Understanding Mini Excavator Design Types to Choose the Right Machine for Hire
- Structures Insider
- 15 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Mini excavators fall under the heavy machines category albeit they are compact and weigh anywhere between 2T and 5T. These compact excavators which are generally offered for hire by most construction equipment rental companies are versatile machines that despite their small size offer sufficient power and agility rendering them suitable for a wide range of construction tasks. The popularity of compact excavators for hire is attributed to their small sizes which allow these specific categories of machines to perform tasks in places that are confined where larger excavators become impractical.
The small sizes and light weight of these machines also reduce the potential of damage to the ground and surrounding area. As it is with most other types of heavy equipment, there are categories or rather design types of mini excavators that differentiate them. Primarily, these machines are categorized by the tail-swing radius which is a primary factor towards manoeuvrability in tight or congested environments.
Starting with the ZTS or Zero Tail Swing mini excavator designs, this type of excavator’s counterweight system remains within the width and breadth of the excavator’s tracks when the operator rotates the cab. The advantages that come with zero tail swing excavators include the machine’s ability to be operated within close proximity to walls or objects without the risk of the rear of the excavator colliding with anything.
Contractors mostly take ZTS design mini excavators for hire for extremely congested urban or residential projects that often require these excavators to in narrow lanes, or even inside buildings.
Moving on to Minimal Tail Swing (MTS) or also often referred to as Reduced Tail Swing (RTS) excavators, these excavators are has the counterweights slightly overhanging the tracks when the operator rotates the cab. The advantage of the MTS excavator design comes as the balance between compactness and greater lifting capacity and as well as stability when compared to zero tail swing models. This excavator design is more suited for project sites that offer slightly bigger working space.
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Last in the mini excavator design types is the Conventional Tail Swing or CTS. The design of this excavator is hinged on the extension of the rear of the cab over the tracks when the machine is rotated. The extended counterweight provides this design the greatest lifting capacity and naturally stability compared to the previous two designs. This type of excavator design is best used for projects where space is plentiful or not too unrestricted. However, it must be noted here that within the mini excavator class, the CTS is the least common.
Other design factors that contractors or project owners might need to look at prior to taking a mini excavator hire is the different track options. Some mini excavators are fitted with rubber tracks which make them suitable for working on sensitive surfaces such as concrete, asphalt or landscaped surfaces to minimize track damage. However, most mini excavators generally sport steel tracks which are not only durable, but also optimizes traction on rough or terrain that is uneven.