COMPACT EXCAVATOR (MINI EXCAVATOR)

Introduction

Many times you need a smaller excavator to handle more delicate jobs. These smaller excavators are also called "Compact Excavators" or "Mini excavators". Weighing in at two to six tons, there is little that's mini about "mini excavators", known as "compact excavators", these machines are becoming popular for a wide range of applications from utility work to demolition to landscaping. Compact excavators bring many advantages to a wide range of construction jobsites. Compact excavators are maneuverable and easy to operate. About the same size as a skid steer loader, compact excavators mount one heavy-duty arm on a set of bulldozer like tracks to tackle digging applications in smaller environments.

Compact Excavator Basics

A compact excavator consists of a cab, engine, dual bulldozer-like tracks or treads, a boom arm, and an attachment.

1- The cab, where the operator sits, can pivot 360° on top of the tracks.

2- The diesel engine provides propulsion power for the tracks and powers the hydraulic systems that do the digging.

3- The steel or rubber tracks move the machine around the work site, even on loose or muddy ground.

4- The boom, the arm that holds the attachment, provides the digging power.

5- The attachment does the actual work. Most excavators come with a standard bucket - a toothed scoop for digging into dirt or gravel; but can support many other types of attachments.

Compact Excavator Features

Compact excavator means compact or mini range excavator. Compact or Mini excavators offer virtually identical features and options to their larger cousins: the only real difference between mini and full-size excavators is scale. Here are some of the features you should evaluate :

Tracks -

Both steel and rubber tracks are popular on mini excavators. Steel tracks are more durable and provide good traction on loose dirt. However, on pavement or landscaped areas, rubber tracks do a much better job at reducing surface damage: a rubber-tracked mini excavator can drive right over a curb without crushing it.

Bolt-on rubber pads -

Bolt-on rubber pads that operators can affix to steel treads offer a reasonable compromise. This gives you the strength of steel tracks but lets you switch to the less-damaging rubber pads when needed.

Attachments -

Attachments Switching between multiple attachments lets you get much more use out of your mini excavator. Different sizes and styles of buckets are used for different types of digging. Other common attachments include augers (for boring holes), thumbs (for pinching or gripping) and hydraulic hammers Some mini excavators even use the same "quick attach" couplers as skid steer loaders, allowing you to share attachments between the two.

Boom offset or Swing boom -

Many compact excavators offer boom offset or swing booms. This popular feature moves the entire digging arm left or right of center. This allows the excavator to dig a trench parallel to its own tracks, and to do so in tight quarters next to existing walls or structures.

Zero tail swing or Compact radius -

Compact excavators with zero tail swing (sometimes called "compact radius" excavators) can rotate their cabs completely within the width of their tracks, preventing the operator from ever bumping anything with the "tail" or back part of the cab.

Backfill blade or Bulldozer blade -

Many come standard with a backfill or bulldozer blade that attaches below the boom, making it easy to refill and level after you're done digging without having to change attachments.

Enclosed cabs -

As with skid steer loaders, enclosed cabs that shelter operators from the elements are becoming much more popular on mini excavators than they used to be. These often include heat and air conditioning, and can go a long way towards keeping operators comfortable and working at their best.

Anti-vandalism features -

If you'll be leaving your excavator at job sites overnight, look for compact excavators that allow you to lock up the controls to prevent troublemakers from damaging the machine or your work.
Unlike some other types of compact equipment, mini excavators are almost exclusively available with diesel engines. (Electric mini excavators do exist, but they're very rare). A single tank of diesel fuel should give you a day to a day and a half's use.

Summery

Compact excavators or Mini excavators are most often found at work at construction sites in densely populated urban areas. However, compact excavators can just as easily be spotted in modern suburbia on a new home construction or remodel site. Another place to spot these versatile pieces of equipment is on the farm.

A compact hydraulic excavator is a tracked or wheeled vehicle with an approximate operating weight of 6 metric tons (13,228 lbs). It generally includes a standard backfill blade and features independent boom swing. The compact hydraulic excavator is also referred to as a mini excavator.The compact hydraulic excavator is somewhat unique from other construction equipment in that all movement and functions of the machine are accomplished through the transfer of hydraulic fluid. The compact excavator's work group and blade are activated by hydraulic fluid acting upon hydraulic cylinders. The excavator's slew (rotation) and travel functions are also activated by hydraulic fluid powering hydraulic motors.