Compact Excavators and Their Uses

What is a Compact (Mini) Excavator?  

A compact excavator is a small diesel- or battery-powered tracked or wheeled machine that combines the digging ability of an excavator with the mobility and flexibility of a compact piece of equipment.  

Compact excavators are typically equipped with a hydraulic boom and an arm fitted with a bucket, auger, breaker or any one of a variety of attachments, and a cab where the operator sits. Their small size and precise controls make them ideal for countless applications, including construction, landscaping, utility work and demolition projects. 

Main Components of Compact Excavator

1. House  

Attached to the undercarriage with a swing bearing, the house contains your operator’s cab, engine, hydraulic pump and distribution components. The house and the workgroup rotate or “slew” 360 degrees to provide exceptional agility when working in confined areas where larger machines can’t fit.   

2. Undercarriage  

The undercarriage includes standard rubber excavator tracks surrounding drive sprockets, rollers and idlers which propel the machine. The most common type of undercarriage for smaller mini excavators is the retractable undercarriage. This H-shaped undercarriage can be retracted to temporarily reduce overall machine width, which is valuable for traveling through small openings or working in tight areas. It should be expanded before doing any work. A fixed excavator undercarriage is typically a little wider than the house structure.   

3. Workgroup  

The boom, arm and any attachment you add to the machine are all included in the workgroup. Compact excavators are unique in that their workgroup is connected to the front of the house with a “swing frame.” The swing frame can be hydraulically pivoted left or right so you can do offset digging parallel to the excavator tracks.  

4. Backfill Blade  

Hydraulically activated and controlled from inside the excavator cab, the backfill blade is connected to the undercarriage and used for grading, leveling, backfilling and dozing. It can also be used as a stabilizer for the machine depending on its position. An angle blade option is ideal if you need to backfill and grade quickly. This option lets you angle the excavator’s backfill blade 25 degrees left or right to direct soil from one side to the other.