Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/652983
March 2016 | EquipmentWorld.com 14 marketplace | by Equipment World staff John Deere's 700K SmartGrade dozer combines Topcon's 3D-MC Max automated grade control with a host of refi nements that Deere has added to the dozer and blade technology. The Topcon system eliminates the blade-mounted mast on the top edge of the blade and instead uses two inertial measurement units, or IMUs. The dual IMUs process machine and blade posi- tion information 10 times faster than conventional GPS/GNSS, enabling operators in many cases to use the dozer to fi nish grade without the need for a grader. Eliminating the masts also means eliminating the chore of installing and removing them; it also takes away just one more thing that could break or get damaged on the machine. The IMU sensors are well guarded: one is positioned behind the blade and the other is on the track frame, rather than being located on the cylinders. Deere's Smart- Grade technology allows the operator to tailor the machine's reaction to changing applications and soil conditions. The opera- tor can make adjustments using the in-cab monitor, selecting the type of activity they are about to perform: cutting, grading or spreading. This, in turn, tells the machine how to respond. If the machine's load sensing function detects a heavy load, it will elevate the blade enough to keep the tracks from slipping or the engine from lugging down. In addition to the 700K, Deere says it will implement the SmartGrade system on its 750- and 850-size dozers this summer. 700K SmartGrade dozer eliminates blade- mounted masts EDITOR'S PICK EDITOR'S PICK A look what appeared on the show fl oor at this year's World of Concrete: Bobcat S595 offers oomph in smaller package Bobcat's S595, with its 74-horsepower engine and smaller dimensions, is designed for contractors looking for more performance in a smaller package. Yet the vertical-lift-path loader still has a 2,200-pound rated operating capacity, the highest of the company's 500-series loaders. Operators can choose be- tween low and high travel speeds, with a top speed of 11 mph. A standard suspension seat offers additional comfort at higher travel speeds. At 66 inches wide, the S595 is 6 inches narrower than the Bobcat S630 and weighs 1,300 pounds less.