Introduction
Mini excavators weigh up to almost 20,000 pounds. In today’s world, mini excavators are popular machines because of their many uses in construction jobs. Renting or buying a mini excavator are both good cause it costs not so much money, and you can fulfill lots of jobs by using a mini digger.
A mini excavator is a wheeled or tracked vehicle used mostly in construction.
Mini excavators have similar capabilities to excavators because they can work in small places. The mini excavator has many names, for example, mini ex, small excavator, mini digger, mini hoe, etc. You can dig precisely by using the cheapest mini excavators. If you are looking to learn some basics about this amazing construction equipment, this is the right place for you.
Structure Of Mini Excavators
House Of Mini Excavators
The House structure of the mini excavator is located on the top of the undercarriage with a swing bear; basically, the undercarriage is connected by the house. The House structure consists of an engine compartment, operator’s compartment, a hydraulic pump, and other distribution components.
House and workers inside can rotate without limit because the hydraulic distribution valve in undercarriage components supplies oil.
Slew
The rotation of the excavator’s house assembly is called slewing. The person who is operating can slew the entire house structure.
Undercarriage
The undercarriage of a mini excavator consists of tracks that make the machine move on the ground made up of steel or rubber, rollers, idlers, sprockets, and associated components. Undercarriage supports the house and the workgroup. Moreover, it holds the motor and gears.
Workgroup
Workgroup of used mini excavator consists of dipper or arm, boom, and attachments, e.g., bucket, breaker, etc. The workgroup is connected to the house structure through a swing frame through which it can be hydraulically pivoted right or left to achieve an offset digging. Certain companies, including CAT and Terex, offer flexible boom options just like a boom of a backhoe loader.
Independent Boom Swing
An Independent boom swing is used for offset digging around walls, foundations, obstacles, etc. Boom swing has more dominance than other excavation equipment. The swing boom is connected to the swing frame, which is then connected to the horizontal frame with a horizontal pin. It can move hydraulically left, right, and up and down.
Backfill Blade
The backfill blade in most mini excavators is used for leveling, trenching, backfilling, grading, and other dozer works. A backfill blade can increase the dump height and digging depth. It also stabilizes the machine while digging.
Essential Attachments
There are many attachments that your mini excavator can be easily equipped with to do the required job quickly. You can also rent the attachments. Some of the many attachments used in the mini excavator are listed below:
- Dozer Blade
- Hammer
- Auger
- Grapple
- Breaker
- Tiltrotator
- Buckets and couplers, which include
- 4-in-1 bucket
- V-Bottom bucket
- Power tilt pin grab
- Trapezoid bucket
- Ditching bucket
- Power wedge etc.
- Hydraulic Thumb
- Rakes
- Rippers
- Hammers
- Chuck blades
You can fit the dozer blades in mini excavators to move materials around during construction work. The stability factor for the equipment is also the use of a dozer blade as an attachment in a wheeled mini excavator.
Conventional Tail Swing Vs. Zero Tail Swing Mini Excavators
Zero tail swing
The upper body of a zero tail swing mini excavator rotates within its undercarriage width. You can easily work in congested areas using a zero tail swing mini excavator. The zero tail swing excavators offer high maneuverability that reduces damage to fences, buildings, the machine itself, and other obstructions.
Conventional tail swing
The conventional tail swing excavator offers maximum digging performance with an extended upper structure. It consists of a longer tail swing radius. This helps to provide longer operating dimensions with more productivity and more comfort. However, there is a bad part that makes it unable to work perfectly when you have to rotate through the 45⁰ plus.
Size Category of Mini Excavators
The size of a mini excavator is something that most people get confused about. It is important to select the right size for your mini excavators. Because if you don’t select the right size, you may not be able to perform the job with perfection. It will just be a waste of money and time.
The mini excavator size that you pick, should meet your needs regarding lifting, trenching, digging, and demolishing. When choosing the right size for your mini excavators, you need to consider the following factors:
- Operating weight of mini excavators
- Digging depth
- Reach
- Dumping Height
- Swing
- Dimensions
- Bucket breakout force.
Here are some best uses of mini excavators of different sizes:
Size 1 to 2 Tons:
- Perfect for tight spaces
- Easily Transportable
- Perfect for indoor jobs
- Suitable for most spaces.
Size 3 to 5 Tons:
- Suitable for removing stumps and pools digging
- More comfortable
- Air-conditioned cabs
- Easy-to-use attachments
Size 5 to 10 Tons:
- Capable of large jobs
- Installing Swimming pools
- Suitable for almost every job
- Can dig more than 15 feet deep.
Common Applications Of Compact Excavators
Mini excavators or compact excavators are used for trenching, backfilling, grading, digging, and even drilling. A mini excavator of 3000 to 3999 pounds can dig up to 7.8 ft deep holes, while a mini excavator of 7000 – 9999 pounds can dig up to 10.2 ft deep holes. Some of the applications of mini excavators are
- Making pools and hot tubs as mini excavator are the best machine for digging out in-ground pools or hot tubs, even if your background is small
- Restoring sewer lines as a mini excavator efficiently moves dirt when restoring sewer lines if there is a tight spot, for example, having structures around it. After the repairment, its blade can level the yard using a dozer blade as an attachment in a mini excavator
- Removing or planting trees as a mini excavator can quickly dig up holes for tree transplants and backfill them. By using attachments, the mini excavator can remove even large trees. Usually, a thumb grapple as an attachment in a mini excavator for these purposes.
- Tear down small structures, for example, sheds, barns, and other small structures. It can even load the debris into the back of the trailer.
- You can use a mini excavator for drilling drainage or posts by attaching an auger to a mini excavator. Using a mini excavator, you can easily drill deep into the soil or even concrete to install road signage, fence posts, etc.
Safety Protocols For Compact Excavators
Safety is an important part of life, whether performing a small job at home or digging a large hole at a construction site. Safety is important because it enhances the productivity of whatever you are doing.
There are also some safety Protocols for mini excavator operations. These protocols are listed below:
- Don’t forget to wear personal protective equipment while working with mini excavators at your job site. It is the first step to safe working.
- When entering or exiting, you need to maintain three points of contact.
- Wear the seat belt.
- Make full use of the safety interlock.
- Using the camera feature can help you perform the job more effectively.
Mini Excavator vs. Standard Excavators
Mini excavators, as compared to standard excavators, are lighter and smaller in size. A mini excavator can perform the work more easily on the crowded side than the standard excavator.
Standard excavators’ large size can cause a problem with parking. However, the used mini excavators can be parked easily. Another advantage of a mini excavator is that you can transport them in different sizes.
Mini diggers have a longer life space than standard excavators because their work is less intense. It can also add an attachment to do the work more efficiently.
What Factors To Consider While Choosing A Mini Excavator?
Choosing the right compact machines has always been a problem for people without knowledge.
Especially when you are a beginner with no technical knowledge, there are some important key points that one must know when making a deal for a compact excavator.
Remember that buying a mini excavator should start with knowing your requirements. Once you know what you want to do with excavators, you can do the next steps easily.
You must search for high-quality brands that can more easily fulfill your requirements. You need to check them in terms of mini excavator cost, features, specifications, and quality.
Once you choose the right manufacturer and excavator to import to your country, you need to know import terms. It is only important if you purchase from another country such as China.
Consult an expert manufacturer or importer to help you get the safe delivery of mini excavators at your doorstep. You need to take this step if you want to get your mini excavator safely since damages are possible on the way.
Some famous and best mini excavator brands are listed below:
- John deere
- Caterpillar
- Hitachi
- Bobcat
- Komatsu
- Kubota
- Yanmar mini excavators
Make sure you choose the best mini excavator brand.
Conclusion
Compact excavators make your jobs easy by being fitted into small spaces. It can be a real profit machine for you if you are a project contractor in the construction business and love to invest in this equipment. Looking for high-quality mini excavators for sale from China? Contact Us now.