A mini excavator is a small construction machine used for excavation or light demolition work. It has an operating weight between 1.5 and 8 tonnes and consists of a cab, engine, undercarriage, boom arm, and attachment. It can have tracks or wheels and various attachments. It is ideal for small areas and light jobs.
A mini excavator is a compact construction piece of equipment used for excavation or light demolition work, depending on the equipment it is equipped with. An excavator with an operating weight between 1.5 and 8 tonnes (1.36 to 7.25 tons) and an engine power of up to 60hp is referred to as a mini excavator. A mini excavator is built identically to its larger hydraulic counterpart, consisting of the same major parts: cab, engine, undercarriage, boom arm, and attachment.
The cab, where the operator sits, houses the controls and can usually rotate 360° with the aid of a rotation mechanism that rests on the undercarriage. The undercarriage consists of tracks or wheels, which move the unit over various types of surfaces. The wheels are mainly used for mini excavators that operate on very stable ground, such as roads, concreted areas and inside buildings. Tracks are used for added stability on rough terrain.
There are two types of tracks: rubber and steel. Steel tracks are usually used for machines that will work primarily in mud and loose soil, while rubber is used for units that will also work on asphalt, pavement and landscaped areas. The rubber helps protect these surfaces from damage. In both types, the tracks generally operate independently of each other, with one control for right and one for left. Their range of motion is fore and aft only, so to turn the car to the left, for example, the operator moves only the right rail forward, keeping the other immobile.
A diesel engine often provides power to move the unit and to operate the hydraulic systems that operate the boom and its attachment. The standard attachment for a mini excavator is a digging bucket, but many other attachments are available, such as hammers, ditch buckets and augers. Some units are equipped with swing arms, a system that allows the entire digging arm to move left or right of center. This feature allows the excavator to dig a trench parallel to its tracks, for example next to walls or structures.
Mini excavators are designed for working in small areas and for tackling light jobs, such as digging narrow trenches for pipe laying. They are also ideal for internal use, especially for light demolition on jobs where an electrical switch would not be powerful enough. These small earthmoving machines are often an economical solution for jobs that are too big to do manually, but too small to justify the use of larger excavating equipment.
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