Bobcat has unveiled its new Depth Check system for its compact excavators – a grade control system. The system is available for use with Bobcat’s E32, E32i, E35, E35i, E42, E45, E50 and E55 models, with either standard or long-arm iterations.
The Depth Check system is a kit that utilizes three sensors – one on the trenching or grading bucket, one on the arm and one on the boom – that are connected to the deluxe instrument panel inside the cab to track the precise location of the bucket teeth as the bucket, boom and arm move. The system can be calibrated to a specific machine as well as its corresponding attachments – up to five buckets – using the excavator’s boom and arm length, as well as a bucket tooth radius.
According to Bobcat, the Depth Check system has an accuracy of ± 0.5 inches, preventing excavator operators from stopping the machine to measure depth and entering and exiting a trench with a measuring device. It also helps to minimize over-digging and under-digging, and the costs and time associated with backfilling, compacting fill material and manual labor to finalize depth or grade.
Excavator operators access the Depth Check system screen in the instrument panel’s menu bar. Excavator operators choose from multiple methods for using the Depth Check system.
• They can dig to the desired depth, bench off the grade point with the target depth set to zero
• Bench off a grade post that is within reach, with the target depth set to the desired grade
• Set the depth target at minimum cover value, then bench off the adjacent soil
An audible alert can be turned on or off to help indicate how close the Bobcat excavator operator is to the desired target. A slow beep will sound when the operator approaches the target depth, a solid tone will occur at target depth and a fast beep will let the operator know if he or she is beyond the target depth.
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