Why 3D Scanning Matters Before Mining Equipment, Conveyor and Chute Upgrades

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Reducing fabrication uncertainty, improving equipment fit-up and supporting mining shutdown planning. The Challenge of Modifying Existing Mining Equipment Mining processing plants rarely remain exactly as they were originally designed. Over time, conveyors are modified, transfer chutes are replaced, platforms are installed and mechanical equipment is upgraded to meet changing production requirements. Unfortunately, the original engineering drawings may not reflect these modifications. For maintenance superintendents, project engineers and shutdown planners, this creates an important question: How can new equipment be designed and fabricated to fit an existing mining plant when the installed geometry is uncertain? One practical solution is to use 3D LiDAR scanning before engineering design begins. Hamilton By Design combines 3D scanning, point cloud processing, mechanical engineering and CAD modelling to support mining equipment modifications across Australia. Read the full engineering ...

Understanding AS 1755 Conveyor Safety

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 What Engineers Need to Know

Conveyors play an essential role in industrial and processing environments, but they also present significant safety risks if not properly guarded. In Australia, AS 1755 — Conveyor Safety Requirements provides the baseline framework for identifying hazards and designing protective measures that keep people safe throughout the life of a conveyor system.


Bulk materials conveyor with compliant safety guarding at the hopper, tail end, and along the conveyor, shown with an engineer reviewing guarding design drawings.



This standard is more than a checklist — it is a guideline for engineering-led safety design that considers how conveyors are used, how people interact with them, and how hazards can be controlled effectively.

Compliance with AS 1755 helps ensure that:

  • moving parts like pulleys and rollers are guarded

  • nip points and shear areas are effectively enclosed

  • access for maintenance is safe and controlled

  • guarding does not create new hazards by restricting visibility or movement

For detailed information on how to apply AS 1755 in your conveyor projects — including practical guarding design considerations — visit the full article here:
https://www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au/as-1755-conveyor-safety/

In that article, we explore:

  • what AS 1755 covers and why it matters

  • key conveyor guarding strategies (fixed guards, interlocked guards)

  • how engineering design fits into safety compliance

  • challenges in retrofitting guarding on existing conveyors

  • why documentation and measurement are essential parts of safety design

Whether you are planning a new conveyor installation or upgrading existing equipment, understanding and applying AS 1755 is a critical part of safe operation.



Learn more about compliant conveyor guarding and engineering best practice here:
👉 https://www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au/as-1755-conveyor-safety/


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