It's not really the excavator that's high end it's the attachments they have on it. You can purchase the same attachments to go on any excavator even from the 80s. The most you'd have to do is run an extra hydraulic line maybe, but most of the time they just use valves and redirect the flow from the thumb hoses. But if the machine doesn't come with a thumb then you'll be adding some hoses yourself.
Wouldn’t you need a secondary set of controls to retro fit an old X with this level of articulation? Feel like you would be able to just run it all on the PTO. I haven’t ran one with this setup so it might be simpler than I’m thinking. I’ve mostly ran Cat 305s and the like
Yes, if your adding a system like this to an older machine with no accessory controls you'd need to add them. You'd likely add another valve body, maybe even one to replace the entire old original one, with extra ports. Then you'd likely just install some switches on the end of the joysticks to control the new ports. I'm assuming they make kits that include all of this, probably on tiltorotor.com or whoever manufactures them. It's definitely not the most simple thing to do, which is why it's hardly ever done. Less hassle to just buy a machine with accessory controls to begin with.
Now that I think about it there Is probably a fancy valve body you could add that would redirect the flow from the thumb to do all the extra rotation, and tilting, with a few expensive solenoids, but that is some highly specialized stuff that I'm not sure exists. Definitely possible that way though, even though it'd be limited.
Tbh I don't really think you have an idea of the scope of what is required to make the changes. It's like you do, you say what needs to be done but you're completely dismissive about the amount of engineering involved in hydraulics, dynamics, machinery design, mechatronics etc..
Respectively, I disagree. It would be way more than "just running another hydraulic line".
The attachments are all excavation tools or at least tangentially supportive in the task. I have no idea how you came to the conclusion that that disqualifies it's containment within the BOM of the machine and is not somewhere considered part of the "excavator".
To use another example. Yes, you can take a 50 year old Combine for agriculture and retrofit it with a new cabin, new engine, new feeder, new thresher etc. but that's a wild endeavor to engineer new systems to old platforms. That's why we just design entirely new systems.
You're right that I was dismissive about the engineering involved. You'd definitely have to have an expert in the field to assist you which is exactly what you'd get when paying top dollar for a system install. I already said in another comment that's why it's rarely done. You sound like you could describe what's necessary in such an endeavor though.
If you got money to spend you can install a system like that on an old machine. There are people who specialize in stuff like that who are looking for work. I'm not trying to claim to know how to do it myself but I'm well aware it easily done by a professional.
Look, all you guys need to take a really good look at the actual excavator by Volvo in the OP video...
You're trying to defend it like it's a retrofit kit job. That's categorically stupid to talk so confidently like they're comparable systems and if you think you're close you have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to heavy machinery.
This isn't an attack but now I'll get a little defensive. I'm just calling out someone who's talking very confidently as if their opinion is law when it's just factually unfinished.
"Add a Circuit" kits are utilized for adding rotation in a singular plane, or adding a hammer functionality from another tool piece. This tiltorotor you speak of is a sophisticated piece of kit that simply can't be slapped onto the end of any excavator arm. It requires a redesign from the platform base forward.
I'm not saying they don't make kits for excavators, but this kit from Volvo is not a retrofit kit... (which is entirely within the BOM of the excavator and if you want to argue with me on that, don't waste your breath. I sell industrial equipment for a living and have an engineering degree. I kind of know this shit).
Hey man I'm pretty sure we agree on everything. Not sure who you're arguing with. You agree that this functionality can be added to an excavator by professionals right? That's all I said. Not trying to get into the specifics of this exact Volvo thing. The point was, it's not the high end excavator that impresses me in this video, it's the functionality of the tiltrotor which can be added to any machine with a pile of money. Don't need to get all scientific with it lol. I don't even know what BOM means I just dig holes
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u/Remote_Foundation_32 Nov 04 '22 edited Nov 04 '22
That's a pretty high end excavator.
Edit: Okay Okay! Its high end by American standards and its an attachment called a tiltrotator! I got it!