X-53x Automatic Excavator: Creating a sloped surface

A common tool used in excavator systems is to create a sloped surface from the control box of a machine. Using topo shots taken with the bucket, an operator can use these points to create a sloping surface that they can then dig to in automatics. Creating a surface from the control box eliminates the need for someone with a rover to come over and create a surface for the operator in the machine.

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X-53x Automatic Excavator: Creating a sloped surface

Creating a sloped surface

In 3D-MC v15, users have the ability to create a sloped surface by taking topo shots from the cab of the machine.

These sloped surfaces can then be dug to in automatic mode after the surface has been created.

To start this process, select Data > Surfaces.

Select New in the Project Surfaces screen.

Give the surface a name to identify later on.

For Surface type, select Sloping Plane Surface.

The following screen controls the parameters for creating the sloping plane.

There are two ways of creating this surface:

  • Use existing topo shots
  • Move the bucket to physically take topo shots
     

The highlighted A and B images indicate the buttons to select when moving the bucket to physically take topo shots.

  • Move the bucket to the location you want the surface to reference. Then when the bucket is positioned, select the topo shot icon next to the letter A.
  • Move the bucket to a second location you want to reference for your surface, then select the topo shot icon next to the letter B.

The second method of creating a sloping surface is to use existing topo shots as a reference.

To do this, select the points list icon for both points A and B, and select the corresponding reference point for each.

Some other features that can be edited to reflect the created surface are the following:

  • Direction
  • Grade
  • Crossfall

After the parameters for the surface have been edited, select Finish, and set this as your active surface.

Once set as the active surface, the surface should appear as grid lines throughout the job.

Switching to a profile view will give you a more detailed view of the slope that was created.

Now put the bucket within the working window, and activate automatics to start digging to the sloped surface.