An excavator is a commonly used engineering vehicle that is often times referred to simply enough as a digger. There are many different types of excavators in use today.

All excavators consist of a cab and bucket situated on a rotating pivot, as well an articulated arm which does most of the work. The undercarriage of an excavator consists of either wheels or a track.

While most excavators look similar, there are a variety of models in use and on the market for purchase. The smaller units are often times referred to as compact or mini excavators. They usually weigh in at approximately 3,240 pounds with a track width adjustment of roughly 35 inches. On the other side of the industry, there are excavators that weigh nearly 190,000 pounds. These have a bucket size of 5.9 yd³ whereas the smaller models feature a much smaller setup of 0.048 yd³. Of course, there are many models that are slotted between the biggest and smallest; they are usually the most popular.

An excavator can be used in many ways. For this reason, they are seen all over the world taking on a variety of tasks. Some of the most common uses of excavators include: mining, digging foundations for homes, digging holes, relocating heavy material, basic demolition, basic landscaping, and river dredging.

The type of job determines the size of the excavator that is used. For instance, excavators used for mining are sure to be more powerful than those for basic landscaping duties.

Versatility is one of the biggest benefits of using an excavator. In the past, buckets were the only attachment used on an excavator. But as of late, this has changed quite a bit. At this time there are many popular excavator attachments which make particular tasks much easier. As the name suggests, excavators were used primarily for excavating. In today’s day and age, hydraulic attachments, such as an auger, breaker, and grapple, allow for the excavator to be a more versatile vehicle.

It is not uncommon for smaller excavators to also be used as a dozer thanks to the ability to add a small dozer blade to the rear.

Excavators have been used for many years, but it was just in the 1990’s that they really began to evolve. Before this, every excavator had a counterweight system that hindered maneuverability. But in the early years of the decade Komatsu Engineering developed a unique “tight tail swing” system that made them more maneuverable and safe in tight spaces.

The top manufacturers of excavators include: Bobcat Company, Case CE, Caterpillar Inc., John Deere, Komatsu, New Holland, and Volvo Construction Equipment.

Excavators come in many shapes and sizes. When you couple selection with extreme versatility it is easy to see why these vehicles are so popular.