Excavators are nearly ubiquitous equipment in construction, landscaping, and mining. These massive machines can be affixed with different tools that perform specific tasks, such as a bucket for digging and trenching, shears for demolition, and augers to drill holes. The most popular excavators are small or compact and range in weight from less than 7 to 10 metric tons. These excavators can often be transported between sites on a truck without requiring the driver to have a special license.
Crawler Excavator
The most common type of excavator, these heavy-duty construction machines primarily consist of a boom, dipper, and bucket and are hydraulic. They move on crawler tracks or wheels and are ideal for constructing trenches and holes, digging slopes, material handling, demolition, and dredging applications. A great benefit of a crawler excavator Boston MA is its ability to be paired with various attachments for more versatility at the job site. Some popular options include a hydraulic breaker for demolition, a grapple for land clearing, or a clamshell for material unloading. Another advantage of a crawler excavator, especially compared to backhoe loaders, is its ability to rotate 360 degrees without impacting the ground or obstructions. It allows quicker movement among job sites with fewer restrictions and easier maneuvering. Some models even have reduced-tail-swing configurations for working in limited-space commercial or residential job sites or new road and bridge construction projects.
Wheeled Excavator
In this case, the excavator’s superstructure rests on a wheeled chassis instead of tracks. It’s a general-purpose machine that can be fitted with various attachments such as hydraulic breakers, cutters, shears, grapples, and more at the end of its boom or arm. It’s an excellent option for heavy lifting or extensive demolition work. It can also have a boom cab with small pillars to improve visibility. With this configuration, operators can efficiently operate and service the excavator. Other features include an auto-lube system to make maintenance easier. It’s designed to increase machine efficiency, reduce overinvestment in excess equipment on job sites, and save contractors money. It also reduces downtime by maximizing the power of the excavator. It is achieved through optimized drive controls and auxiliary hydraulic options to maximize attachment versatility.
Knuckle Boom Excavator
Known as the Swiss Army knife of excavators, they can do almost anything on a job site. Part of what makes them so versatile is the boom design. Standard excavators come in 13-15, 16-22, and 25-40 ton categories, with the latter being stapled sizes you see on sites. The larger the machine, the more weight it can put on the ground, which impacts digging depth and dump height capabilities. The cab on an excavator sits on a platform that can rotate or “slew” 360 degrees, and the boom/stick/bucket assembly is located at the front. They’re not seen often at construction jobs but can be helpful for forestry work. On some models, the back of the house does not protrude beyond the tracks, called a zero tail swing (ZTS). However, it limits the amount of power you have available when digging.
Mini Excavator
Small excavators are top-rated and versatile pieces of equipment. Generally speaking, they are lighter than standard excavators, which makes them great for landscaping projects, building pools, or hauling between jobs. These machines are also easy to drive over hard surfaces and concrete because they disturb less ground. Contractors can use different attachments to expand the functionality of their excavators. For example, a plate compactor attachment helps contractors build roads or compact gravel before laying pavers. Adding a second auxiliary hydraulic system lets contractors run attachments that require two separate power sources, like a dozer blade. Finally, many mini excavators offer cab features that help operators stay comfortable on long days at work. For instance, the latest excavator cabs have more headroom and floor space for taller operators. It allows them to stretch out and avoid neck or back strain.