How to choose a small excavator for small earthworks

In the field of small earthmoving works, it is very important to choose the right small excavator, which is directly related to the efficiency, cost and final results of the project. With its flexible and convenient characteristics, small excavators are widely used in small earthmoving engineering scenarios such as rural building site leveling, small municipal engineering transformation, orchards and farmland consolidation. Next, we will introduce in detail how to choose the ideal small excavator in small earthworks, and the article will interlude such as "small earthworks excavator selection points" and "small excavator model recommendation for small earthworks" to help you understand the relevant knowledge more accurately.

First, clear operation requirements
(1) Operational environment considerations
The working environment of small earthworks is complex and diverse. If the earthwork excavation for house repair in narrow alleys requires the excavator to have a very small turning radius, like some mini mini excavators, the width of the fuselage is less than 1 meter, can easily turn flexibly in narrow Spaces, such excavators are "ideal for small earthwork operations in narrow Spaces". When working in orchards and other sites with more fruit trees, it is necessary to consider the height of the excavator to avoid collision with fruit trees during operation. At this time, small excavators with low fuselage design and certain arm length flexibility are more suitable, such as small excavators designed for orchard operations launched by some brands. It can efficiently complete earth excavation and handling without damaging fruit trees.

(2) Mining task analysis
Different small earthworks excavation tasks and excavation depth requirements vary. For projects with relatively large tasks and deep digging depth (generally 2-3 meters) such as small pond excavation, it is necessary to choose a small excavator with strong power, large digging force and sufficient arm length. For example, some 1.5-2 ton small excavators have a bucket digging force of up to 8-10 kN, and the boom length can be extended to 3-4 meters, which can meet the deep and large range of excavation needs. If the excavation amount is small and the depth is shallow (0.5-1 meters), such as the construction of garden beds, 0.8-1.2 tons of small excavators are sufficient, they are small and lightweight, flexible operation, and can reduce energy consumption and cost while completing shallow excavation tasks, and are "the preferred model for small shallow excavation earthworks".

Second, pay attention to the performance of excavators
(1) Power system
Power is the core guarantee of small excavator operation. In small earthworks, it is preferred to select small excavators equipped with well-known brand engines, such as Kubota, Yanmar and other engines, which have good fuel economy and strong power output. Generally speaking, for most common small earthworks, the engine power between 15-30 kW is more appropriate. For example, in some small municipal road foundation excavation projects with a long duration and a large workload, the engine with such a power range can ensure that the excavator still maintains a stable working state under long-term operation, and will not cause low efficiency due to lack of power, which is "the choice of a powerful excavator for small municipal earthmoving projects". At the same time, advanced engine technology can also reduce emissions, meet environmental requirements, and have obvious advantages in some small earthworks in cities with high environmental requirements.

(2) Hydraulic system
The quality of the hydraulic system directly affects the movement fluency and digging force of the excavator. High-quality small excavators use advanced hydraulic systems to achieve precise motion control. For example, some high-end small excavators are equipped with a load-sensitive hydraulic system, which can automatically adjust the hydraulic oil flow and pressure according to the work load, so that the excavator can ensure the stability and response speed of the bucket, boom and bucket rod when digging the soil of different hardness. In the excavation of hard soil small earthworks, the load-sensitive hydraulic system can instantly improve the excavation force, quickly break hard soil, compared with the ordinary hydraulic system, the working efficiency can be increased by 20%-30%, becoming "the key configuration of efficient excavation of hard soil small earthworks". In addition, a good hydraulic system is well sealed, reducing the risk of hydraulic oil leakage, reducing maintenance costs and downtime.

Third, consider the durability and maintenance convenience of the machine
(1) Structural design and material
The structural parts of small excavators are subjected to huge working stress, so the strong and durable structural design and high-quality materials are the key. In the process of frequent excavation and handling of small earthworks, the working devices of excavators such as buckets, boom and bucket rods are easily damaged. The working device made of high strength alloy steel greatly improves its wear resistance and fatigue resistance. For example, some brands of small excavator buckets use special wear-resistant steel plates in the easily worn parts, and the thickness increases by 20%-30%, which makes the service life of the buckets in the face of hard stones and frequent digging operations extend 1-2 times, which is "an important sign of durable excavators for small earthworks". At the same time, reasonable structure design can disperse the working stress, reduce the stress concentration point, improve the reliability and stability of the whole machine.

(2) Maintenance convenience
In the construction of small earthworks, too long downtime and maintenance will seriously affect the progress of the project. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a small excavator that is convenient for maintenance. Some small excavators have designed a spacious engine hatch cover, which can be easily accessed after opening the engine, filter, hydraulic pump and other major components for daily inspection and maintenance. Moreover, the location of the filter and other wearing parts is reasonably designed, and the replacement does not need to use too many complex tools, and a single person can complete the operation in a short time. Some brands also extend the maintenance cycle, such as the oil replacement cycle from the traditional 250 hours to 500 hours, greatly reducing the number of maintenance, reducing maintenance costs, and becoming a "model of small earthworks with high maintenance convenience excavators."

4. Refer to brand and reputation
(1) Well-known brand advantages
In the small excavator market, well-known brands often have higher quality assurance and technical strength. Like Caterpillar, Komatsu, Sany Heavy Industry and other brands, they have many years of experience and deep technical accumulation in the development and production of excavators. The small excavators produced by these brands are widely used in various small earthworks around the world, and through strict quality control systems, each machine can meet high standards of performance and reliability requirements. Taking Caterpillar's small excavator as an example, its products have been tested in a large number of actual conditions, and have excellent performance in a variety of complex small earthwork environments, with excellent stability and durability, and are "well-known brands of small earthwork trusted excavators". And well-known brands usually have a perfect after-sales service network, can provide users with timely repair, maintenance and other support.

(2) User word-of-mouth research
User reputation is an important way to understand the actual performance of small excavators. Before choosing a small excavator, you can collect the evaluation of other small earthmoving practitioners on the use of different brands and models of small excavators through Internet forums, construction machinery industry websites, user evaluation platforms and other channels. For example, in a construction machinery forum, many users feedback that a brand of small excavator has excellent performance in terms of operating comfort, its driving seat can be adjusted from multiple angles, the operation handle is light and flexible, and it is not easy to fatigue for long hours, which is very important for small earthworks that require continuous work. At the same time, users will also share the excavator in the actual operation of the fault occurrence, maintenance costs and other information, these real user experience can help you more fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of various small excavators, so as to make a more intelligent choice, help you find the "user reputation of good small earthmoving small excavator".

5. Balance between budget and cost performance
(1) Price range analysis
The price of small excavators varies greatly due to factors such as brand, model and configuration. Generally speaking, the price of domestic small excavators is relatively close to the people, the entry price of 0.8-1.5 ton class is about 100,000 to 150,000 yuan, and some domestic small excavators with higher configuration and better performance are priced between 150-250,000 yuan. The price of small excavators of imported brands is generally high, such as Japanese brand small excavators of the same tonnage level, the price may be 20-350,000 yuan. When determining the budget, it is necessary to combine their own project needs and financial status. If it is occasionally to undertake small earthmoving works, the performance requirements of excavators are not particularly high, and the selection of domestic entry-level models with lower prices can meet the needs, which can be used as "the economic choice of low budget small earthmoving works". If the project is more frequent and the performance and stability of the excavator are required to be higher, the budget should be appropriately improved and the high-end model should be selected, which is more cost-effective from the perspective of long-term use cost and operation efficiency.

(2) cost-effective consideration
The cost performance does not simply refer to the low price, but a comprehensive consideration of the performance, quality, after-sales service and price of the excavator. A cost-effective small excavator, not only in line with the budget in price, but also in the use of good performance and low maintenance costs, to create more value for users. For example, although the price of a brand of small excavator is slightly higher than other products of the same level, it is equipped with advanced power and hydraulic systems, the operating efficiency is about 30% higher than that of ordinary models, and the maintenance cycle is long and the maintenance cost is low. Calculated from the entire engineering cycle, it can save a lot of time and capital costs for users. Become "a typical representative of cost-effective excavators for small earthworks". When choosing, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of different brands and models of small excavators, weigh the cost performance, and avoid ignoring the long-term use effect due to excessive pursuit of low prices.

In short, the selection of small excavators in small earthworks needs to be comprehensively considered from multiple dimensions such as operation demand, performance, durability and maintenance, brand reputation and budget cost performance.

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