Monday, November 10th, 2008
Excavators are heavy equipment used in civil engineering and surface mining. An excavator, also called a 360-degree excavator or digger, sometimes abbreviated simply to a 360, is an engineering vehicle consisting of a backhoe and cab mounted on a pivot (turntable is a more apt description) atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. The term excavator is sometimes used as a general term for any piece of digging equipment.
Roles of Excavators
Excavators are used in many roles:
1- Digging of trenches, holes, foundations
2- Demolition
3- General grading/landscaping
4- Heavy lift, e.g. lifting and placing of pipes
5- River dredging
6- Mining, especially, but not only open-pit mining
7- Brush cutting with hydraulic attachments
Varieties of Excavators
Excavators for sale come in a wide variety of sizes. The smaller ones are called a mini-excavator or compact excavator. One manufacturer’s largest model weighs 84,980 kg (187,360 lb) and has a maximum bucket size of 4.5 m³ (5.9 yd³). The same manufacturer’s smallest mini-excavator weighs 1470 kg (3240 lb), has a maximum bucket size of 0.036 m³ (0.048 yd³) and the width of its tracks can be adjusted to 89 cm (35 inches). Another company makes a mini excavator that will fit through a doorway with tracks that can be adjusted to only 70 cm (28 inches) wide.
Examples of Excavators
1- Compact excavator
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.
2- Dragline excavator
Dragline excavation systems are heavy equipment used in civil engineering and surface mining. In civil engineering the smaller types are used for road and port construction. The larger types are used in strip-mining operations to extract coal and these are amongst the largest mobile equipment (not water-borne), and weigh in the vinicity of 2000 metric tonnes, though specimens weighing up to 13,000 metric tonnes have also been constructed.
3- Bucket-wheel excavator
Bucket-wheel excavators are heavy equipment used in surface mining and civil engineering. The excavation component itself is a large rotating wheel mounted on an arm or boom. On the outer edge of the wheel is a series of scoops or buckets. As the wheel turns, the buckets remove soil or rock from the target area and carry it around to the backside of the wheel, where it falls onto a conveyor, which carries it up the arm toward the main body of the excavator. Additional conveyors then may carry it further; in some cases, several long conveyors are placed end-to-end, each supported by a large vehicular base.
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Thursday, November 6th, 2008
Whether it’s a forklift, backhoe or an even more complicated piece of machinery, heavy equipment isn’t something to be used by those who don’t know what they’re doing. These machines are meant to get a job done and get it done correctly and efficiently, but they can be dangerous in unknowing hands. That’s why so many turn to heavy equipment training to ensure proper handling and safety. And, in most cases, training is required to use a particular machine, or at least preferred by employers.
For those job hunting, it’s a fact the construction industry itself is pretty darn solid. It’s generally one of the country’s most booming industries on a year in and year out basis. Those who can operate heavy equipment and do it safely are in high demand. The work can include jobs in private industry, government and even in a person’s own personal businesses. With the proper training, the options are many and the chances for high paying jobs are quite high, too.
The field opens a lot of doors for potential workers as well. This is good for those who don’t know where they want to settle down, or prefer the options that come with a job that’s open just about anywhere.
Training for heavy equipment takes time and lengths will vary depending on the school in question. Getting training, however, is vital not only for good employment opportunities, but also to ensure personal safety. These machines are not like a child’s Tonka toy.
Training before touching a piece of heavy machinery is important for the following reasons:
* There are many different heavy machines. Getting training enables a worker to understand them all and also appreciate the nuances of the difference pieces of equipment.
* Safety. By going through a good training program, a potential worker will be apprised of the different safety measures that must be taken on different pieces of machinery. Even a simple forklift can be dangerous if not operated correctly, in accordance with proper procedures.
* Employability. Often times, the higher paying jobs (or any job) will require training before they’ll even talk to an operator. Proper schooling in the different machines opens a lot of doors.
* Mobility. Those who have training from nationally recognized schools will also generally receive job-placement assistance. Oftentimes this extends long after graduation. So, if a job is needed in a new location, the school can work to help make sure you find one.
If a good job with lots of possibilities is a goal, heavy equipment operating may be the way to go. However, heavy machinery is not like a simple automobile. These machines are meant to do serious work and they have their own subtleties that must be learned and mastered before an operator is considered safe in the driver’s seat.
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Friday, October 24th, 2008
As the single-largest industry in the U.S., there’s no doubt that construction plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economy. After all, without heavy equipment, construction equipment operators, and building inspectors, we wouldn’t have any skyscrapers, freeways, apartment buildings, or bridges. So, when it comes to getting in on some of the hottest careers around, this industry will always provide more than its share of employment opportunities. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts that employment opportunities for construction managers will exceed the number of qualified candidates from now through 2014.
Construction Management Degrees: Paving the Way to Success :
Many colleges, universities and technical schools are now offering a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. This type of construction management degree is designed to provide a foundation in construction management, techniques, and legal issues relating to the field. Areas of study can include building codes, site construction and measurement, project management, construction safety management, and more. Instruction on mechanical systems and materials are also typically included in these programs.
Here is a closer look at some of the jobs you can land with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management:
Building Inspectors. In this position, your priority will be keeping buildings safe and up to code. You’ll double-check repairs, alterations, and construction of buildings and other structures to make sure they are in compliance with local, state, and federal ordinances and zoning laws.
Construction Manager. If you enjoy planning and coordinating, this is the job for you. From construction superintendent – to project engineer – to general construction manager – you’ll be the glue that holds an entire project together. You may plan and direct a single project, or manage pieces of a larger project. Basically, you’ll oversee construction supervisors and workers.
Heavy Equipment Operators. Construction equipment operators use branded equipments like Caterpillar equipments, Case equipments, Hitachi equipments, Volvo equipments, Bobcat equipments etc, to move heavy materials such as earth and construction equipment. Typical responsibilities include operating equipment such as bulldozers, as well as using road graders and tamping equipment to build roads and other large structures. With relatively high hourly pay and a good job outlook, this could be a great career option if you’re interested in earning a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.
Some of the courses you can expect to take while getting your construction management degree include:
• Project Management
• Statics and Strength of Materials
• Building Codes
• Project Scheduling
• Cost Estimating and Analysis
• Legal Issues in Construction
If this sounds good to you, it’s time to start finding a place to get your degree. If you’d like to get a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management but just don’t have the time or freedom for traditional classes, keep in mind that many schools now let you get your entire construction management degree online. If this is the way you want to go, be sure and check out the programs at each of the colleges you’re interested in.
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Monday, October 20th, 2008
Excavators where the digging action is a downward arch motion are known as backhoes or hoes and even back shovels. Thus they are used to excavate below the ground surface or below the machine track level. New or used backhoe loaders beside being mounted on crawler tracks can also be mounted on a wheel base.
Wheel mounted excavators are not specifically for bulk excavation but designed for mobility and general purpose works. The John Deere excavators and JCB excavators are the most well known examples of the wheeled based types.
Uses Of Backhoes :
These heavy equipments for sale are suitable for excavating trenches, pits for basement and smaller machines can handle general grading work. It is a versatile machine in that it can perform both excavation and lifting works. Example in drainage works or utility works , the back hoe can perform the trench excavation and handle the pipes or culverts. Thus this makes the need for a second lifting machine unnecessary.
During excavation the penetration force in to the material being excavated is achieved by the stick cylinder and the bucket cylinder. The buckets can be selected depending on the type of material excavated. For easily excavated material wide buckets are used. When excavating rocky material or blasted rocks, a narrow bucket is used. In utility works, the width of the required trench is the deciding factor in selecting the bucket.
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