Machine Control Solutions for Compact Machines

Machine Control Solutions
for Compact Machines
Tim Baker
HCC-6907
Agenda
§  Introduction
§  Compact machine solutions
§  Level best grading products
§  Bobcat sonic tracer/slope sensor system
Speaker Introductions
§  Tim Baker
–  CTCT product/project manager OEM and compact
machine solutions
–  Introduction and overview
§  Dale Sensenig
–  ATI Level Best – Level Best Specialist
–  Attachments portfolio for compact machines
–  Level Best Grading Products
§  Tyler Zima/Dale Brandt
–  Bobcat – Product Specialist – Attachments
–  Compact machines, attachments
–  Sonic tracer/slope sensor system
Machine Control Product Portfolio
Flex Family
Compact
Machine
Solutions
Compact machines
small jobs, rentals
laser plane guidance
Excavators
and compactors
small / medium jobs
easily moved from
machine to machine
basic in-field designs
GCS900
PCS900
CCS900
(2D and 3D)
Trimble ready machines
medium/large jobs
connected sites
3D design files
Manual Guidance Systems – Laser Reference
COMPACT MACHINE
SOLUTIONS
LR50/60W and RD20
§  Wireless laser receiver and display
§  Used for grading/digging a planar surface
–  Pads, sports fields and landscaping
–  Footers, utility trenches and drains
§  Remove your laser grade checker
§  Low cost, easy to install, set up and use
§  Suitable for all machine types
Automatic Control Systems – Laser Referenced
COMPACT MACHINE
SOLUTIONS
Automatic Blade Control
§  Automatically controlled systems
— The system automatically adjusts
the blade or screed, up or down, to
grade
— The operator uses a control
box for setup
— This type of system may be used
on a variety of machines and
applications
— Flat, single slope or dual slope
— These systems are used primarily
on dozers, machine attachments
and box blades
CB30 and LR50
OEM Relationships
Automatic Control Systems –2D and 3D
COMPACT MACHINE
SOLUTIONS
Machine Control Product Portfolio
Flex Family
Compact
Machine
Solutions
Compact machines
small jobs, rentals
laser plane guidance
Excavators
and compactors
small/medium jobs
easily moved from
machine to machine
basic in-field designs
GCS900
PCS900
CCS900
(2D and 3D)
Trimble ready machines
medium/large jobs
connected sites
3D design files
Trimble GCS900 Grade Control Systems
§  Flexible and interchangeable between
machines and machine type
§  Multiple language support
–  Configurable on-the-fly
§  Wide range of configurations
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Dual GNSS
Single GNSS
GNSS and laser augmentation
Universal Total Station
Laser receiver
Sonic tracers
Cross slope
§  Indicate only and fully automatic
blade control solutions
3D Machine Control
▪ 
Three-dimensional (3D) guidance (X, Y, Z) to a complex design surface
▪ 
Grade anywhere on project that the 3D design model covers, i.e. X and Y points
with Z point
▪ 
System “Indicates or Automatically” drives the blade to complex design grade
3D Provides Maximum Returns
3D Model
3D Data Prep
3D Machine Control
Small contractors grow their business and profitability with 3D
technology
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SITECH or third party consultant can provide design services
Basic designs can be done in SketchUp
–  Designs can be locally placed using Trimble’s Site Positioning Systems (GNSS or
Universal Total Station (UTS)
–  Ideal for pools, housing/building pads, landscaping, parking lot, earthworks
Use UTS for precision grading 0.009’ - 0.016’ (3-5mm) ideal for concrete prep
Productivity and Yield
Efficiency Increases
80%
70%
60%
50%
Traditional
Display
Integrated/GPS
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Productivity
Yield
Case Study
Who: Small Concrete placement company with 17 employees, including 5 seasonal
laborers, run by Beau Wissing and his father.
Technology: Purchased Trimble 3D GCS900 Grade Control System, Trimble SCS900 Site
Controller Software and Rover with UTS (needed precision for concrete placement) after
learning about the system in a magazine he won a subscription to at WOC and seeing one
of his dirt guys use a GNSS dozer system. Profitable jobs had become very complex and
inefficient for lasers.
Quote: “It was a gigantic financial investment that we took our time to make, but it has been
the single best investment we have made”.
4 months on: Still amazed with the value the technology has bought their company, the
work they have won because of it, and the shift in jobs they are now quoting on.
Case Study
Examples from the last three jobs:
§  School Parking lot - 40k sq ft., 1000ft Curb. One day fine grading and forming (dirt
guy used GNSS and left surface good), two days pouring, one day clean up. >50%
reduction in time from previous workflow without 3D technology.
§  Complicated commercial parking lot – 50k sq ft, sub-graded, fine graded and
formed in 9 hours with 7 guys. GC comments were “My other concrete contractor
would have taken 1 week with 20 people” not only was he impressed with the speed
but also with the finish. Heartland is now the preferred supplier on all complex
projects.
§  Latest pour of 361yds, calculated. Ordered 360 yds, needed ½ yd extra to complete
pour. Uses digital calculation from the office software to estimate all material volumes.
Now within 1.5% previously 10%. $1,000 per day’s pour savings.
Level Best
LEVEL BEST GRADING PRODUCTS
PD Series Grading Box
§  Machine control 101
§  New design
§  Bi-directional grading
§  Danfoss hydraulic valve
§  Versatile use and transport
§  3D ready
§  3-year warranty
Application
•  Concrete Subgrade
•  Athletic Field
Construction
•  Equestrian Arenas &
Rings
•  Parking Lots
•  Golf Course
Construction
•  Outdoor Basketball &
Tennis Courts
•  General Construction
Finish Blade
§  True 6-way blade
§  Replace small finish dozers
§  Danfoss Hydraulic Valve
§  Versatile use and application
§  3D ready
§  Integrated joystick controller
Application
Concrete Subgrade
General Excavation
Curb Work
Backfilling
Athletic Field
Construction
§  Golf Course
Construction
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Bobcat Company
SONIC TRACER/SLOPE SENSOR
Auto Grading Solution
•  A new kit that provides a second automatic
grading solution for Bobcat grader attachments
(96” and 108”)
•  Expand into new applications
•  Added solution for current customers
•  Requires M-Series machine with deluxe
instrumentation panel
How it Works
§  “Sonic and slope” set-ups have been available for
decades; used mostly on large motor graders
Two Main Components
§  Sonic tracer
–  Hangs off either side of
moldboard maintains distance
from it to surface below
§  Cross-slope sensor
–  Mounts on back of moldboard
–  Adjusts opposite side of
moldboard to maintain pre-set
slope by operator
Advantages and Applications
Advantage: a laser needs to be a flat plane, whereas
sonic/slope can follow the natural terrain
Advantage: No laser required
Applications
§  Road building
–  String-line
–  Curb and gutter
§  Working in areas where laser
is obstructed
–  i.e.: opening photo
§  Path construction
–  Golf cart, nature, bicycle,
running
Components
Mounting kit
§  Hardware and harnesses
Sensor kit
1.  Sonic tracer
2.  Cross-slope sensor
3.  Mainfall slope sensor
§  Corrects cross-slope
when going up/downhill
4.  Rotation sensor
§  Corrects cross-slope
when blade is angled
M-Series Deluxe
Instrumentation Panel
3
4
2
1
M-Series Deluxe Panel
§  Need a control box
–  Save cost
–  Save cab space
§  Screen split vertically down
§  the middle
–  Sonic shows on side
mounted (right side in this
example)
–  Cross-slope opposite side
A.  Desired cross-slope
§  Adjust with +/-
B.  Actual cross slope
C.  Visual target vs. actual
D.  Automatic control indication
E.  Vertical offset from original
“zero” Setting
§  Adjust with +/-
F.  Distance from target
G.  Visual target vs. actual
H.  Sonic active in auto mode
–  Green check or red X
§ 
I. 
Toggle with 9 button
Zero button – set “depth”
Set-up and Operation
It’s easy!
§  Slope is typically predetermined
–  1-2% is common
§  Step 1: Enter slope into deluxe
panel using buttons 1 and 2
Step 2: Position sonic tracer
over “object”
§  String line, gutter or previous
pass
Step 3: “Zero” the sonic tracer
Set-up and Operation
The system is also capable of doing cross-slope only
–  Operator manually controls “sonic” side, cross-slope
adjusts automatically when in auto mode
–  Often used for the first pass to help get grade close
Installation
Consists of installing mounts and components, and
calibrating when installation is complete
–  1.5 hours installation time
–  Additional hour to weld two small plates onto grader for
older models
–  Older graders and machines will need software update
–  Calibration required on each sensor
Offsite Station
Visit our offsite session (HCC-7227) to see all of the tools
shown here in action
Questions