Drill Floor / Monkey Board Manipulator

Technical Specifications

[Insert Product Image 03: Dimensional drawing showing working envelope]

Product Types & Configurations

We do not believe in one‑size‑fits‑all for automation. Choose the configuration that matches your rig and your tripping philosophy.

All models include:

• Full hydraulic power pack (if rig does not have dedicated circuit)

• Joytstick console with emergency stop and mode selector

• Installation hardware and lifting lugs

• Operator training manual + video library

Optional upgrades:

• Wireless remote (150m range, redundant safety link)

• Camera package (two IP cameras on arm with monitor in control cabin)

• Pipe diameter auto‑sense (no manual calibration when switching tubulars)

Application Areas

[Insert Product Image 04: Manipulator in action on an actual rig floor]

Onshore drilling rigs (1500m – 7000m depth) – The most common installation. Remove the derrick man from the fingerboard entirely. One driller or a dedicated floor hand operates the manipulator while another handles elevators and slips. Tripping speed remains the same or improves because you eliminate waiting for the derrick man to manually snub a stand into fingers.

Offshore platform rigs – Tight fingerboard layouts with multiple wells. Our compact arm design fits between narrow finger rows. The explosion‑proof control option (ATEX/IECEx Zone 2) allows safe operation in classified areas. Several jack‑up rigs in Southeast Asia are now running our combo system.

Desert & remote area workover rigs – Crews are often small and rotations are long. Fatigue leads to mistakes. A manipulator lets one person handle stand back reaming safely, reducing required crew size from 5 to 4 on workover operations – a real cost saving over a 2‑year contract.

Arctic & cold climate drilling – We provide low‑temperature hydraulic fluid and heated control cabinets. The arm remains responsive at -30°C, while manual snubbing lines freeze and become dangerous.

Training & university rigs – Many drilling simulators use our manipulator to teach remote pipe handling because the control logic is identical to full‑size rigs. A safe way to train future drillers without risk.

Why Choose SJ Petroleum Machinery Co., Ltd.?

1. Field experience, not just drawings
Our engineers have stood on monkey boards. We know the exact pinch points, clearance issues, and maintenance headaches that other designs ignore. Our manipulator has gone through three design iterations based on actual customer feedback from Colombia, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.

2. Fits your existing rig – no major modifications
We provide detailed mounting drawings and optional site survey. Most installations are completed in two days. No welding on fingerbeams unless absolutely necessary – we use clamped brackets and existing bolt holes wherever possible.

3. Built to last where real rigs operate
Cylinders are hard chrome plated. Pins are induction hardened. Hoses are 4‑spiral wire. The control cabinet has gore‑tex vents for pressure equalization. We have seen competitor units fail after 6 months because of dust ingress or seal leakage. Ours keep going.

4. Simple to operate, easy to learn
The joystick mapping is intuitive: forward/back moves the arm, twist rotates, thumb controls grip. A new floor hand becomes productive in two hours. The console has large, glove‑friendly buttons. HMI shows real‑time arm position and fault diagnostics.

5. Global support & spares
We keep common spare parts (seal kits, proximity sensors, joysticks) in regional hubs – Dubai, Houston, Singapore. For critical failures, we ship replacement arms via air within 48 hours (subject to destination). Remote troubleshooting via video call is included free.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can this be installed on an existing rig without taking the rig offline for weeks?
Yes. The monkey board version is designed for offline prefitting – we build the arm onto a new finger beam section that you swap during a normal maintenance day. Total rig downtime: 12–16 hours. For the drill floor version, we prefabricate the base plate that bolts to your existing substructure. We have done rig‑up during a 24‑hour weather hold.

Q2: Does it work with both single and double stands?
Absolutely. The vertical reach of the arm and the wrist tilt can be programmed for different stand heights. You store presets for "single,” "double,” and "triple” in the HMI. The operator selects the current stand type at the start of the trip.

Q3: What happens if power or hydraulics fail while the manipulator is holding a stand?
The gripper is spring‑applied, pressure‑released. Loss of hydraulic pressure keeps the jaws closed (fail‑safe). The operator can manually release a bypass valve on the cylinder to open the jaws and let the stand swing clear – a slow, controlled release. No dropped pipe.

Q4: How heavy is the monkey board arm? Can two people lift it up the derrick?
The MBM‑100 weighs 380 kg. We include lifting lugs and a rigging diagram. You can lift it with a manual winch or a small air hoist once the main blocks are out of the way. For extra safety, we offer a split‑frame version (two pieces, each <200 kg) for an additional fee.

Q5: Is training included?
Yes. Our standard package includes two days of on‑site training for up to six operators, plus a detailed manual and reference card for the console. Remote follow‑up training via video call is free for the first year.

Q6: Can it handle casing stands?
The MBM‑200 HD version has wider jaw openings and higher grip force (12 kN). It is designed for 9‑5/8″ to 13‑3/8″ casing. We have customers running production casing stands with it in West Texas.

Q7: What kind of maintenance does it require?
Weekly: visual inspection of hoses and connectors. Monthly: grease pivot points (six zerks). Every 2000 operating hours: replace cylinder rod seals (kit provided with initial order). Full rebuild every 8000 hours or five years, whichever comes first.

Q8: Do you sell just the control system to retrofit a competitor’s manipulator?
We prefer to sell our complete arm, but we can supply the hydraulic proportional valve stack and joystick console separately if you have a mechanical manipulator with poor controls. The console includes our proprietary soft‑stop algorithm. Contact us with details of your existing arm.

Q9: Can I get a demo video or a virtual walkthrough?
Yes. We have a 4‑minute video showing the manipulator racking stands on a land rig in Kazakhstan, plus a CAD animation of the working envelope. Both are available on request, no purchase obligation.

Q10: What is the warranty?
24 months from shipment or 4000 operating hours, whichever occurs first. Covers all mechanical and hydraulic components, control system, and electronics. Consumables (seals, filters, hydraulic fluid) are excluded.

Tag: Modular drill floor | Drill floor robot | Drill Floor Manipulator / Robot | Drill floor operation robot