Understanding the different sizes and types is critical when selecting a heavy construction machine. From evaluating maximum dig depth to considering reach capabilities, an excavator’s features can affect your project needs.
Excavators have a wide range of attachment tools that allow them to be versatile. For instance, clamps can grab oversized materials too large to fit in a bucket.
Skid Steer Excavator
A skid steer (a skid loader compact track loader, or CTL) is ideal for demolition and backfilling. Its smaller size allows it to maneuver into tight spaces, such as the inside of a home. Combined with demolition shears, skid steers can crumble down drywall and concrete. They can also perform backfilling tasks by utilizing a bucket or rake attachment.
Both skid steers and mini excavators can be fitted with hundreds of different attachments that expand their capabilities. These include buckets, forks, grapples, augers, trenchers and more. They’re ideal for tasks such as grading, excavation, and landscaping. Their smaller size makes them great for work in urban areas and residential construction projects, where space is premium.
When deciding between a skid steer and an excavator, consider the primary tasks you will perform on your Dirt World project. For example, an excavator with a digging arm may be more helpful if you’re digging trenches for utility work. They can dig deeper; their extended reach allows for better hauling capacity.
On the other hand, if your project requires precision digging and excavation, an excavator for sale can be a great choice. This small machine’s accuracy and precise results are a big plus when working around existing utilities or structures. They can also be used for removing tree stumps, digging holes for water features, and more.
Crawler Excavator
Crawler excavators are designed to perform digging, loading, and hauling tasks on construction sites. They are also used for demolition and trenching projects. They feature a hydraulic system, allowing them to lift and dump materials easily. These machines can be fitted with various attachment tools to meet job site needs.
The tracked undercarriage in crawler excavators provides stability for rugged terrains and muddy conditions. They also can rotate 360 degrees, allowing operators to maneuver the machine to reach different areas without moving the entire equipment. Crawler excavators have a versatile attachment tool suite with a clamshell for material unloading, hydraulic hammers, and drills. This versatility makes it easy to handle different jobs at a construction site.
Another advantage of the tracked undercarriage is that it allows for more excellent traction on slopes and slippery surfaces, which reduces the risk of slippage. This traction makes crawler excavators suitable for grading hilly environments and landscaping uneven terrain.
When deciding on an excavator size, a key consideration is your company’s transportation requirements and whether it will need to cross weight-limited roads. Larger excavators require trailers and can be challenging to transport from one worksite to the next. They may also increase the overall operating costs due to the ancillary transportation and fuel costs.
Long Reach Excavator
A long-reach excavator will likely be the right tool when a job calls for digging in tight spaces. This specialty machine typically features a more extended boom and arm, which allows it to dig deeper than standard excavators, according to Nathaniel Waldschmidt, product manager with CASE Construction Equipment. This additional length also increases leverage, making a long-reach excavator more versatile.
These machines can be paired with attachments for various purposes, including digging, loading trucks, and cutting trenches. They are most commonly used for work along waterways but can also be found in landfills and construction sites. While this versatility can be beneficial, it is essential to note that the oversized boom and arm make these machines top-heavy, requiring counterweights and possibly stabilizer outriggers to support the weight and ensure stability on a job site.
Specialized maintenance is also essential to maintain the longevity of a long-reach excavator. This includes daily inspections and routine services to avoid loosening fasteners, fluid leakage, dirt and dust contamination, and other problems that can cause costly breakdowns.
A demolition-specific excavator is built with the industry’s specific needs, including cab comfort and safety features. They are equipped with powerful, fuel-efficient Cat ACERTTM engines designed to increase productivity and reduce operating costs. These machines also feature low noise levels and a comfortable operator’s cabin.
Dragline Excavator
The dragline excavator is a large piece of equipment used in mining and other projects that require massive excavation. They are among the most potent and versatile pieces of construction machinery available. These machines can dig through concrete and precisely remove walls, foundations, and debris. They can also drill holes in pipelines and other underground structures.
There are two main types of dragline excavators: standard mobile ones and onsite ones. The former are built offsite and transported to a project site where they can be easily dismantled and reassembled. Onsite dragline excavators, on the other hand, are too large to transport and must be built onsite. These massive machines are designed to stay in place for decades and used for coal mining and dredging projects.
The Dragline Excavator features a large bucket suspended by a boom attached to a hoist drum and a drag rope. A skillful operator can control the machine by using the rope to lift and lower the bucket, swing it horizontally, and dump it. This allows the machine to dig more quickly and efficiently than a conventional excavator, making it an essential tool for many construction projects.
These excavators have a rotating house containing the cab, engine, fuel tank, hydraulic tanks, and counterweights. The house can rotate a full 360 degrees to allow the operator to access all areas of the work area.