Can anybody enlighten me on the way a machine is classified? I understand CAT dozers are D 1-12 meaning smaller to largest and some terms like LGP for low ground pressure. But what does D6N XL mean? Komatsu D41 E, Case 580SM. I just don't understand this. Do excavators get their number by the tonnage they can hold in the buckets? Please help. Thanks.
If you do a search on this site you will pick up lots of useful information. Each manufacturer has their own system for naming models. You just have to learn the nomenclature as they come out. The XL on the D6 means it is a standard width and gauge of undercarriage. The D41E means standard undercarriage. The 580 SM is a "Super M". I don't know what all that means but it is probably related to horsepower and frame size over a standard 580M. Excavators roughly are classed by their weight in metric tons. PC400 is roughly and 40 metric ton machine. Cat has to be different so they call their excavators 300 series and then the weight class. A 345 is a roughly 45 ton class machine. Have fun in your search.
Timberghost Lots to learn on that subject. Even folks around equipment all their life have a hard time keeping up because there is just so much, and it changes pretty often. Cat dozers have a number, from D-3 to D-11 that is the size, but only relative to each other. The letter after that is the series, and a higher letter is usually a newer model. They sometimes run out and go the other way, so it is confusing. Take your D-6 example they started as a D-6, then D-6B, D-6C, D-6D, then they skip ahead to D-6H when the high track configuration started, D-6R, and D-6T, which is the current model. Just to confuse you further, there is a D-6M, and D-6N that are a little smaller than the others, and come with 6 way blades, and now there is a D-6K, which is a little smaller, but hydrostatic drive and back to an oval track. Now that you are good and confused, add in series II, and series III in some of the models representing various upgrades, and you have the models covered. Then you get to configuration, like LGP for low ground pressure. You get longer track frames and wider pads, with a wider but shorter blade to cover the track width, XL, which is extra long, a little longer track frame makes it more stable for finish grade work, XW, extra wide, which is a little wider than standard, but not as wide as an LGP. All that just got you a brief primer on D-6's, and there are different models for each size, from D-3 to D-11. Each brand is different, each type of equipment is different, and the list for any of them may be as long as what I gave you for the D-6, so there is plenty to learn. My advice is to read a lot.
The D6 nominclature confuses me too, The D6N seems to be a glorified D5 the D6K an animal to itself and the 6T is the real D6 I think the D originally stood for diesel back in the day
Yep and the first one was the D60, maybe D6, since it was the next generation of the Sixty which had 60hp in the gas variant.
I think if you can get your head wrapped around the Cat D6 sizing.... your already on your way. Who else makes 3 bulldozers with the same name... but different sizes. Gotta love the big 6, med 6 and little 6.
Wow, thanks for the great info guys. I really appreciate it.
If it helps any, The RB auction wiki pages have lot of usefull info...
cat 312=series 3 12 metric ton cat 315=series 3 15 metric tons cat 320=series 3 20 metric tons etc etc etc john deere 120=12 metric tons deere 160=16 metric tons deere 200=20 metric tons etc etc deere 230=23 metric tons deere 330=33 metric tons same with any other excavator....for the most part
I think in theory: Cat 613= 13 yards capacity Cat 621= 21 yards capacity Cat 651= 51 yards capacity Also: 621/631/641/651= single engine scrapers 613/623/633= paddle wheel scrapers 627/637/657= dual engine scrapers