In building projects, the selection and use of the excavator can be decisive speed, cost, to project efficiency.
Many building projects experience delays or cost overruns not because of a lack of labor, but because:
- Not understanding the working system of the excavator
- The type of excavator does not suit your needs
- Cycle time is too long
This is where it is important to understand excavators not just as tools, but as the main factor of project productivity.
This article will increase your insight into excavators starting from their function in building projects, the way it works, to the type of excavator that is suitable for building projects.
Let's just discuss it.
What is the Function of an Excavator in a Building Project?
Before going into a more technical discussion, We must first know the function of an excavator in a building project.
In practice, Excavators play a role in almost all important stages of a building project:
1. Foundation Excavation
On foundation work, excavator does cutting and digging with a combination of movements:
- Boom down – set depth
- Arm proceed – surveying the mining area
- Bucket curl – cutting and taking land
The excavator was chosen to work on this stage because has a digging style (digging force) the big one so it can penetrate hard ground.
Furthermore, the excavator has precise hydraulic controls so you can adjust the depth of the foundation.
This is the reason why excavators are often used for work:
- basement
- footing (site foundation)
- drainage channel
2. Moving and Loading Materials
After the material has been excavated, the excavator then does material handling:
- The bucket is filled with material (land, pasir, and rocks)
- Boom lifted
- Upper structure broken (swing)
- Bucket opened – material falls into the dump truck
Why the excavator is so effective for this stage? Because of the excavator:
- Capable of doing continuous loading cycle
- No need reposition tool too often
- Can be directly synchronized with dump truck
Loading speed is one of the factors that greatly influences the duration of a building project.
3. Grading and Land Leveling
It is not only used for digging and moving materials, excavators can also be used for control the elevation of the ground surface.
On the surface of the ground high spot can be cut with a bucket excavator and on low spot can be filled with material and then leveled using bucket.
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4. Demolition (Demolition)
With attachments like breaker, excavators are capable of destroying concrete and old structures.
According to several studies on building construction science, usage breaker excavator can improve efficiency demolition to approx 40% compared to manual methods.
How Excavators Work?
After understanding its function in a building project, now we get into how the excavator works.
In principle, excavator works with converts engine power into hydraulic pressure to produce movement.
Main Workflow:
- Engine generate power
- Energy moves hydraulic pump
- Hydraulic pump moves to produce a high pressure oil flow
- Control valve regulates oil pressure distribution
- The oil flow moves actuator (boom, arm, bucket, and swing)
It means, all excavator movements are determined by the hydraulic system, not just an ordinary mechanic.
When we understand how excavators work, we will more easily identify problems that may occur during its use.
vital Records: 80% excavator problems come from dirty hydraulic oil and poor filter maintenance.
Read Also:
- List of Recommended Oils for PC Engines 100
- Causes of Excavator Low Power and Solutions
- Reasons why the PC200 Excavator Track Often Comes Off and How to Solve It
How Excavators Move?
After understanding how an excavator works, let's see how the excavator moves in the field.
1. Travel System
The excavator moves using:
- Track (chain) → stable, suitable soft soil
- Wheel (wheel) → fast, for hard surfaces
In building projects, track used more often because:
- pressure to the ground is lower
- more stable when working
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2. Swing System (Rotation)
Swing This system functions so that the top of the excavator can rotate up to 360°. This system makes it possible:
- faster loading
- no need to frequently reposition the tool
What is Cycle Time?
Now we go into the concept that most determines work results, namely cycle time.
Cycle time is the time required to complete one work cycle:
- You can
- Pick up
- Spin
- Throw away
- Return
Average on the field, excavator is operating 20–40 seconds per cycle
So that, the faster the cycle time, the more material can be moved per hour.
Types of Excavators Suitable for Building Projects
After understanding the function and how the excavator works, we will advise you on the right type of excavator for your project.
1. Mini Excavator (3–7,5 ton)
If your work area is narrow and limited, mini excavator could be your main choice.
Because mini excavator own:
- The size compact
- Swing small radius
- Ground pressure low
- More economical fuel consumption than larger excavators
Mini excavator this is perfect for the project:
- Housing development
- Home renovation
- Landscaping & taman
2. Medium Excavator (10 ton)
Medium excavator this is suitable for:
- Shophouse construction / building 2-5 floor
- Urban road works
- Construction of large drainage channels
- Loading material to dump truck
3. Large Excavator (>20 ton)
Examples of projects that are suitable for large excavator among others:
- Toll road project
- The development of an industrial area
- High-rise building basement projects
- Mining project (mining)
- Reclamation project / cut & fill large volume
Conclusion
Excavators work through a hydraulic system that converts engine power into movement for digging, lift, transfer, and forming materials in the field. This way of working directly determines the speed and efficiency of a building project.
The role of excavators is very crucial in building projects because they are used in almost all stages of work, starting from digging foundations to moving materials.
Therefore, Understanding cycle time and the right type of excavator is the key to optimizing work results.
With proper understanding, Excavators are not just tools, but is a major factor in the success of the project.
If you are looking for an excavator that suits your project, PT Perkasa Sarana Utama ready to help determine the most efficient excavator.
PT Perkasa Sarana Utama (PSU) present to provide services sewa excavator with well-maintained units, ready for operation, and has gone through daily inspections (P2H) routine. Each unit is supported by regular maintenance according to technical standards, up to risk downtime in the middle of the project can be minimized.
With the support of a reliable fleet and experienced team, PSUs help ensure work in the field runs more safely, efficient, and on time. Come contact us here!
WhatsApp: 0812-5233-3349
Email: rent@psualatberat.comWebsite: psualatberat.com
