How do coal cutting picks work in underground mining?

In underground mining operations, coal picks are essential components of coal mining machines. Much like "teeth", they perform the critical task of breaking down coal and rock layers.

Coal cutting picks are mounted on the cutting drum (or cantilevered cutter head) of the coal mining machine, functioning through a combination of mechanical force and grinding action.

As the drum of the coal mining machine rotates at high speed, the tooth head of the coal mining picks hit the surface of coal or rock at high speed, causing it to produce micro cracks. The pick tip is designed with a certain angle so that it can grind the material during the rotation process and strip the coal or rock layer piece by piece. The broken down pieces of coal will be discharged from the working face through the conveying system. Due to the extremely high intensity of the work, the structural strength and material wear resistance of the coal mining picks are key to maintaining operational continuity.

As the hardness of the coal seam increases, so do the requirements for the pick’s wear resistance and strength. If the coal seam contains hard minerals like gangue (interlayer stones), it can accelerate wear and even cause damage to the cutter head. Regular inspection of the pick is essential to check for wear, looseness of the cutter head, or any deformation of the tooth body. If the pick is found to be excessively worn (e.g., the wear of the cutter head exceeds the specified limit) or damaged, it should be replaced promptly.

For more detailed product information, please visit the JinxinCoal Mining Picks product page.