Excavators are essential heavy construction equipment with a boom, dipper or stick, bucket and cab anchored on a rotating platform. The rotating platform, also known as the house, is positioned on an undercarriage with wheels or tracks. Hydraulic excavators operate through hydraulic fluid, which enables movement and functionality through hydraulic cylinders and motors. It’s worth noting that hydraulic excavators differ from cable-operated excavators that use winches and steel ropes for movement due to their linear actuation. Despite their similarities in appearance, power shovels are often confused with excavators.
Some common uses of excavators include:
Digging trenches, holes, and foundations
Material Handling
Forestry work
Demolition
Mining
River dredging
Hydro excavation for fragile underground infrastructure
Driving piles and drilling shafts
Snow removal