Leveraging the established Global Positioning System (GPS) technology for location, Topcon's 3D-MC2 system introduced at Conexpo-Con/Agg 2008 adds new sensor technology — a combination of inertial sensors and gyros — that calculates and updates such information as blade tilt, machine position in every direction, and instant change in direction, at a rate 10 times quicker. The result is what Topcon Positioning Systems has touted as an increase of 200 percent or more in smooth grading speed for dozers. It earned Topcon not only a Construction Equipment Top 100 Product award in 2008, but also an Editor's Choice award. Construction Equipment went out to a Topcon demo to talk with operators who were experiencing the 3D-MC2 system for the first time and report their reactions .
200% increase. Wow, now they might only be half as fast as Trimble.
The % increase is directly related to the productivity of the operator prior to using the system, so does a boss who gets a greater than 100% increase in production assume that his operators are better or worse than the employer who sees an immediate 200% + increase in productivity. opcorn As such would a contractor who only gets a 50% increase in production feel he is being conned by statistics :stirthepot
....but is it accurate at the increased speed.......................or is it simply just smoothing out the blade responses. Does this mean that the practical reality of a hydraulic response latency becomes a non-issue?
I have spent my entire career (28 years) working for either Trimble or Topcon. Both companies have their strengths and weakesses. I must say that the 3D-MC2 from TPS is the most exciting product in the industry in years. I have run it on a D6, and the JD 650, 750,850 and new 764. No other Machine Control company has anything that can touch the speed and accuracy of this new system.
200 % speedincrease??? dont think so how about the undercarriage 200% increase will mean that you will drive with topspeed (3rd)and every operator know what that will do to a undercarriage!!! if it normally last 3000 hours it will be gone with this speed in 1000 hours so rentable to go in that speed(IF its true) no way
200% increase in production speed, not machine speed. As in getting it done right the first time, rather then having to go over it two or three times.
True Dat!
thats true vantagetes but in every ad or video with the 3dmc they talk about speed of the machine and if you go that fast with a dozer you wont win anything you probably will loose money in faster wear of the undercarriage but if the 3dmc is put on a machine like the john deere high speed dozer thats very different because of the rubbertracks but yes its still impressive how far the machine control system has come,i run a d6t with trimble with trimble dual glonass gps and has used it for almost 5 years and it has worked every day without any problems saving both money fuel and production time
Exactly one year and one day has gone by since the last post, so I think it's time for an update on this subject. Topcon's 3D-MC² now has competition from Leica. The latter have released their inertial measurement unit under the marketing term 'SP technology'. It is a drop-in upgrade to their PowerGrade 3D system. You can read about how an IMU in a 3D grade control system works by clicking the link.
Ive ran both the trimble and 3dmc2 and prefer the trimble, its more user firendly and alot easier to set up. And if something ever breaks on the topcon ite takes them forever to get it fixed. When topcon says 200% production they mean the speed of the machine. That is there big sellin point over trimble, that the auto can keep up in 3rd gear
thats excactly why i say it will just **** up your undercarriageif you go that fast i wolud kick a guy the hell out of my machine if i saw him running it in third gear period
Guys how much $ to put the topcon 3D-MC2 on a D6Nxl thanks Leroy
Aussie Leroy, contact your local Topcon dealer and get a good installed price!!!
I know it was $72,000 to put topcon on one or are 8's but we installed it ourself