Komatsu’s D51EXi/PXi-22, with fully automatic blade control capabilities, performs both automated rough dozing and finish grading. When rough dozing, the automatic blade control monitors blade load and adjusts blade elevation to minimize track slip and perform high efficiency dozing. As work progresses closer to the target finish grade, the automatic blade control adjusts accordingly to provide finish grade performance with high-level precision.
Typical add-on, machine-control system components mounted on the blade have been replaced on the D51EXi/ PXi-22 with factory installed, cab-top GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) antenna, enhanced inertial measurement unit (IMU+), and stroke sensing hydraulic cylinders. The accurate and robust integrated sensor package eliminates the daily hassle of installing/ removing GNSS antenna(s) and cable(s) from the blade, plus the wear associated with it. These components along with the machine control monitor and controllers mounted inside of the cab are installed at the Komatsu manufacturing facility during machine assembly.
Inside the cab, customer selectable dozing modes allow system response to be tailored to the current machine operation for optimized performance. Similarly, blade load settings are adjustable between pre-sets to match actual material conditions. Pass to pass, the intelligent Machine Control system can be left with the automatic blade control engaged because of its ability to precisely automate the lowering of the blade at the start of a pass and raise it at the end of a pass.
When the machine travels around the job site, the cab top GNSS antenna collects accurate surface data by measuring actual elevations. The stroke sensing angle cylinder measures the actual angle of the blade for high precision grading accuracy on cross-slope, blade angled or not.
Longer track-on ground standard (EX) and low ground pressure (PX) models are available, with operating weights ranging from 27,381 to 29,057 pounds depending on the configuration, and a net 130 hp at 2,200 rpm.
