DigiTrak FALCON F5 Operator's Manual

Directional drilling guidance system
Hide thumbs Also See for FALCON F5:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Directional Drilling Guidance System
Operator's Manual
dci@digital-control.com
www.DigiTrak.com

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the FALCON F5 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Summary of Contents for DigiTrak FALCON F5

  • Page 1 Directional Drilling Guidance System Operator’s Manual dci@digital-control.com www.DigiTrak.com...
  • Page 2 DCI’s existing Limited Warranty applicable to all DCI products. DCI may update or correct the information in this manual from time to time. You may find the most recent version of this manual on DCI's website, www.DigiTrak.com.
  • Page 3 49.9391.810.6109 Fax dci.europe@digital-control.com India DTJ 203, DLF Tower B Jasola District Center New Delhi 110025 91.11.4507.0444 91.11.4507.0440 fax dci.india@digital-control.com Russia Молодогвардейская ул., д.4 стр. 1, офис 5 Москва, Российская Федерация 121467 7.499.281.8177 7.499.281.8166 факс dci.russia@digital-control.com DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 4 NCORPORATED Dear Customer, Thank you for choosing a DigiTrak guidance system. We are proud of the equipment we have been designing and building in Washington State since 1990. We believe in providing a unique, high-quality product and standing behind it with world-class customer service and training.
  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Locate Mode Power Off Calibration and AGR 1-Point Calibration In-Ground Calibration View Calibration Above Ground Range (AGR) 15 m Calibration (Optional) Height-Above-Ground (HAG) Settings Depth Units Menu Pitch Units Menu Set Time and Calendar Menu DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 6 Off-Track Locating Target Steering Feasible Target Steering Area Turning Target Steering On Positioning the Receiver as the Target Steering to the Target with the Remote Display Target Steering in Interference Areas Turn Target Steering Off DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 7 Appendix C: Projected Depth Versus Actual Depth and the Fore/Aft Offset Appendix D: Calculating Depth Based on Distance Between FLP and RLP Appendix E: Reference Tables Depth Increase in cm per 3-m Rod Depth Increase in cm per 4.6-m Rod WARRANTY DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 8 IGITAL   ONTROL   NCORPORATED DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual viii...
  • Page 9: Important Safety Instructions

    The following warnings relate generally to the operation of DigiTrak guidance systems. This is not an exhaustive list. Always operate your DigiTrak guidance system in accordance with the manual and be aware of interference that may affect efforts to retrieve accurate data with this guidance system.
  • Page 10: Pre-Drilling Testing

    NCORPORATED Pre-Drilling Testing Before each drilling run, test your DigiTrak guidance system with the transmitter inside the drill head to confirm it is operating properly and providing accurate drill head location and heading information. During drilling, the depth will not be accurate unless: The receiver has been properly calibrated and the calibration has been checked for accuracy so the receiver shows the correct depth.
  • Page 11: Battery Pack Storage

    Do not store or ship this equipment with batteries inside. Always remove the batteries from the equipment before shipping or periods of non-use. The battery charger provided with your DigiTrak guidance system is designed with adequate safeguards to protect you from shock and other hazards when used as specified within this document. If you use the battery charger in a manner not specified by this document, the protection provided may be impaired.
  • Page 12 Send in the Product Registration Card or register online at access.DigiTrak.com within 90 days of purchase to enable the warranty on your equipment, including a 3-year/500-hour warranty on your transmitter. Ask your dealer about our extended 5-year/750-hour transmitter warranty. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 13: Getting Started

    The Falcon approach involves dividing a wide range of frequencies into bands, then selecting the frequencies that are least susceptible to the interference in each band. Falcon F5 has eight bands that each use the best- performing of hundreds of frequencies between 9.0 and 45 khz. Optimize one band for best performance on the majority of the bore and the other for a high-interference segment.
  • Page 14: Using This Manual

    This manual is an important tool for you as the operator of a Falcon guidance system. You can find it on the flash drive that accompanied your system or at www.DigiTrak.com. We encourage you to load it onto your mobile device and keep it handy so the information you need is always close at hand.
  • Page 15: Receiver

    Aurora. If you are using an existing DigiTrak remote display, select F5 to receive data from the locator, and refer to the separate operator's manual located on the flash drive that accompanied your guidance system and also at www.DigiTrak.com.
  • Page 16: Assign Frequency Bands

    Drill What are you waiting for? Start drilling. Or read on for more details and cool acronyms to know about the best locator on the planet. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 17: Receiver

    Page 13 Toggle and Trigger Switches The Falcon F5 receiver has two switches for operating the system: a toggle switch located on the top of the unit and a trigger located under the handle. Use the Toggle Switch to access and navigate menus.
  • Page 18: Audible Tones

    IGITAL   ONTROL   NCORPORATED Audible Tones The Falcon F5 receiver beeps to signal power on/off, confirm menu Transmitter Temperature Warning Tones changes, and acknowledge the pass/fail status of actions. The receiver Page 62 also beeps with transmitter temperature increases. Two long beeps indicate a problem with the menu option selected and a failure screen will appear until you click the trigger or remove the battery (in the case of a critical failure).
  • Page 19: Using The Keypad

    Aurora - AP8, AF8, AF10 Falcon F5, F5 A remote display that accompanied your Falcon F5 receiver will already be set to communicate with your receiver. If you purchased your Falcon receiver by itself, your existing remote display may not include the required option.
  • Page 20: Receiver Menus

    NCORPORATED Receiver Menus I am already familiar with DigiTrak receiver menus; can I skip this?   Page 35 If you have used a DigiTrak F5 receiver, you are well on your way to mastering a Falcon. Read the section on the Frequency Optimizer, then skip ahead to Locating Basics.
  • Page 21: Locate Mode

    If you select an optimized band that has not been calibrated yet, appears in the roll indicator. Calibrate and verify Above Ground Range separately for each optimized frequency band prior to each job. Calibration affects depth readings, but not roll/pitch. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 22: 1-Point Calibration

    If it does not, excessive noise may be present. Due to its higher signal strength, a 19 in. transmitter must be moved more than 3 m away from the receiver before attenuation will turn off. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 23 If calibration fails, review the items mentioned in the question titled Why do I keep getting calibration errors? below, read more about signal attenuation in Appendix B (if it applies), then click Retry to try calibrating again. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 24: In-Ground Calibration

    This calibration procedure is rarely needed. If you find it necessary to calibrate with the transmitter in the ground, contact DCI customer service for information on this option, and perform this procedure with caution. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 25: View Calibration

    "Warning, pitch is unknown, assume zero". It also ignores any HAG setting. Note that the 15 m calibration button does not appear when the AGR screen appears immediately after calibration. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 26: 15 M Calibration (Optional)

    Raising the receiver above the ground also provides separation from underground interference that might otherwise reduce the transmitter’s range or cause variable readings. To prevent incorrect readings, Falcon F5 always powers on with Calibration Depth Units Page 14...
  • Page 27 I use HAG all the time; can I set it to turn on automatically? No. In the name of safety, HAG must be turned on manually for each use. However, the feature does remember the last height value used. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 28: Settings

    Choose between xx" inches, x'xx" feet and inches, x.xx' decimal feet, and x.xx m metric units (meters and centimeters). Pitch Units Menu Choose between degrees (x°) and percent (x%). Typical HDD bores use percent pitch instead of degrees. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 29: Set Time And Calendar Menu

    “0”. Channel 0 is also used when there are more than four receivers operating in the same area; using more than one receiver per channel within telemetry range of each other will cause conflicting signals to be sent to the remote display on the drill rig. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 30: Roll Offset Menu

    When the roll offset function is enabled, the roll indicator will change to a circle and RO appears at the bottom left of the roll indicator. RO will also appear on the remote display. Roll Offset Enabled DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 31: Pressure Units Menu

    This menu has multiple language options. Selecting a new language will cause the receiver to restart. Transmitter Selection and Frequency Optimization Frequency Optimization Transmitter Selection View Frequency Optimization Transmitter Information and Runtime Transmitter Selection Menu DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 32: Frequency Optimization

    -90 to -72 dB Low interference levels -72 to -54 dB Moderate interference -54 to -18 dB Interference will become an issue as depth increases DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 33 6. Select whether to assign this as the Up or Down band (the band the Tx powers on with when facing Up or Down). Down DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 34 If the pairing doesn't complete, no new optimized frequency is stored in the receiver. Upon exiting the Frequency Optimizer screen, the receiver remains paired to the transmitter at the last optimized bands used. The last frequency optimization is saved and viewable under View Frequency Optimization DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 35: So I Just Paired, Now What

    Complete each of these checks on both optimized frequency bands. Transmitter Selection Use this option to select between a Falcon F5, Falcon F2, or DucTrak transmitter, as well as select the other band on your current transmitter. Transmitter Selection Menu After you select a different transmitter than is currently in use, the display returns to the previous screen.
  • Page 36: View Frequency Optimization

    (pair) with the transmitter. Position the recessed infrared (IR) port of the transmitter within 5 cm of and facing the IR port on the front of the receiver, then select Transmitter information request Transmitter Information DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 37: Datalog

    LWD Mobile, using DataLog while drilling lets you view a real-time plot of your bore in progress right on your phone, as well as geo-tag the entry and exit. If you use the DigiTrak Aurora remote display, its LWD Live app also lets you view the drill profile in real-time as each rod is completed, whether DataLog is enabled on the receiver or not.
  • Page 38: Left/Right Offset

    IGITAL   ONTROL   NCORPORATED If you are already familiar with the DataLog feature, Falcon F5 includes four new functions requested by users like you: Left/Right Offset, Deviation, Flags, and Pins. 1. Sidewalk 2. Right offset 3. Right deviation 4. Fire hydrant 5.
  • Page 39: Diagnostics

    "feature", the pin is recorded as to the right. Diagnostics This menu lets you check the performance of your Falcon F5 receiver. 1. Level check 2. System self-test 3.
  • Page 40: Perform Level Check

    The receiver beeps four times, flashes a confirmation message, and returns to the Main menu. If the level check fails, the receiver beeps twice and displays an error screen. Click Retry and repeat the test as described above. If the check fails again, contact DCI Customer Service. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 41: Perform System Self-Test

    DSP channel failure In the event of a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) channel failure, the receiver displays the error message Critical: DSP channels on the Locate screen and locks the receiver. Contact DCI Customer Service. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 42: System Information

    ) and ID (serial number) are necessary to move DataLog files to a PC. Click to return to the Main menu. 1. Serial number 2. Region 3. Primary software 4. Bluetooth address 5. Second page System Information Screens DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 43: Locating Basics

    If you're new to locating and first want to know everything about the locating screens, you've come to the right place. If you already know locators and want to jump right in and start locating with your Falcon F5 system, skip to Interference. Locating in a High-Interference Area...
  • Page 44: Locating Screens

    How do I check which frequency bands are assigned? The current band in use is listed at the top of the Main menu (page 12). Hold toggle right at the Locate screen to see and switch between bands. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 45: Locate Screen Shortcuts

    Max Mode Max Mode can stabilize roll/pitch data and depths readings when drilling at the very limit of the ability of the transmitter due to extreme depth or interference, which will vary by jobsite. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 46: Predicted Depth Screen

    Hold the trigger at the front locate point (FLP) to display the Predicted Depth screen. The predicted depth is the depth the transmitter is calculated to be at when it reaches the front locate point if it continues on its current path. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 47: Depth Screen, Invalid Location

    To best overcome interference, find and deal with it above ground, before you start drilling. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 48: What Is Interference

    Take note of the bar graph height in the selected band. With no transmitter on, this “signal strength” is in fact background noise (active interference). Extreme background noise (interference) may cause signal attenuation. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 49: Roll/Pitch Check

    Note any locations where the receiver or remote display information becomes unstable or disappears. If roll/pitch data or signal strength become unstable, hold the trigger to see if Max Mode can stabilize the data. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 50: Suggestions For Dealing With Interference

    (less than 1.5 m). Do not rely on depth, data, or locate information obtained when the signal strength and red A icon are flashing. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 51: Locate Points (Flp & Rlp) And Locate Line (Ll)

    8. Side view 9. Surface of ground Geometry of FLP, RLP, and LL from Top (Bird’s-Eye) and Side Views Note how the RLP and FLP are equal distances from the LL when the transmitter is level. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 52: Effects Of Depth, Pitch, And Topography On Distance Between Flp And Rlp

    For a detailed explanation of how to track the transmitter when it is steep and deep, see Appendix C page 69. To calculate depth (for comparison to the receiver’s depth reading) using the distance between the locate points and the pitch of the transmitter, see Appendix D on page 73. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 53: Marking Locate Points

    1. Move forward 2. FLP 3. LL 4. RLP 5. Drill Standard and Curved Path Locating Go watch some TV You can find a training video on Basic Locating at www.youtube.com/dcikent. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 54: Finding The Front Locate Point (Flp)

    The locate line (LL) will not display later without this reference. Drill rig Bore path 1. Target Ball-in-the- 2. Reference lock indicator Receiver Predicted Depth Screen at FLP Actual Position of Receiver with HAG On and Transmitter DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 55: Finding The Locate Line (Ll)

    FLP Receiver Locate Screen, Moving Toward LL, FLP Behind If the signal strength decreases, you may actually have just located the RLP. Position yourself farther away from the drill and start over at step 2. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 56 9. Take a depth reading and mark the LL directly below the receiver’s display screen. If the FLP is to the left or right of the previous marks—indicating some steering action—locate the RLP as described in the next steps to verify proper positioning of the LL between the Locate Points. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 57: Finding The Rlp To Confirm Transmitter Heading And Position

    Receiver Locate Screen at RLP Actual Position of Receiver and Transmitter 12. Mark the ground directly below the receiver’s display screen as the RLP. A line between the RLP and FLP represents the transmitter’s heading. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 58 If HAG is not being used, note the depth on the ground and then raise the receiver exactly 1 m. The depth reading should increase this same distance. In the example above, the depth would be 4.42 m. Appendix C on page 69 and Appendix D on page 73 for more information on depth. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 59: Advanced Locating

    FLP, in line with the path created by the FLP and RLP. Turn HAG off. 1. One rod length 2. FLP 3. LL 4. RLP 5. Drill Tracking "On-the-Fly" with a Straight and Curved Path DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 60: Off-Track Locating

    (P1). Move the receiver forward and backward until the ball jumps between the top and bottom of the screen, then mark this location and note the signal strength. While still holding the receiver in the same orientation, do this two more times for off-track points P2 and P3. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 61 Differences in pitch and topology elevations will also affect the signal strength and LL position as the drill head progresses. Using three (or more) off-track points gives you more information to help recognize the potential adverse effects of interference at any one point. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 62: Target Steering

    You can find a training animation on Target Steering at www.youtube.com/dcikent. Using the receiver for Target Steering requires a stable signal from the transmitter. Target Steering will not work properly with passive interference in the vicinity of Interference Page 39 the bore. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 63: Feasible Target Steering Area

    To set the desired target depth on the receiver, toggle up at the Locate screen to open the Target Steering menu. 1. Receiver 2. Programmed target depth 3. Transmitter in ground pointing toward target below receiver 4. Turn on programmed target depth 5. Program new target depth Target Steering Menu DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 64: Positioning The Receiver As The Target

    Ensure that the location you would like to steer to beneath the receiver is Feasible Target Steering Area Page 55 feasible for the bend radius of the drill string and product being installed. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 65: Steering To The Target With The Remote Display

    Steering to the Target with the Remote Display Refer to the operator's manual for your remote display for details on its Target Steering screen. Manuals are located on the flash drive that accompanied the equipment or online at www.DigiTrak.com. Target Steering in Interference Areas Interference can cause inaccuracies in the measurement of depth and placement of the locating ball, and loss of the transmitter’s pitch, roll, or heading.
  • Page 66: Transmitter

    The transmitter must be paired to the receiver prior to use. The standard Falcon F5 wideband transmitter measures 38.1 cm long and 3.2 cm in diameter, provides pitch readings in as low as 0.1% or 0.1° increments at level, and displays roll in 24 clock positions (CP). The transmitter broadcasts in eight bands encompassing frequencies from 9.0 to 45.0 kHz.
  • Page 67: Batteries And Power On/Off

    15-inch Transmitters DigiTrak Falcon 15-inch wideband transmitters require two C-cell alkaline batteries or one DCI SuperCell lithium battery providing a maximum of 3.6 VDC. Alkaline batteries will last up to 20 hours, whereas a SuperCell battery will last up to 70 hours.
  • Page 68: Transmitter Battery Strength

    Sleep Mode All battery-powered DigiTrak transmitters go into sleep mode and stop transmitting to conserve battery power if they are stationary for longer than 15 minutes. To wake the transmitter, rotate the drill string a half turn;...
  • Page 69: Transmitter Drill Head Requirements

    Temperature Status and Overheat Indicator Most DigiTrak transmitters are equipped with an internal digital thermometer. The temperature displays on the bottom right of the receiver and remote display screens next to the transmitter temperature symbol .
  • Page 70: Transmitter Temperature Warning Tones

    Transmitter Overheat Indicator (Temp Dot) Most DigiTrak transmitters have a temperature overheat indicator (temp dot) on the front end cap. The temp dot has an outer yellow ring with a 3 mm ( in.) white dot in the center.
  • Page 71: Above Ground (Pre-Bore) Tilt Method

    Below Ground (Mid-Bore) Roll Methods Switching between bands on the Falcon F5 transmitter may provide better data results while drilling in a section of the bore with a high level of interference. Use these methods to switch between transmitter frequency bands mid-bore.
  • Page 72 While locate positions and roll/pitch data will be correct, depth readings will be incorrect. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 73: Appendix A: System Specifications

    For more information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, your household waste disposal service, or the shop where you purchased the equipment. Transmitter Pitch Resolution Transmitter pitch resolution decreases with increased grade. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 74 0 – 3% 0 – 1.7° 0.1% 3 – 9% 1.7 – 5.1° 0.2% 9 – 30% 5.1 – 16.7° 0.5% 30 – 50% 16.7 – 26.6° 2.0% 50 – 90% 26.6 – 42.0° 5.0% DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 75: Appendix B: Receiver Screen Symbols

    When battery life is low, the icon will flash on the Locate screen.  Page 12 Receiver Icon – Indicates the position of the receiver relative to the ground for the HAG function, depth readings, in-ground calibration, and the Target Steering function.  Page 37 DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 76 Warning – This error symbol indicates a failure in a self-test or a need to calibrate the receiver to one or both transmitter bands.  Page 31, 13 DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 77: Appendix C: Projected Depth Versus Actual Depth And The Fore/Aft Offset

    The projected depth and fore/aft offset must be accounted for when the transmitter is steep and/or deep. See Table C1 Table C2 to determine the actual depth and fore/aft offset when you know the displayed (projected) depth and pitch of the transmitter. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 78 – Table C4 These "steep and deep" calculations for projected depth are important when using a bore plan that has specified target depths on steeper and deeper bores. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 79 7.21 m 7.62 m Table C2: Determining Fore/Aft Offset from Displayed (Projected) Depth and Pitch Use the projected/displayed depth values in the first column and transmitter pitches in the first row to find fore/aft offset values. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 80 For example, if your pitch is 30% and your projected depth reading is 7.32 m, multiply depth 7.32 by conversion factor 0.943. The result, 6.90 m, is the actual depth of the transmitter. DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 81: Appendix D: Calculating Depth Based On Distance Between Flp And Rlp

    62 / 31.8 1.69 96 / 43.8 2.02 30 / 16.7 1.48 64 / 32.6 1.71 98 / 44.4 2.04 32 / 17.7 1.49 66 / 33.4 1.73 100 / 45.0 2.06 Depth Estimation Table DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 82: Appendix E: Reference Tables

    127 cm 61 cm 130 cm 64 cm 137 cm 66 cm 147 cm 69 cm 157 cm 71 cm 175 cm 74 cm 191 cm 76 cm 203 cm 79 cm 216 cm DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 83: Depth Increase In Cm Per 4.6-M Rod

    191 cm 89 cm 196 cm 94 cm 203 cm 99 cm 221 cm 102 cm 236 cm 107 cm 262 cm 112 cm 284 cm 114 cm 305 cm 119 cm 323 cm DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 84 IGITAL   ONTROL   NCORPORATED DigiTrak Falcon F5 ® Operator's Manual...
  • Page 85 19625 62nd Ave S, Suite B103 Kent Washington 98032, USA 425.251.0559, 800.288.3610 dci@digital-control.com, www.DigiTrak.com DCI Standard Warranty DCI warrants that it will either repair or replace any product that fails to operate in conformity to DCI’s published specifications at the time of shipment due to a defect in materials or workmanship during the warranty period for that product, subject to the terms set forth below.
  • Page 86 However, in the event of any discrepancy in meaning or interpretation between the translation and the original English language version, the original English language version shall control. A copy of the original English language version of this document may be found at www.DigiTrak.com. Under Service & Support, click Documentation and select from the Manuals drop-down menu. DCI Standard Warranty...

Table of Contents

Save PDF