod reset every 1.5m like traditional spindle drill rigs. When you buy an HQ core drill rig for sale, you gain an efficient platform to make full use of HQ’s large-diameter coring advantages.
HQ, NQ, BQ Difference & Selection Guide
Key dimension data as below:
| Spec | Bit OD(mm) | Core Dia(mm) | Reamer OD(mm) | Rod OD(mm) |
| BQ | 59 | 36.4 | 60 | 55.6 |
| NQ | 75.7 | 47.6 | 75.8 | 69.9 |
| HQ | 96 | 63.6 | 96 | 88.9 |
Three practical selection rules
- Based on project purpose: NQ works for regional mineral survey to mark ore boundary; HQ is mandatory for mine production exploration, reserve audit, and rock parameter collection for design institutes.
- Based on drilling depth: For holes shallower than 300m, HQ costs close to NQ, yet delivers much better core quality. For holes over 600m, use a variable-diameter layout: HQ at top, NQ in the middle, BQ at final depth, which covers the upper weathered layer and lowers the downhole drill string weight.
- Based on ground condition: HQ annular clearance =96-88.9=7.1mm; NQ clearance=75.7-69.9=5.8mm. Larger gap prevents block drop stuck drilling and improves mud circulation, so choose HQ for complicated broken, interbedded, or water-sensitive formations.
Advantages of the YG HQ Core Drill Rig for Sale
- Reliable test data from a large core: 63.6mm core reserves tiny mm-level ore veins, cracks, and fossil structures. For gold and uranium mines, accurate core helps correct ore grade assessment and avoids wrong lean/rich ore judgment.
- Less core abrasion & blockage: Bigger HQ inner barrel leaves more gap between core and barrel wall. Hard, brittle rocks like granite and quartz won’t get scratched during tripping. Built-in pressure gauge tracks inner barrel pressure in real time; operators stop feeding and flush the hole once clog risk appears.
- Perfect match with full-hydraulic top drive: HQ drill string needs tight bore contact, high rigidity, and straight borehole. YG long-guide dual-cylinder top drive keeps the rotary center parallel with the rails, no rod bending from chuck swing on old spindle rigs, and well protects HQ pipe threads.
- Powerful trouble handling: HQ drill pipe wall thickness ~3.6mm with stronger torsion & tension resistance than NQ pipes. When stuck, the YGX-1000 rig offers a max 30-ton lifting force + reverse rotation plus flexible hydraulic impact for much higher stuck release success than mechanical rigs.
Application of the YG HQ Hydraulic Core Drilling Machine
- Mineral Exploration: Ideal for gold, copper, lead-zinc, and non-ferrous mines; large core ensures precise ore grade calculation.
- Engineering Geology Survey: For bridges, tunnels, dams, and large infrastructure, HQ core supports compression & shear strength lab tests.
- Hydrogeology & Geothermal Drilling: Sufficient HQ bore size for pipe setting, hole sealing, and pumping tests.
- Uranium & Radioactive Mineral Drilling: Wide annular gap fits radiation detectors and cuts harmful dust leakage.
Full Hydraulic Top Drive vs Traditional Spindle: How to Select an HQ Core Drill Rig for Your Project
Before purchasing an HQ core drill rig for sale, confirm its drive type; gaps go far beyond price:
| Comparison | Full Hydraulic Top Drive(YG Series) | Traditional Spindle Rig |
| Operation | Single operator moves rig via wireless crawler remote; stepless joystick control reduces labor | Manual gear shift + complicated clutch/brake; manual chuck loading wastes manpower |
| Drilling Efficiency | Adjust speed & torque instantly per ground for optimal cutting | Only 4~6 fixed gears, insufficient speed or torque; penetration drops over 30% |
| Pipe Breakout | 3.5m cylinder stroke, one breakout per run | 1.5~1.8m spindle stroke,2~3 breaks every 2m; auxiliary work takes 20% working time |
| Safety Design | Built-in pressure limit, anti-stuck reverse torque & overwind alarm | Depend totally on operator skill; frequent pipe break or bore collapse from improper operation |
| Maintenance | Regular oil & filter change, cartridge valve for easy part replacement | Many wearable mechanical parts(gearbox/clutch/brake), easy abnormal noise & gear skip |
A full hydraulic rig is the best choice for teams chasing fast footage and a low accident rate. YGX-600 reaches 45~60m daily in standard NQ ground, vs only 25~35m for same-class spindle rigs.
Prevent Stuck & Buried Hole in HQ Hydraulic Coring Machine Operation
Stuck drill string and buried bore are the costliest coring accidents, causing long-time repair or abandoned bore & lost tools. From thousands of YG field cases, 5 core prevention tips are below:
- Keep stable mud performance: Use a rig-mounted adjustable mud pump(30-180L/min) to keep mud upward flow ≥1.2m/s. Funnel viscosity:25-35s, fluid loss＜10ml/30min; add anti-slough agent for water-sensitive mudstone.
- Control tripping speed: Hoisting speed＜0.5m/s in loose/broken/water-sensitive strata to avoid piston suction bore collapse; YG lift cylinder with throttle valve realizes precise speed control.
- Periodic reamer inspection: Replace HQ reamer once OD wears over 0.5mm from the original 96mm; the worn step between the bit & reamer easily locks the pipe in a shrinking bore.
- Stop drilling at abnormal resistance: Halt feed if feed pressure +20% above normal or lifting force spikes. Try slow rotation & lifting while checking pump pressure; YGX-1000 360° reverse power head(max 4000Nm) loosens cuttings-jammed tools effectively.
- Fully clean the whole bottom per run: Pull out all rock cuttings with overshot after core recovery. Residue over 0.5m in HQ large bore compacts into sand bridge and buries drill string during next run-in.
Choosing a qualified HQ core drill rig for sale balances core quality, drilling efficiency, and field safety. The YG series full hydraulic coring machine with integrated mast-crawler, remote control, and top-drive hydraulic system fully meets HQ large-diameter coring demand and outperforms conventional spindle rigs in tough ground adaptation, fault prevention, and easy operation. Our lineup YGX-400~YGX-1000 covers drilling depth 400m~1100m with a customizable HQ/NQ variable diameter scheme. Contact our engineering team for customized selection advice and an on-site rig trial.
