An excavator is a heavy construction machine consisting of a boom, dipper (or stick), bucket, and cab on a rotating platform known as the "house". The house sits on an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. Powered by hydraulics, excavators lift, move, and place materials with precision. They are also called diggers, scoopers, or mechanical shovels.
Key features include a boom cylinder to raise and lower the boom, a dipper cylinder to adjust digging depth, and a bucket cylinder to curl or dump material. A swing motor rotates the house, and travel motors drive the tracks or wheels. Excavators are versatile due to various attachments like augers, breakers, clamps, and quick couplers. They can be employed for digging, material handling, demolition, mining, river dredging, and forestry work. Manufacturers include Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, Bobcat, JCB, Volvo, Hitachi, and SANY.
Excavators come in various sizes, including mini, small, medium, and large. Mini excavators weigh 1 to 10 tons, while small excavators range from 10 to 20 tons. New models range from $30,000 to $850,000, but can exceed this. Mini excavators typically cost between $30,000 and $110,000, while medium excavators range from $190,000 to $300,000. Large excavators can range from $200,000 to $600,000. Used excavators can be found for under $100,000. Rental costs range from $900 to $1,750 per day; however, larger models may reach $3,500 daily.
Excavators are available in crawler (tracked) and wheeled configurations. Crawler excavators offer stability and traction on uneven terrain, while wheeled excavators provide faster mobility on paved surfaces. Many manufacturers offer online tools to search for new and used equipment.
