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Increased working accuracy for compact graders

Bobcat is offering improved working precision for grading operations with its compact loaders and grader attachments. The new grading equipment is designed for use by asphalt and concrete contractors for excavating and grading work for new roads. Loader-mounted Bobcat grader attachments can now be combined not only with a new sonic tracer kit. This is the first sonic tracer system aimed at use with compact loaders, providing automatic grade control in applications where lasers may not be suitable.
November 29, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
Bobcat is offering new machine control packages for its compact graders
Bobcat is offering improved working precision for grading operations with its compact loaders and grader attachments. The new grading equipment is designed for use by asphalt and concrete contractors for excavating and grading work for new roads. 

Loader-mounted 1130 Bobcat grader attachments can now be combined not only with a new sonic tracer kit. This is the first sonic tracer system aimed at use with compact loaders, providing automatic grade control in applications where lasers may not be suitable. 

A sonic tracer is versatile as it can follow undulations in terrain and can also be used in parallel with laser equipment. Users can mount the sonic tracer on a grader blade, allowing the operator to switch between using the sonic tracer or the laser system.

The Bobcat sonic tracer kit is designed for use with the new enhanced 274mm wide HD Grader 108 and 244mm wide HD Grader 96 heavy duty attachments.

The HD Grader 108 heavy duty attachment is approved for use on the Bobcat S770 and S850 skid steers, T770 and T870 compact tracked and A770 all-wheel steer loader models. The HD Grader 96 attachment covers the same models as well as the smaller T650 compact tracked loader.     

The grader blades feature a six way blade with hydraulic side-shift of up to 330mm left or right. The hydraulic side-shift allows the blade to get into corners when working in confined areas, as well as grading right up to an obstacle.
The new graders can also be converted from standard units to laser graders quickly and easily. The operator only needs to mount the receiver poles, clamp the laser receivers onto the poles and plug in the harnesses. 

In addition to the laser receivers are the laser transmitters; the model GL412, a single-slope version, and the GL422, a new dual-slope transmitter which comes standard with a Handheld CR600 receiver.

Installed on the blades of the HD Grader 108 and HD Grader 96 heavy duty grader attachments, the sonic tracer emits ultrasonic signals to maintain a set distance or elevation from an object, surface or the ground, allowing the graders to be used to grade, level, and backfill on a multiple slope terrain when following a string line, kerb Stone, the gutter or even a previous pass as a grade control.  Grade accuracy is 6.4mm, and the detection range of the sonic tracer is from 200-1300mm.

The Bobcat system comprises a sonic tracer, two slope sensors and one rotation sensor, all of which are 2122 Trimble components.

To be fully operational, the Bobcat loader must be equipped with the control panel. The operator can set the desired grade and tracer offset, while getting a read out of the actual grade and graphical feedback on both grade and tracer offset.

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