Laser grading and new time lapse camera

[Complete Turf Care]

So basically, the only way you know at any location what the ground is doing is to watch the blade? And then you get a feeling for the lay of the land and come up with a best plan in your head for your movements? Do I have that more or less right?

Yes. But instead of watching the actual blade, I watch the receiver, or the control box in the cab. Both have lights that indicate the blade position relative to the laser beam.
In the picture below you see the green lights, and the red lights below the green. This means the blade needs to be lifted slightly to be 'on grade'. Only red lights mean the blade needs to be lifted more, and only green lights mean the blade is 'on grade'.

 

[Industrial Toys]

But, it doesn't tell you how much or little material you have in your box. I guess too much wouldn't matter but too little or none, when you need material wouldn't be time well spent.

I'm also guessing, that if elevation wasn't a concern, bringing in material might be the fastest approach.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

But, it doesn't tell you how much or little material you have in your box. I guess too much wouldn't matter but too little or none, when you need material wouldn't be time well spent.

I'm also guessing, that if elevation wasn't a concern, bringing in material might be the fastest approach.

Bringing in material is the easiest and fastest way. But it adds considerable cost to any project, and most of my customers don't have the budget to add that much cost. On a job as big as this one (10 acres) we would need to add thousands of yards of material. For example, 6" of soil on one acre is about 800 yards of material, and at about $18 per yard for topsoil delivered, that adds about $14,500.

We should be able to get this project graded in about 10 days (including 3 days rain delay).

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would have thought the hourly rates would exceed material quickly.

I was thinking about putting a laser on my Harley, as I already have an electric valve on the tractor and a Topcon laser. It will probably never happen, too many projects. But I was wondering how all this works with the usually very short laser receivers. If you have elevation differences of feet, you would go beyond the receiver, no?

 

[Complete Turf Care]

If you have elevation differences of feet, you would go beyond the receiver, no?

It would depend on the % slope and distance. A 3' change in elevation over a 300' distance is a 1% slope, which my laser can handle. The receiver has a reception area of about 12". Anything greater than that is beyond the receiver, but you always know if you need to be cutting or filling.

However a 3' change in elevation over a 30' distance would be a lot more difficult with my equipment. I'm not sure what the maximum slope my laser can go, but with the tractor and blade, steep slopes would be difficult. A skid steer would work better on steeper slopes.

 

[Industrial Toys]

So basically if the receiver has lost the laser, it just assumes the last position, high or low until it recaptures the signal?

It would be a neat thing to try with the harley. Too bad my projects all take forever. I only have a single slope RL4C laser, but really all I need is a receiver that can give me a high or low output. Even if it just has LED indicators, I can work with that and get a usable output and run the up down solenoids on the rake drum. Just add a couple of limit switches so the valve does not stay on at end of stroke.

I'm probably missing something.

 

[WVBill]

It appears from the video that you are working a rather random pattern - I see you working the back corner for a few minutes - then over to the other side for a few, then up front near the laser then back off camera, etc. etc. I know nothing at all about grading, but wouldn't it be better to start at the high spot and then work a pattern outward?

Dang, I wish my Father in law was still alive - he was a Master Chief Seabee equipment operator and would have loved to see your video.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

So basically if the receiver has lost the laser, it just assumes the last position, high or low until it recaptures the signal?

You are correct. The lights on the receiver will blink all red when it has lost signal, and the system will stop trying to move the blade up or down.

It appears from the video that you are working a rather random pattern - I see you working the back corner for a few minutes - then over to the other side for a few, then up front near the laser then back off camera, etc. etc. I know nothing at all about grading, but wouldn't it be better to start at the high spot and then work a pattern outward?

Dang, I wish my Father in law was still alive - he was a Master Chief Seabee equipment operator and would have loved to see your video.

It is somewhat random. When there is a high spot, there will be several low spots to dump the soil. I usually try to dump it in the nearest low spot. But, as the low spots fill, then the next low spot is farther away.

I always tell people that the first 6" is easier to do than the last 1/2". I try to get the entire area to within about 1/4" tolerance of exact grade.

 

[jenkinsph]

Looks like you are making good progress with the job. What tractor and box is being used in the second video? The rain will tell the tale, sure shows where more work is needed. +/- 1/4" is pretty close tolerance especially on a ten acre job. Will be very interested in how long this takes you.

My first project is about three acres with 2100 yards to move. Then I have another ranch to work with 19 acres and a total of 3000 yards to move. Most of the dirt on the larger job are short moves.

 

[tractorshopper]

If you look on our blades, you see a pole sticking up with a receiver on top. Mine has one, his has two. The laser is set on a tripod as you can see in my first video. I can set the slope of the laser beam at whatever angle I want. In this case, my slope is set at 0.3% which will give me about 18" of drop across the area I am doing.

The laser beam is picked up by the receiver on pole. If the blade goes below the laser beam, the receiver tells the hydraulics to lift the blade. Basically, we just drive around and let the machine cut the hills and fill the holes. It's a little more complicated than this, but hopefully this gives you an idea.

On this job, the city wants to add some practice area for youth sports teams. There is a ridge about 1/3 of the way across this 10 acres and it naturally slopes to the east on the small side and to the west on the larger side. I took the smaller side because of my smaller equipment. The idea is to match the natural slope, and make it a very even, smooth slope so that it will drain well. And, by matching the existing slope, we have to move the least amount of soil.

Hope this helps.

Yes, thanks. I didn't realize you could put the slope into the laser. I thought it was automatically level, so everything would just be flat. Very slick system. Looks like fun.