Diggers Dumpers Trucks

Caterpillar Incorporated, also known as CAT is a United States based corporation that is based in Peoria, Illinois.  The company commonly known as CAT is known around the world as the largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. Well known and famous for their products that feature the Caterpillar track and distinctive yellow paint, CAT produces a wide range of heavy equipment for all types of jobs, including the very popular Caterpillar D9 bulldozer. Read the rest of this entry »

As you may know, the CX330 is the upgrade to the 9050B model from Case.  The CX330 is quite an upgrade, being much bigger than the 9050B. 

In standard form, the CX330 is almost 5,000 pounds heavier than the 9050B.  This added weight comes from a larger counterweight and from a redesigned carbody that will now completely enclose the swing system. 

These added pounds will also contribute to the boost in the CX330s over-front capacity, and in combination with higher hydraulic pressures the travel circuit, give the excavator a very impressive 16% boost in draw bar pull, which means more power for negotiating poor underfoot conditions and very steep grades.

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The company of Case has done it again, by introducing yet another spectacular excavator, the CX700, which weighs in at 70 metric tons and represents a new size for Case, fitting perfectly between the CX460 and CX800 models.  Case has also taken advantage of Tier 3 technologies and upgraded the CX330, increasing the power and improving fuel economy, all while adding features that will enhance comfort for the operator and simplify maintenance.

Power
The CX700 is a powered by a high performance, fuel efficient Isuzu engine that is completely Tier 3 certified.  With an operating weight of 153,400 lbs. and over 400 HP, the CX700 is capable of digging to 31 feet 11 inches with reaches up to 46 feet 11 inches.

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There are always going to be times when, no matter how carefully an excavation company plans out a project, there simply isn’t enough equipment on hand to handle the requirements of the project without running out of time.  The choices at this point are clear - rent the machines you need or go ahead and make the purchase.

It is however, not easy to make these types of  decisions, thanks to several factors that you’ll need to consider. 

Rental pricing
Its no secret that rental companies make a killing with the equipment they rent out.  Most companies will rent on a daily or weekly basis, which is good for them but can be bad for you.  Depending on what area you work in, the price can be very high or just right.
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Different Caterpillar
Caterpillar hit a dial of power and performance with its top of the line 446 backhoe loader when it first introduced the D series version of the machine.  The 102 HP machine also features a new operator station and offers optional joystick controls.  The dig forces on the bucket have increased 10% on the backhoe. 

Bobcat
Bobcat gave its compact backhoe loaders a power boost when the company introduced the second generation B series to the lineup.  The 31.5 HP B100 received a 45% increase in backhoe bucket breakout force and a 27% jump in the breakout force of the dipper.

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When trenchers were first introduced to the residential and commercial contractors, they rapidly became the backbone of the crew.  The time and labor trenchers saved when they replaced the pick and shovel was simply incredible.  The contractor was able to double the number of jobs his crew could complete in the same amount of time - or less.

The standard types of trenchers, whether dedicated units or attachments, they are versatile machines  for contractors to have with them on the job.  They can be used for many different purposes, from digging valve box holes to trenches for drain pipes.  In areas that contain rocky soil, large roots, or other problems where the other machinery can’t access the soil, the trencher will minimize downtime that was once spent digging by hand.
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A skid steer loader with backhoe attachment or a backhoe loader in general can be very productive if it is operated safely and efficiently.  The best way to get the job done safely and efficiently is to know yourself, the job site, and your equipment.

Even though the models of backhoes will vary, there are safety features with all of them that include steps and grab handles for getting on and off of the machine.  Backhoes also feature frame lock levers and attaching levers to keep the backhoe securely fastened to the loader frame during operation as well as transporting.

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The bulldozer is a very powerful crawler that is equipped with a blade.  The term bulldozer is often used to mean any type of heavy machinery, although the term actually refers to a tractor that is fitted with a dozer blade.

Often times, bulldozers are large and extremely powerful tracked vehicles.  The tracks give them amazing ground mobility and hold through very rough terrain.  Wide tracks on the other hand, help to distribute the weight of the dozer over large areas, therefore preventing it from sinking into sandy or muddy ground. 

Bulldozers have great ground hold and a torque divider that’s designed to convert the power of the engine into dragging ability, which allows it to use its own weight to push heavy objects and even remove things from the ground.  Take the Caterpillar D9 for example, it can easily tow tanks that weight more than 70 tons.  Due to these attributes,  bulldozers are used to clear obstacles, shrubbery, and remains of structures and buildings.
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The compact hydraulic excavator can be a tracked or wheeled vehicle with an approximate operating weight of 13,300 pounds.  Normally, it includes a standard backfill blade and features an independent boom swing.  The compact hydraulic excavator is also known as a mini excavator.

A compact hydraulic excavator is different from other types of heavy machinery in the sense that all movement and functions of the machine are accomplished through the transfer of hydraulic fluid.  The work group and blade are activated by hydraulic fluid acting upon hydraulic cylinders.  The rotation and travel functions are also activated by hydraulic fluid powering hydraulic motors.

Most types of compact hydraulic excavators have three assemblies - house, undercarriage, and the work group. 
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A crane is a tower or derrick that is equipped with cables and pulleys that are used to lift and lower material.  They are commonly used in the construction industry and in the manufacturing of heavy equipment. Cranes for construction are normally temporary structures, either fixed to the ground or mounted on a purpose built vehicle. 

They can either be controlled from an operator in a cab that travels along with the crane, by a push button pendant control station, or by radio type controls.  The crane operator is ultimately responsible for the safety of the crews and the crane.

Medieval cranes
Cranes of the Middle Ages were used to build the cathedrals of Europe.  The crane was fixed on top of a wall as it was being constructed and was  powered by men that ran inside of two large wheels on each side.  Cranes were also used in medieval ports and in shipyards.
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Dump trucks or production trucks are those that are used for transporting loose material such as sand, dirt, and gravel for construction.  The typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open box bed hinged at the rear, with the front being able to be lifted up to allow the contents to fall out on the ground at the site of delivery.

Dump trucks come in many different configurations with each one specified to accomplish a specific task in the construction chain.

Standard dump truck
The standard dump truck is a full truck chassis with the dump body mounted onto the frame.  The dump body is raised by a hydraulic ram lift that is mounted forward of the front bulkhead, normally between the truck cab and the dump body. 
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Sometimes called a forklift truck, the forklift is a powerful industrial truck that is used to lift and transport material by steel forks that are inserted under the load.  Forklifts are commonly used to move loads and equipment that is stored on pallets.  The forklift was developed in 1920, and has since become a valuable piece of equipment in many manufacturing and warehousing operations.

Types
The most common type of design with forklifts is the counter balance.  Other types of designs include the reach truck and side loader, both of which are used in environments where the space is at a minimum.

Control and capability
Forklifts are available in many types and different load capacities.  In the average warehouse setting, most forklifts have load capacities of around five tons.
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Also known as a front end loader, bucket loader, scoop loader, or shovel, the front loader is a type of tractor that is normally wheeled and uses a wide square tilting bucket on the end of movable arms to lift and move material around.

The loader assembly may be a removable attachment or permanently mounted on the vehicle.  Often times, the bucket can be replaced with other devices or tools, such as forks or a hydraulically operated bucket. 

Larger style front loaders, such as the Caterpillar 950G or the Volvo L120E, normally have only a front bucket and are known as front loaders, where the small front loaders are often times equipped with a small backhoe as well and called backhoe loaders or loader backhoes.
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The harvester is a type of heavy machinery that is employed in cut to length logging operations for felling, buckling, and cutting up trees. Normally, a harvester is employed alongside a forward that will haul the logs and trees to a roadside landing.

Harvesters were developed in Sweden and Finland, and today they do nearly all of the commercial felling in these countries.  They work best for less difficult terrain for the clear cutting area of forest.  For steep hills or removing individual trees, chain saws are normally preferred.  In the nordic countries, small and agile harvesters are used for thinning operations and manual cutting is only used during extreme conditions or by self employed owners of the forest or wooded area.

The leading manufacturers of harvesters include Timberjack (which is owned by John Deere) and Valmet, which is owned by Komatsu.

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Also referred to as a loader backhoe, the backhoe loader is an engineering and excavation vehicle that consists of a tractor, front shovel and bucket and a small backhoe in the rear end.  Due to the small size and versatility, backhoe loaders are common with small construction projects and excavation type work.

Originally invented in Burlington Iowa back in 1857, the backhoe loader is the most common variation of the classic farm tractor.  As the name implies, it has a loader assembly on the front and a backhoe attachment on the back. 

Anytime the loader and backhoe are attached it is never referred to as a tractor, as it is not normally used for towing and doesn’t normally have a PTO. When the backhoe is permanently attached, the  machine will normally have a seat that can swivel to the rear to face the backhoe controls.  Any type of removable backhoe attachments will normally have a seperate seat on the attachment itself.
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Digging trenches is one of the oldest types of work with both construction and excavating.  Prior to World War 2, trenches were dug by hand.  As workers dug the trenches deeper, the sides needed to be shored or supported, to keep the walls of the trench from caving in. 

Following the World War, several innovations were made in backhoes, and trench digging seemed to fade away as a profession.  By 1950, hydraulically actuated backhoes were developed, which make it possible to rapidly dig very deep trenches.  Resulting from the innovations with backhoes, and because there were no workers inside digging the trenches, the walls no longer needed to be shored.

All types of trenches have what’s known as a stand up time.  This time is the amount of time that elapses from the time the ditch is dug until the time the trench walls start to collapse.  The stand up time is dependant on many factors, which include the type of soil, water content, trench depth, weather conditions, and whether or not the soil has been disturbed. 

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The skid loader is a rigid frame, engine powered machine with lift arms that are used to attach a wide variety of labor saving tools or attachments. Skid loaders are normally four wheel drive with left side drive wheels that are independent of right side drive wheels.  With each side being independent to the other, the wheel speed and direction of rotation of the wheels will determine which direction the loader turns.

Skid loaders are capable of turning in their own tracks, which makes them very maneuverable and valuable for jobs that require the use of compact, agile loader.

Unlike conventional front loaders, the lift arms lay beside the driver with the major pivot points located behind the shoulders of the operator.  Due to the operator being in close proximity to moving booms and buckets, earlier models of skid loaders weren’t as safe as conventional front loaders, particularly during entering and exiting.

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The CAT (Caterpillar) 420D and 430D backhoe loaders are the high performance machines in the D series lineup.  The 420D boasts 85 HP and a backhoe digging depth of 14 feet when equipped with a standard stick. 

The 430D offers 94 HP and a backhoe digging depth of 15 feet when it is equipped with a standard stick.  By using an extendible stick, you can push the digging depth of the 420D to 18 feet and the depth of the 430D to 19 feet, which is very impressive to say the least.

Both D series machines are available in IT (Integrated Toolcarrier) configurations for applications that benefit from a parallel lift loader linkage and the versatility of quick work tool changes through the use of a versatile hydraulic quick coupler.  Applications include the use of pallet forks, material handling arms, brooms, and even buckets.
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Site prep is the best term that is used to describe the operations necessary to make raw land ready to accept improvements such as buildings, parking lots, roads, and other amenities.  Once the project has been completed, the site prep is invisible.

The term site prep is a broad term that can include several different tasks, such as clearing and grubbing, soil erosion, sediment control, storm drains, water and sewer pipes, topsoil stripping, rock removal, underground utility, and several other tasks.

Soil erosion and management To protect the quality of the water, soil erosion and sediment control measures are vital.  With most locations, storm water permitting is required.  All erosion and sediment control measures and devices must be in place and inspected before the first tree drops or first shovel full of dirt is removed.
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There are many different opinions as to what machines should actually be classified as earth moving equipment.  There are many different types of equipment that fall in this category, such as excavators, backhoe loaders, dump trucks, and even loaders.

Other machinery that falls in between are articulated trucks, wheel and track tractors, and even scrapers.  The thin line is normally drawn at motor grades, which are more than capable or light duty excavation, although they are mainly used to level lots and grade roads.

If you take a glance at any equipment literature from leading companies such as CAT, Komatsu, or Case, you’ll see right away that they believe the biggest and most important change over the last several years is increased productivity.  This is normally followed by greater comfort and safety.
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Both of these machines are affordable, popular, highly productive, and they both have helped lay a lot of cable and pipe in the ground.  While they both can do the work, there are differences as to how they perform when stacked up against each other in residential utility installations.

Size and price
The average dig depth for utility installations in residential applications is between 40 and 48 inches.  The basic trencher that digs to the above depth will boast a 20 - 30 horsepower engine and cost around 40,000 dollars. 

The most popular type of compact excavator is the 2.5 metric ton size class, and it uses a 30 HP engine and costs around the same price.  The biggest difference in the two surfaces when you need the trencher to dig deeper.  The 2.5 metric ton excavator has no trouble at all digging to 8 feet or more, although a trencher that can dig that deep will require an engine with around 100 horsepower and cost upwards of 90,000 dollars!
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Hydraulic machinery are machines and tools that use fluid power to do the work.  Almost all types of heavy equipment is a common example.  With this type of equipment, hydraulic fluid is pumped to a high pressure then transmitted through the machine to various actuators. 

The hydraulic pumps are powered by engines or electric motors.  The pressurized fluid is controlled by the operator with control valves and then distributed through hoses and tubes. 

The increasing popularity of hydraulic machinery is due to the large amount of power that is transferred through small tubes and flexible hoses.  The high power density and wide array of actuators can make use of this power.
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Excavation is most commonly and best known for a technique within the science of archaeology.  The individual types of excavation are known simply as digs to those who participate, with this being an over literal description of the process.  An excavation concerns itself with a specific archaeological site or connected series of sites, and may be carried on over a number of years, since the work is normally seasonal.

Within the industry of excavation, many more techniques may be utilized, with each dig having its own particular features that may necessitate differences of approach.  Resources and other practical issues don’t allow archaeologists to carry out excavations whenever and wherever they choose, as many known sites have been deliberately left alone and non excavated.
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D-11 from Caterpillar is among the series of tracked type tractors are among the largest conventional bulldozers in the world, second to the Komatsu D575.  It comes in two variations, the standard D-11R and the bigger and heavier D-11R CD.

The D-11 bulldozer is among the upper end of Caterpillars track type tractors, which range in power and size from the D-3 (77 HP) to the D-11R  (935 HP).

The primary use for the D-11 is for moving large quantities of rock, dirt, etc. short distances in confined spaces.  The D-11 is often times used in quarries.  The price, size, power and weight of the D11 dictate that they are used primarily for major products.  You can normally find the D11 used in forestry, mining, excavation, and quarry operations.
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