ISO 3552-1:1992

Overview

ISO 3552-1:1992 specifies the nomenclature, key dimensions and tolerances for rotary core diamond drilling equipment - System B - in metric units. It defines the components and leading dimensions needed to ensure interchangeability of items such as drill rods and couplings, fishing rods, casing tubes and drive shoes, sediment tubes, core barrels (Types B, Z, T), bits, core lifters and reaming shells. The standard covers hole diameters from 36 mm to 146 mm and core diameters from 22 mm to 120 mm.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and designation: Items manufactured per ISO 3552-1 are designated by the standard number and specific reference numbers (see table structure in the standard) to ensure clear identification and interchangeability.
• Component list: Drill rods, drill-rod couplings and substitutes, fishing rods/couplings, casing tubes, casing drive shoes, casing bits, sediment tubes, core barrels (single and double-tube), core bits, core-lifter cases, core lifters, extension tubes and reaming shells.
• Dimensions & tolerances: Leading dimensions and tolerances are specified in millimetres; thread dimensions and tolerances are provided (right-hand threads by default unless otherwise noted).
• Materials & mechanical properties: Required mechanical properties for components (tensile/yield strength and elongation) are specified to ensure safe, durable equipment.
• Geometric controls:
  • Eccentricity: Defined as the offset between outside and inside diameters; limited to 10% of nominal wall thickness.
  • Straightness: Specified verification method (rotate tube against calibrated straightedge) and maximum permissible deviations (tabulated).
• Interchangeability principle: System B is standardized for close “nesting” of hole sizes (thin-walled casings, small diameter step-downs); dimensions are fixed to allow parts from different manufacturers to be used together within System B limits.

Applications and users

• Who uses it: Drilling contractors, mining engineers, drill rig manufacturers, tool designers, procurement teams and standards/quality engineers working with diamond core drilling.
• Practical value:
  • Ensures compatibility of drill strings, core barrels and casing across suppliers.
  • Guides selection of casing and core equipment for mineral exploration, geotechnical investigations and borehole coring where System B’s close-nesting hole series is required.
  • Supports quality control, inspection and replacement part specification.

Related standards

• ISO 3551-1:1992 - Rotary core diamond drilling equipment, System A (metric) - a parallel system not interchangeable with System B.
• ISO 8866:1991 - Rotary core diamond drilling equipment, System C - a separate system with different nesting characteristics.

Keywords: ISO 3552-1, rotary core diamond drilling equipment, System B, core drilling standard, drill rods, casing tubes, core barrels, metric units, interchangeability, drilling equipment standards.